[87]
Dear Mrs. Brown-tall, erect, stately, simple, kindly, slow, sensible creature — won my heart pretty thoroughly before we got to Boston, and many people's there, for many visited her during the morning she was there, bringing money, shoes, gloves, handkerchiefs, kisses, and counsel.
Amos Lawrence had a large photograph taken of her and now she has gone on to see her husband.
I got safe home, recited to my wondering family the deeds of the invalids and the annals of Marion, and settled down to daily life again .... Mary has n't exaggerated my interest in Harper's Ferry accounts; it is the most formidable slave insurrection that has ever occurred, and it is evident, through the confused and exaggerated accounts, that there are leaders of great capacity and skill behind it. If they have such leaders, they can hold their own for a long time against all the force likely to be brought against them, and can at last retreat to the mountains and establish a Maroon colony there, like those in Jamaica and Guiana.
Meantime the effect will be to frighten and weaken the slave power everywhere and discourage the slave trade.
Nothing has so strengthened slavery as the timid submission of the slaves thus far; but their constant communication with Canada has been teaching them self-confidence and resistance.
In Missouri especially this single alarm will shorten slavery by ten years.
November 22, 1859
I send you two sweet letters from Mrs. Brown and her married daughter, Mrs. Thompson.
Money seems 