Woodside Dec 22 68

My dear friend,

I have been looking with much pleasure to my visit to you at xmas or New Years, but it seems I cannot make it. I am very sorry to miss the cheer of a little out from my secluded residence, but more sorry still for the reason, I want to see you exceedingly and it is quite likely we should have that serious talk, you invited me to have with you, there is no chance on this small sheet, or indeed on any sheet. I feel disappointed & sick at heart I have heard of some things, from different places lately, that denote what I had not dreamed of I try to believe that enemies are responsible for some reports, but

I fear there must be some truth in them. Since I wrote to you, I have been home on a visit, dear L came at the same time, she seems very contented in her Canadian home dear Mother is still in bed but cheerful & patient & seems to enjoy life as much as any one, it is not likely she will ever be out of bed for long at a time again—Do read Ecce Homo, it is a real treat and profitable^* (1865) was a religious treatise written by Sir John Robert Seeley (1834–95), a fellow at Christ’s College, Cambridge, and later Regius Professor of Modern History at Cambridge. Alexander Hamilton Thompson, A History of English Literature, and of the Chief English Writers, Founded Upon the Manual of Thomas B. Shaw (London, 1901), 746.—I do feel such a longing to help you, I know I could, if you would only let me. I have not lost my faith & hope for you, but it does seem a solemn serious time, as if you had now to decide what your future life is to be. I pray our good Heavenly Father to give you strength to be very strong, dont I entreat of you obscure & crush out your noble nature, you have much real strength of character, why will you not use it for your own good—there is only one safe path one true unfailing help, they who day by day, keep near to God, never fall into evil. You know it is must be so, how very thankful I should be, if I knew, you would try for this, it makes thousands happy & blessed under adverse circumstances, but I never yet heard of any one, who became better or happier by deserting its protection. I hope—indeed I feel pretty certain, my letter will not grieve you, you know anxiety for your real well being dictates it. You also know, that for years, I have been troubled & careful, for the preservation of your good name, I am more

anxious & uneasy than ever, for there seems more cause, a pressing necessity—I seem to have made a great mistake; when I told you that M. A.Pierson (Peirson), Mary Ann

A native of Yorkshire, was sister to Elizabeth Pierson and one 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 Mary Ann and her elder sister Elizabeth 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. & her friend had dissolved their friendship—on the contrary it appears to have progressed. Such friendships are often fluctuating—I expect to visit Union Springs in the spring & will try to see you then, if only for a few hours—My dear friend I do wish I could convey to you, the earnestness I feel for your real happiness & safety—I do think it would help you to make a very determined stand, write to me, don’t leave home without, I pray for you, constantly—love to Mrs. Douglass my darling grows bewitching, what a rich blessing he is to me

Ever think of me, as Your True & faithful friend

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.