Thursday Eve^g 9.30

Dec^r 28. 76

Frederick—I am here in the Birdsnest where we held audience with "William the Silent." The little table is under the Gas light, and upon it, I am penning my grateful acknowledgements for your favor this aft. rec^d. In this place and at this hour, it is easy to believe in the "real presence"—Did I only dare, I could give myself up to the happy perception as profoundly as any devotee in Consent as at Shrine. Alas why do I not dare? Why but for the fact that in that little word "if" uttered in the moonlight late night, there was such a world of possible anguish! T'was only for a moment

but for that moment, twas like the dreadful apprehension, caused by the croupy cough of my babies at midnight, or the desolating fear with which I waited days to learn the fate of the ill stared Arctic, supposing William was on board of her. And—yet—tonight, I wonder if this keeping watch over my hopes is not a mistake? To night I wonder if it were not wise and well to forget all past experiences, and giving the rein to impulse and imagination, enjoy all that the present offers, and all that the future promises? "I pause for a reply"—

I trust you are by this time quite recovered from the head ache, and will let me hear again soon—I am now expecting to go to Fall River on Monday for 2 days. A letter from GertieSherman, Martha Greene "Gertie"

Daughter of Martha Waldo Brown Greene and William Arnold Greene (Finding Aid, Martha Waldo Greene and Frederick Sherman Collection of Frederick Douglass papers, Brown University). She married William F. Sherman in 1872. , says they waited dinner till after the Prov. train hoping

"Uncle Fred," & mother would come—I was in Aunt Lucretia's room when yr letter came and she said with more than her usual warmth "It was good in Frederick to write to soon." She has spoken frequently of you, as have others of the household, and all in the pleasantest posible way—You will remember about having some Photographs wont you? In your present happier expression—

JohnGreene, John

The Greene family were among the earliest settlers in what became the state of Rhode Island. John Greene came to Narragansett from England as early as 1639 and gained title to considerable land holdings. His descendants were among the most prominent residents of East Greenwich and Warwick, Rhode Island. The most famous of the Greenes was the Revolutionary War general, Nathanael Greene, who was a member of the Warwick branch of the family. [Bicknell], Rhode Island, 181-82; McLoughlin, Rhode Island, 99-100. is off on a sleighing party to night, & "wont come home till morning." His cozy little room will tempt me again I think So you may have, if not "attic webs," birds nest prose—

It is time for me to say Goodnight—Dear friend—

M. W. GreeneGreene, Martha Waldo Brown

Martha Waldo Brown Greene (1820-1902) was the daughter of John and Mary Hodges Brown. She married William Arnold Greene (1822-73) on 9 May 1842. Her husband was engaged in the mercantile business in New York City in 1842-43, when Martha Greene was an officer of the American Anti-Slavery Society. The couple then moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, where they had six children. Martha and Douglass were close friends and remained so after the Civil War. The contents of the letters often addressed private matters such as his relationship with Ottilie Assing. Greene helped Douglass recover from depression after his first wife died in 1882. Martha died in Melrose, Massachusetts, which was the residence of her daughter Martha Greene Sherman. Martha W. Greene to Frederick Douglass, 7 July 1864, 2 August 1865, 22 July 1871 in General Correspondence File, DLC, reel 2, frames 40-42, 138-39, 604-05, FD Papers, DLC; David W. Blight, Frederick Douglass’ Civil War: Keeping Faith in Jubilee (Baton Rouge, 1989), 167; Diedrich, Love across Color Lines, 306, 368; McFeely, Frederick Douglass, 313.