feel relief from the expression of these thoughts, though she gained no light from her companion. Many such conversations I remember, while she lived in Cambridge, and one such in Groton; but afterwards, when I met her, I found her mind risen above these struggles, and in a self-possessed state which needed no such outlet for its ferment.
It is impossible to give any account of these conversations; but I add a few scraps, to indicate, however slightly, something of her ordinary manner.
‘Rev. Mr. ——— preached a sermon on Time. But
what business had he to talk about time? We should
like well to hear the opinions of a great man, who had
made good use of time; but not of a little man, who
had not used it to any purpose. I wished to get up and
tell him to speak of something which he knew and felt.’
‘The best criticism on those sermons which proclaim
so loudly the dignity of human nature was from our
friend E. S. She said, coming out from Dr.
Channing’s church, that she felt fatigued by the demands
the sermon made on her, and would go home and read
what Jesus said, — “Ye are of more value than many
sparrows.” That she could bear; it did not seem
exaggerated praise.’
‘The Swedenborgians say, “that is Correspondence,”
and the phrenologists, “that it is Approbativeness,” and
so think they know all about it. It would not be so, if
we could be like the birds, — make one method, and
then desert it, and make a new one, — as they build
their nests.’
