Named Entity Results, Samuel J. May

hat book had given him. Charles Sumner writes me that the influence of my anti-slavery writings years ago has had an important effect on his course in Congress. . . . Who can tell how many young minds may be so influenced by the Progress of Religious Ideas as to materially change their career? I trust I have never impelled any one in the wrong direction. In the simplest things I write, whether for children or grown people, I always try to sow some seeds for freedom, truth, and humanity. S. J. May writes to me very warmly about the big book. He says he has commended it from his pulpit, as the most valuable contribution to an enlarged, charitable, and true theology that has been made by any one in our country. Of course, you will not understand him as meaning to compare me with such minds as Theodore Parker; but he considers my book more valuable than those written by many abler pens, because it is not written in the spirit of an opponent to prevailing false theologies. You are

ne little pink stars of French calico, on a white ground, with a rose-wreath trimming all round for a border; and the lining was a very delicate rose-colored French brilliant. It took one month of industrious sewing to complete it. I sent it to my dear friend, Mrs. S., in honor of her first grand-daughter. It was really a relief to my mind to be doing something for an innocent little baby in these dreadful times. One other recreation I have had this summer. My loved and honored friend, S. J. May, spent a few weeks in Boston, and wrote to me to meet him at his cousin's, S. E. Sewall's. I went after dinner, and left after breakfast next morning. How much we did talk! Sometimes laughing over old reminiscences, sometimes serious even to sadness in view of the great struggle between despotism and freedom. None of us had much faith in men, or in any political party; but we all agreed that the will of God was manifestly overruling the will of man, and making even his wrath to praise h

To Rev. Samuel J. May. Wayland, January, 1866. I was greatly refreshed by your affectionate letter about The freedmen's book. I live so entirely apart from the world that when I publish anything I rarely see or hear anything about the effect it produces. I sent the slave-holders, the year before the war, over twelve hundred copies of The right way the Safe way, directed them with my own hand, and paid the postage out of my own purse; and I received but one response. I had a feeling that such a book as the Freedmen's book was needed at the present time and might do good. In order to adapt it carefully for them, I wrote over two hundred letter pages of manuscript copy; and then, despairing of getting it published, I paid $600 to get it through the press; which sum, if it ever returns, will be a fund to help in the education of the freedmen and their children. I have done what I could, and I hope a blessing will rest upon it. That you approve of it so heartily is one guaranty t

To Rev. Samuel J. May. Wayland, 1867. Your anti-slavery sketches >Some Recollections of our Anti-Slavery Conflict, by Samuel J. May. Boston, 1869. At the time this letter was written, however, they were appearing in regular installments in the Christian Register of Boston. carry me back pleasantly to those bygone days when our souls were raised above the level of common life by the glorious inspiration of unselfish zeal. It seems but a little while ago, and yet men speak of it as a dSamuel J. May. Boston, 1869. At the time this letter was written, however, they were appearing in regular installments in the Christian Register of Boston. carry me back pleasantly to those bygone days when our souls were raised above the level of common life by the glorious inspiration of unselfish zeal. It seems but a little while ago, and yet men speak of it as a dead subject, so swiftly the world whirls round, carrying us, and all memory of us, with it! In your very kind notice of me, you have exaggerated some things, and omitted others. I don't think I lost so much per annum by espousing the antislavery cause. At all events, I think the indefinite statement that my literary prospects were much injured by it would have been better. With regard to society, I was a gainer decidedly; for though the respectables, who had condescended to patronize me,

dea that you shared her aversion to being muched, and so I concluded to let your birthday slide. I dare say, after all, that you were rather pleased with having the anniversary marked by so many kindly memorials. For my part I am delighted to find a few flowers on the mile-stones as I pass along. No matter how simple they are; a buttercup is as good as a japonica; somebody placed it there who remembered I was going by, and that is sufficient. What a blessing it was for that dear good man, S. J. May, to pass away in the full possession of his faculties, and surrounded by such an atmosphere of love and blessing. Friend Whittier, writing to me the other day, says: How many sweet and precious memories I have of my intercourse with him! Where is he now? What is he doing and thinking? Ah me! we beat in vain against the doors of that secret of God! But I am so certain of God's infinite goodness and love, that I think I can trust myself, and all I hold dear, to his love and care.

To Mrs. S. B. Shaw. Wayland, 1876. I have been gadding unusually for me. I went to the meeting of the Free Religious Association, where I was sorely tempted to speak, because the only woman who did speak was so flippant and conceited that I was ashamed of her. In the same excursion, I spent a day and night at Concord, with the Alcotts. Mrs. Alcott was a friend of my youth, and the sister of my dear friend, S. J. May. We had a charming time, talking over the dear old eventful times. I like L. and her artist-sister, M., very much. Some people complain that they are brusque; but it is merely because they are very straightforward and sincere. They have a Christian hatred of lionizing; and the Leo Hunters are a very numerous and impertinent family. Moreover, they don't like conventional fetters any better than I do. There have been many attempts to saddle and bridle me, and teach me to keep step in respectable processions; but they have never got the lasso over my neck yet, and

ner, looked calmly at the speaker, and replied, Well, sir, if you did cut off my ears, I should still cry aloud, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Meanwhile my heart was thumping like a sledgehammer, for, before the speaking began, Samuel J. May had come to me and said in a very low tone, Do you see how the walls are lined by stout truckmen, brandishing their whips? They are part of a large mob around the entrance in Federal Street, employed by the Southerners to seize George Thomps tiptoe and survey the platform anxiously. Soon a loud oath was heard, accompanied by the exclamation, he's gone! Then such a thundering stampede as there was down the front stairs I have never heard. We remained in the hall, and presently Samuel J. May came to us so agitated that he was pale to the very lips. Thank God, he is saved! He exclaimed; and we wrung his hand with hearts too full for speech. The Boston newspaper press, as usual, presented a united front in sympathy with the sl