as a teacher, and in her conversation classes. I have a letter from her at Jamaica Plain, dated November, 1840, which begins, —
‘This day I write you from my own hired house, and
am full of the dignity of citizenship. Really, it is
almost happiness. I retain, indeed, some cares and
responsibilities; but these will sit light as feathers, for I
can take my own time for them. Can it be that this
peace will be mine for five whole months? At any
rate, five days have already been enjoyed.’
Here is another, written in the same year: —
‘I do not wish to talk to you of my ill-health,
except that I like you should know when it makes
me do anything badly, since I wish you to excuse
and esteem me. But let me say, once for all, in
reply to your letter, that you are mistaken if you
think I ever wantonly sacrifice my health. I have
learned that we cannot injure ourselves without injuring
others; and besides, that we have no right; for
ourselves are all we know of heaven. I do not try to
domineer over myself. But, unless I were sure of
dying, I cannot dispense with making some exertion,
both for the present and the future. There is no
mortal, who, if I laid down my burden, would take care
of it while I slept. Do not think me weakly disinterested,
or, indeed, disinterested at all.’
Every one of her friends knew assuredly that her
sympathy and aid would not fail them when required.
She went, from the most joyful of all bridals, to attend a
near relative during a formidable surgical operation.
