Mrs. M. Brooks to William Still, December 7, 1859

    Source citation
    William Still, The Underground Rail Road (Philadelphia: Porter & Coates, 1872), 590-591.
    Author (from)
    Brooks, Mrs. M.
    Type
    Letter
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Transcriber
    Adapted by Michael Blake, Dickinson College
    Transcription date

    The following text is presented here in complete form, as true to the original written document as possible. Spelling and other typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.

    ELLINGTON, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Dec. 7th, 1859.

    MR. STILL: - Dear Sir: - Yours of the 29th, was duly and gratefully received, although the greater portion of your epistle, of a necessity, portrayed the darker side of the picture, yet we have great reason to be thankful for the growing interest there is for the cause throughout the free States, for it certainly is on the increase, even in our own locality. There are those who, five years since, were (ashamed, must I say it!) to bear the appellation of "Anti-slavery," who can now manfully bear the one then still more repellant of Abolitionist. All this we wish to feel thankful for, and wish their number may never grow less.

    The excitement relative to the heroic John Brown, now in his grave, has affected the whole North, or at least every one who has a heart in his breast, particularly this portion of the State, which is so decidedly Anti-slavery.

    At a meeting of our Society, to-day, at which your letter was read, it was thought best that I should reply to it, a request with which I cheerfully comply. We would like to hear from you, and learn the directions to be given, to our box, which will be ready to send as soon as we can hear from you. Please give us all necessary information, and oblige our Society.

    You have the kind wishes and prayers of all the members, that you may be the instrument of doing much good to those in bonds, and may God speed the time when every yoke shall be broken, and let the oppressed go free. Yours, truly, Mrs. DR. BROOKS.

    P. S. I have just learned that John Brown's body passed through Dunkirk, a few miles from this place, yesterday. A funeral sermon is to be preached in this place one week from next Sabbath, for the good old man.

    Mrs. DR. B.

    How to Cite This Page: "Mrs. M. Brooks to William Still, December 7, 1859," House Divided: The Civil War Research Engine at Dickinson College, https://hd.housedivided.dickinson.edu/node/1159.