p.2

day, and in thought go back over all those
early years when I was a co laborer with you,
and with voice and pen gave my feeble
aid to the cause in its infancy and days of
great trial, ere it had grown so strong as to
command the respect and attention of the world,
as it does to day.

It needed not the letter you sent me of our
fore score years old friend, to show that The Lily
did a good work. Such testimony has come to me all
down through the years since it first issued to
the public. I know that all over our land there
are hundreds of people who gained their first
knowledge of the principles which underlie the
woman's movement by reading that little paper.
You and Mrs Stanton, and Frances D. Gage, and
many others, lent helping hands to me in
that work, but be sure the little messenger
of good tidings went on its way scattering
seed where our voices could not reach - and

not strong or experienced, but it was such as
was needed in the infancy of our cause
and made an impression where the strong
minds of to day would at that time have failed. I gave my
best years to the work, but my seventy lectures, in
addition to the care of the paper, overtaxed a
constitution never strong, so that my later years
have been passed in enforced inactivity.

I am glad to know that at the head of the army
of recruits who have rallied to the standard set up
forty years ago, Mrs. Stanton, Lucy Stone, Antoinette
Brown and yourself still stand the
respected and honored leaders of the
[hour?] with armor on ready for whatever further effort
and sacrifice may be required of you. May you
live to see and enjoy the full triumph of your
labors.

In running my mind's eye over
the list of prominent actors in the drama
first brought upon the worlds stage near
forty years ago, I miss many whose words
were dear to us -- many who if living would
have honored seats in your council.
Lucretia Mott, Ernestine Rose, Frances D.