[Rosine Amé Draz] to Frederick Douglass, January 1865

Bournemouth

Hampshire

Jany [illegible] / 65

My very dear friend

I fear I have been impatient so forgive me—for having pressed you to write—forgive me for the sake of the cause of my anxiety—I always fear less some misfortune should have happened to you—when I am long without tidings—I imagine you are ill—or perhaps gone from this scene of labor and sorrows—and then my days and hours appear interminable and the world a dreary wilderness—[God?] be praised—your kind letter of today brings

me good news—You are well—you are more hopeful for your dear people—My heart is full of gratitude dear dear friend—And joy too for the gift to [you?]—And to write of that dear little Babe—who will, I know, refresh and [illegible] your heart. Thank God that you have another Annie—How often have I wished that she would replace the dear one—whom He thought good to take unto Himself—Instead of making you feel old—dear friend you [illegible] just this child a [illegible] reviving spring in your heart—

Oh—how much I could say to you if I only might spend one hour with you [illegible] thank you for the moment of intense happiness I experienced just now when I read in your dear letter that you would perhaps call your [illegible] Annie after me—Oh—I do thank you. Perhaps the trials of [May?] if have been I have had the [illegible] of [illegible] [joy?] I [pray?] God that I may be with you now & looking at the gifts if your affection and of your [respect?] as which [illegible] is indeed a [illegible]

I cannot express all I want to tell you but you well understand it all I am so happy! Oh—[illegible] I know [illegible] [happiness?] to [illegible] them—what joy would it be to me if I could only see her—I feel as if I should see her some day—and you all Dear friend—never say that you will give me back that which it is my greatest happiness to send you—It grieves me—I am grateful to you—[illegible] these poor [illegible] of me [illegible]

I knew you had visited Maryland. And I think I felt to some degree what you did feel when [illegible] through the streets of Baltimore. Oh dear friend, is not God a good and faithful God after all—He does not leave even us—whom he thinks well to try so much—without great consolations—I do rejoice that you found out one at least of your beloved Sisters—And that you found her so noble so worthy of being your own Sister—I wonder if I shall ever know her! I should so like to send her something. Will you be able to

have intercourse with this dear Sister?—You know that I love to hear and know all all about those dear to you because I love them—even those who are gone—I loved your dear grandmother—even before I knew you personally. Nothing ever has touched my heart so much as those few lines about her and your separation from her. I do thank you for all you tell me of your visit to Maryland—it has been one of my many wishes for you that you might see it free—I believe that I shall see you quite happy some day—I cannot doubt it—do not be anxious about my future my dear kind friend—I think that I have now a heart for any fate—except that of losing the affection of those I love more than life—I could not live—if I did have this misfortune—with it—I could be happy in the midst of want I do not fear want I believe God will provide—for you I know—[illegible] confident [all?] that He will provide—[illegible] not—you cannot be be forsaken. Those who love you will never, never suffer to see you want I would work night