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Ceres September 11th, 1860.
No! my dear Brother, the Dr's letter, which conveyed disappointment to thee, was not a joint one with me. I had not seen nor heard it when I wrote the two or three lines at the close; yet did not see what he could do better than Jane told me he had done. This, being a kind of trouble I am unused to, is no trifle to me: But I hope it will be closed up at the expiration of the six months stated in the last engagement. I long to know whether the note I forwarded in my letter to sister last week, relieved thy mind. Please let me know how you dispose of your stock for the winter. My distance from you makes no sensible difference in the amount of anxiety I feel in your troubles: But as [underline]we[/underline] passed through such a drought, and came out much better off than we expected, I have hope for you; especially as Sister gives a good account of your success in all but the hay crop. You wll yet be able to thank God & take courage. How much harder must it be for those whose [underline]fruit[/underline] is all cut off! I do not know the forest worm. Does it ravage amongst trees of most kinds. I should like a little description of it and its mode of labor, as I am a small part of a naturalist; yet do not, to punish me for this request, fill half thy paper with it for all home information is so precious, that I cannot spare one line to the unnecessary.
It would hae been pleasant to me to attend Potter's meeting, and wish the feet of some of the messengers were directed this way, but we see nothing of them. Thou hast never given me thy opinion of The Herald, which I occasionally send thee, while [underline]I[/underline] think it improves all the time. It has a large and capricious publick to arouse and to satisfy, yet it is already disseminated
beyond any thing that I could have previously looked for. I must forward the last one No. 29. Have made a few marks in it, each one of which I wanted to be able to refer to, and afterwards concluded to let thee have it. I do enjoy the New York dishes from the Conference table, and should be glad to have those from Boston also; but hear nothing thence lately, but that dear Newton, who has been long resting and recruiting has commenced a former busines of his, "The Card & fine JobPrinting" in Boston. He will doubtless be ready for higher duties when Spiritually called. In regard to the Herald - in judgof its merits, we should not only look at the great need at this time, that the pure unsophisticated truth should be spread, but would do well to reflect what the Editor, was in early life, and by what means, and what friends he has been raised to his present standing: And where have [underline]we[/underline] ever known or heard of another person whose capacity, whose patience, and whose condescension, could reply to all the questions of the multitudes of free thinkers, [deleted]and[/deleted] all the cavils of sectarians and all the anxious seekers and learners as he has done, so far? One Spirit Circle, in Philadelphia declares that there is not another now living upon the earth so clear in Spiritual perception as A. J. Davis.
Hast thou as much interet as I feel in the discussion between Franklin and Dr. Hare on the one side, and Mr. Parkhurst on the other, respecting Comets? If so, I think thou couldst borrow from P. N. H. No. 24, and an earlier one or two that might be needful for reference, and trace their several steps to the result. Much anxiety is now extensively felt, to ascertain whether Spirits in the other world can and do aid the cause of Science in [underline]this[/underline], and Parkhurst wishes to proceed in the research. I hope he is
one of the noble, and will go thro' with it honorably. I have paid for two papers, and if all come (which is not always the case) I will send all that contain this discussion, hoping thou wilt keep them all together, to show to any of our friends who would be interested. I think many would, who would not be drawn into spiritualism by it, I see no hope that the spread of Spiritualism as a belief alone, can create a deep and purifying channel, unless the efforts of true believers become more concentrated and more energetic in the removal of oppression; which demands first the removal of ignorance, the cause of superstition. This makes me often wonder that there are not ten or twenty lecturers out, to where we have one. Nothing seems to be going on near [underline]us[/underline], and many other places we learn are in like predicament. My friend E. A. M. is satisfied that all is right, but I cannot yet admit that opinion. The belief in the new dispensation may spread, and doubtless does, faster than the morality it requires; but oppression amongst laborers appears to be increasing, and their way is hard. Does it appear so to thee?
There is one paper and I suppose one only, which thou, Sister and I, all read - the Liberator, and dost thou not think some, if not all of the Anti-slavery speeches we have recently had in it are unusually interesting? I do; and I like M. C. Conway very much. How didst thou like the Standard I sent, and hast thou seen the Dial? I take it this year. It is a progressive work, and contains some excellent articles, yet I shall hardly afford it to myself next year, as I have to enjoy it alone. There is in it one letter from Wm. Pitt the elder, afterwards Lord Chatham, which so nearly resembles some of the writings of modern Infidels, as they are called, as plainly to wince that the most useful men have for many ages, been the most liberal.
I hope dear Ann's letter will reach me ere this calls on [underline]thee[/underline], for I am tired of our slow corrspondence.
M. W. Mann always when writing enquires after her Uncle & Aunt Robinson; and so does my Cousin M. Thresher, & sometimes thanks you for your kind care of her cousin Ann.
I hae not received a line from dear George since I saw him, tho' I want to understand his whold heart. Do beg him to write to me of what he thinks the most interesting thing on which thought and on any other subjects that occupy his mind. He knows something of my great attachment to him but can not realize it as I do. Dear Rowland too. His letters were precious to me, and if I could do more with propriety than I do now I would try to stir him up again.
Love to all. Has Sister received my letter of last week.
Oh how is poor Samual Nicholls getting along, in all respects. Do thy keep house for Martha's father yet? What are the children likely to be? Didst thou stay with them when in B. &c &c. Didst thou form acquaintance with the young man - the medium Oscar --? What becomes of Dr. Bigalo? Thy affectionate Sister Ann.
More yet. In a Herald which has gone before this I put a Christmas Rose thinking Sister R. would like to see it. It blossoms all winter under the snow and the petals tho' yellow now are then pure white.
