Mowbry Cottage June 6, 75—

My dear friend,

Yes, your letter did please me, I do like to know of what is occupying you & affecting you, be it pleasant, or be it otherwise. I expect your house is looking quite beautiful now. I should vastly have enjoyed assisting you, to replace furniture, pictures &c &c I have a relish for that sort of thing. We too, have been too busy, & had to work too hard.

I have thought about you a good

deal since I had your letter, there is in it a deep undertone of sadness, which moved my heart to pity and sympathy, how gladly would I do more, if more I could do—I was lately reading an article on "wasted sorrow" I was instructed, by its being, once more, & that strongly, set before me that sorrow rightly borne is a great means of culture, thro' it—or our experience in it—, we gain wisdom. When we are up to the point of realizing this, in our own life, we have in truth gained, a strength, a blessing. I know people, who are only intellectually developed are one sided, ill balanced people. I remember you have something of this in your Anti-slavery cause tho you dont call it culture. The years don't sadden me, as they sadden you, do cheer up, don't let the "White Sails of hope" disappear for ever." They never need to, before hope sets on things of this world, it can arise gloriously, on the "Good time coming." This time is so much of a reality, the glory of it costs a few rays, to me as I yet stand in mid life here. & I know they will continue to brighten thro' the years, as I come nearer & yet nearer "to the land o'er the leal." that & if I walk rightly & God helping me, so I will. My dear friend, do look a-head with hope, & faith. Something helps me, you too may be strengthened, & cheered, [illegible] by the like power. I will ever pray, that you may be. I have known sorrow in my life, but I think I am learning how to live, so that the joy & comfort will sustain me, above the griefs- I want to be a good friend to you never a hindering one; I find each year as it comes along, fraught with more richness. I understand more—I have been slow to learn—I feel to want to get all I can in the few that are left me—

Ah! like the Sybil's page our years as they lessen; in value rise. Our weather has been glorious. The apple trees, like huge boquets—I have enjoyed it all with a zeal—; with all the ardor of young life—and the depth that added years give to all our pleasures—cannot I give you some of my joy—I will write. I can send some cheer—

I must congratulate you on your

grandson, Rosa's little boy. I look for great things of him—I have a note from dear R. today, poor suffering little Amé how I pity her. she changes slowly. I shall sorely miss her if she goes—but for her sake I should be almost glad. She is a patient little sufferer. To day I have been reading of Goethe, nothing new—but my contempt, & scorn, have been re-newed. I have always dispised him.—a man, who would gather to himself the best-& truest-love of a woman's heart, & throw it from him as valueless, when he wearied, which he did as frequently as a boy does of a toy, is unworthy the esteem of any one. he is more dishonorable than a thief for he steals but one's money—but the man who pretends to love, first one woman, & then another, gaining her real love, & leaving it, & her cheerless & dispised—steals all the life & joy of a human soul.—and is only to be utterly dispised—The other day a boy of 16 threw Frank's hat over a fence, and then went over after it—as

he stooped down to pick it up, for another throw, Frank sprang on him, & kept him down, 'till he begged to get up—Frank said as, he went into the field after my hat I thought he might stay there awhile. This was pretty good for a little boy of 9. especially as he kept good natured thro' it all—I miss the daily companionship of my frds a good deal but I can think of them. & I am very proud of their true & constant friendship, not many people have sufficient nobility of character to be sincere frds. Wishing & hoping all good things for you, I am as ever your frd

E PeirsonPierson (Peirson), Elizabeth

A native of Yorkshire, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Pierson (1826–aft. 1900) was the eldest of ten children born to the English Quakers Thomas and Hannah Smith Pierson. The Piersons left England in 1849, and by 1850 were living in Lockport, New York. Charles Douglass lived with the Pierson family for a period of time after John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry, and both Elizabeth and her younger sister Mary Ann seem to have maintained close, lifelong friendships with Frederick Douglass and other members of his family. 1850 U.S. Census, New York, Niagara County, 121; 1870 U.S. Census, New York, Niagara County, 73; 1900 U.S. Census, New York, Niagara County, 163; Fought, Women, 170–71, 179, 241, 270; “England and Wales, Quaker Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers, 1578–1837,” Ancestry.com; “New York, Alien Depositions of Intent to Become U.S. Citizens, 1825–1871,” Ancestry.com.

[written upside down on the top of the page 3]:
When your plans are fixed for the summer, I shall be glad to know them.