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you mention, and perhaps you would find our plans so attractive and feasible that you would be induced to complete your education at our institution, and connect yourself with us permanently.
It is from the young, the energetic, the pure-minded, the self-relying, who have given no hostages to society and who expect and ask but little of it, that the life-blood of our enterprise is to proceed.
So far God has prospered us. Our faith in our ideas increases with every day's experience.
Our present social relations are more truly Christian and democratic than aught I know of elsewhere; and with an unflinching spirit of perseverance, self-sacrifice, and hope, it will not be long before we shall be able to live in accordance with the divinest laws of man's nature.
If you can wait a few weeks before you are obliged to decide upon your movements, I shall be thankful; we all want you should be with us; and the moment I can see the way clear you shall hear from me again.
What precipitated his final action is not definitely known, but from the letter quoted above, it is evident that
Dr. Ripley regarded him as a desirable acquisition, and therefore forced the necessary arrangements to receive him.
The only definite explanation of his own made at the time is found in a letter to his sister, dated Brook Farm,
West Roxbury, September 17, 1841.
It runs as follows:
... I returned from Buffalo four weeks since, but as my eyes are not fully restored, although they are considerably improved, I have not returned to college.
I am living with some friends who have associated themselves together for the purpose of living purely and justly and of acting from higher principles than the world recognizes.
I study but little-only as much as my eyes will permit.
I pay for my board by labor upon the farm and by giving instruction in whatever lies within my capacity.
I thought at first of proposing to come and stay with you, but the excellent society
