ENPages
Ceres 3rd Month 5th 1860.
My dear Brother
I am sure thou canst judge of my feelings on perusing thy letter of the 26th ult. I felt delicate about urging Dr. L. in such a matter, yet did engage him to write the next morn. (as thine reached me by candle light on the 29th.) and to promise thee as speedy a remittance of the whole amount as he could forward after getting it at the South, whither he goes shortly to try his success again. He is pretty confident of his standing in Miss., & with pretty good reason where Joseph Davis, brother of the presidential candidate Jeff. is known, but as he is half Jew and half Ashdod, I fear more for him than I should even were he a whole-souled Abolitionist, much as the South hates that class. We must however trust Heaven for his future, but should he never see his poor family again what would they do? This also I must turn from, thankful that even then they will be better off than many. They are generally healthy, though not very strong, their children all inclined to industry, as are their parents and Aunt Caroline, and Aunt A. must find a home somewhre else.
I am sorry for the troublesome humor on the face, and hope thou wilt be faithful to the medical prescriptions; to all the restraints as well as exertions attending well to time, manner &c. giving the new thing a fair trial. My faith is not boast worthy, but I have much less in the old systems. Some wisdom seems to have been manifested by the Spirit doctor, in requiring Ruth to take as much green tea as thou didst, not only to brace her system, while she was giving some of her vital power to thee, but that if such a powerful dose should operate severely upon thy nerves, you should all know that she had run the same risk. Cheerfulness is recommended by many physicians, as one of the necessary aids to medicine. I doubt not it does much
[upside down at top of page:]
I have left out the paragraph respecting health, in both our families but Br. R. recorded no important changes with you and we are well.
towards the promotion of health, and I hope thou art always in possession of it. Dost thou continue to smoke yet. Make the way easy for Ruth or it may not be easy for thee.
I have a small phial of ointment for thee, prepared by my Sister Jane some years ago, and successfully used in removing a large swelling called a cancer on the shoulder of one of her daughters: But as all physicians oppose what they call quackery, Dr. L. would not allow it the name of Cancer, and I did not try to send the ointment. It was only lard and poke-root, a strong ointment. It produces a very rapid and very great discharge, and carried all of quickly.
I hope thou rememberest the clover ointment which many years ago entirely removed, from the lower part of thy right cheek, a sore similar to the one now threatening thee; but the humor removed from any location by such means, we see is not always removed from the system. It is well however to remember them, that they may be of use when you cannot cleanse the system entirely; but I have long thought that thou ought to drink some cleansing tea constantly, as they are beneficial to many. The clover ointment is Thompsonian and is made by boiling down and drying away the tea, until it is of the consistency to spread on butter. It should then be put in the middle of a bit of leather so that the salve would cover the sore, and an adhesive plaster of some kind spread round nearer the edge to hold it on.
Dost thou not think that R. [J?] [Orvis?] is one of the most passive mediums living. I do, and hope she will in consequence make rapid progress. I have sometimes coveted the powers of mediumship, but am always checked by a fear that either the strength of my nerves, or that perfect love which casteth out all fear, would be lacking.
I hope our friend P.N. H. continues improving in health, and progressing in eternal life, and wish she would reply to my last letter, when per
haps I should trouble her no farther; but no promises.
I regret that she missed of attending U. Clark's meeting how did he happen to be there so from home for one meeting only? Did you send for him? Remember me to Phebe & family.
Like thee I compare the Banner of Light with Newton's paper greatly in favor of the latter; but he has lost all his property by his endeavors to keep a good paper going, and we can have his services no longer. This is owing to the great varity and independence of mind induced by free thought and free discussion. Even we who think so much of Newton, do not see with him in all things. I will enclose a letter from him.
I saw many Nos. of the Telegraph last summer, liked parts of it much but not so great a share of it, being filled with Beecher's and Chapin's Sermons. I see by Her. of Progres No 2. that there is a prospect of a union between the Her. & Tel., excluding the Fireside Preacher which has made a part of it recently.
Who is the one thou calls "Our Editor"? I should think thou art taking his paper; where does he publish? Is it much of an improvement on Tarbell's? What has becom eof Tarbell &c. &c.
Thou alludes to T. L. Harris; but hast probably seen in the Tribune, what Wm. Howitt says of his lecture; and perhaps art judging with me that it is all designed as a curse on what the Orthodox call [deleted] Anti-christian Spiritualism, and a monopoly of credit to those who rely on the atonement by Jesus Christ and on the scriptures, the observances of the sabbath, &c. &c. I was hardly surprised by the substance of his discourse for my confidence in him has never been great. He is doubtless a great orator, and may have affected much humility but when he set out for Europe I thought his plan was to reserve Eng. from true Spiritualism.
I fear H. Rogers has run into difficulty, and pity both him & his family, and [underline]wish[/underline] more than I [underline]hope[/underline] that Anson Keese, may never regret the lost of his natural teeth. His jaws will change their shape with increase of years, but his artificial furniture will be too stiff and stubborn to adapt themselves to their demands. Is their young Cousin Arnold whom I saw with them when making my farewell visit at Nathan's, with them yet, and if so, in which family.
John Brown is much thought of here, as in other places, by the republicans, but [underline]we[/underline] rarely mention him. I think he deviated from that Wisdom by which he thought himself guided, and we have many proofs that his upright intentions brought many blessings, many friends, and peaceful inflowings from the Spirits of Light & Love, during his incarceration, but I have read a communication from him stating that he did not, when entering on his project, see the beauty of Non resistance, as clearly as he has since. I think he had not seen it before his death. This was doubtless in Wisom, as it would have marred his peace.
I am sorry for Naomi's sufferings. Could not, P. J. Orvis do something that would relieve her. Remember me to her, and tell her to keep up good spirits, and try every thing which offers a reasonable hope of doing her good.
Do no read any thing aloud that might wound feelings. I think there will be some money coming from Eng. ere long for our family, mine thou knowst has come, or perhaps not quite all. please make a pretty quick arrangement for getting it for us from Eng. to New York & thence to Olean without such cost as they got out of me, and let me know in season, that I may inform my friends in England, when necessary. Thy affectionate Sister Ann.
Love to all the family.
