[Rosine Amé Draz] to Frederick Douglass, January 1, 1865
Brighton
Jany 1st 1865
My very dear Friend,
Although my remembrance of you never ceases, yet are my thoughts especially with you at this season. My first prayer at the
commencement of this new year was offered up to God on your behalf. Time as it flies—far from deadening the affection and sympathy of my heart—for my dearest and most valued friend upon Earth—only strengthens and deepens these feelings—I cannot expect to be remembered it would be unreasonable on my part. When I for a moment consider the all engrossing duties which you are at present
called upon to fulfill in the service of your people. Or that I could help you more than by bringing you with all your cares—all your wishes—all your wants—before Him who is able abundantly to help you—my beloved Friends!—As yet I see no way open to do any thing more than the very little which I have done since I first had the happiness of knowing you.
However, a letter just received from my dear friend Mrs Cheever encourages me to hope that she and her husband will be able to find some sphere of labor for me—among the freed people of the South—I do not neglect my talents for I trust—that God will grant me the long sighed for privilege to use them—were it only during a few years—for the good of your people If I come to America I mean to select a number of intelligent colored girls, and to form them for teachers. I shall endeavor to make them even more accomplished than the English girls whom I have educated. Oh—with what joy I shall work for them. I shall never feel weary and discouraged as I now often do—for I love your people—more than words can express—Nothing grieves me more—
than to hear people say—that any body will do to least the poor freed people—why should they not have the best of instructors as well as the whites! It is an injustice—which I will not tolerate—Dear friend I hope you have received my letter of October last It contained a cheque for five pounds for your own use—You know me too well to think that I expect to be thanked for it—I only hope that it is not lost—I wrote to dear Rosetta—at the same time—but she has not written to me since—