play, gentles.” Thus, from generation to generation, rises and falls the wave.’
Again, a year afterward, she writes: —
‘Here I have passed a very pleasant week. The
tone of the society is much sweeter than when I was
here a year ago. There is a pervading spirit of mutual
tolerance and gentleness, with great sincerity. There
is no longer a passion for grotesque freaks of liberty,
but a disposition, rather, to study and enjoy the liberty
of law. The great development of mind and character
observable in several instances, persuades me that this
state of things affords a fine studio for the soul-sculptor.
To a casual observer it may seem as if there was not
enough of character here to interest, because there are
no figures sufficiently distinguished to be worth painting
for the crowd; but there is enough of individuality
in free play to yield instruction; and one might have,
from a few months’ residence here, enough of the
human drama to feed thought for a long time.’
Thus much for Margaret’s impressions of Brook
Farm and its inmates. What influence she in turn
exerted on those she met there, may be seen from the
following affectionate tribute, offered by one of the
young girls alluded to in the journal: —
“Would that I might aid, even slightly, in doing
justice to the noble-hearted woman whose departure we
must all mourn. But I feel myself wholly powerless to
do so; and after I explain what my relation to her was,
