Catharine Maria Sedgwick Online Letters

NewYork -- 5 May 1825 --My dearest Frances --

So far from being insensible to your loss in Catharine's removal from you, I can truly say that my thoughts are continually recurring to you with a painful degree of anxiety -- I well know what she has been to you, & how ill you can bear to have your comforts and enjoyments diminished but I trust that your present sacrifice is for your future good -- It is one of the unsearchable secrets of Providence to me that with your capacity for enjoyment, & with the rich resources of your generous nature, your own happiness should be so limited, & your means of imparting so circumscribed -- It is a dark and impenetrable mystery -- but through the thick clouds there are gleams of light, & I can perceive my dear Sister that you are making advances in spiritual life, which are not made by those whose lag by the way to enjoy the flowers and fruits that spring up in their path, but that perish in the using -- Oh it is good -- we must beleive it is good, to be left alone with God -- to feel that all happiness but that into which he breathes his own immortality is transient -- that all love but His is variable and imperfect. It is good sometimes to anticipate the hour of death 2 to know what manner of person we shall be when the flatteries of life & the illusions of the world vanish, when the vapours of earth shall be dissipated -- when light shall no longer lend its magic coloring -- when the voice of affection shall be still, when the dim eye cannot rest on looks of kindness, when the arms that sheltered us fall away, and the strength that supported us is weakness -- when our Souls shall be alone with God _____

This dreaded hour of truth is sometimes shadowed forth to the afflicted, & is worth to them a thousand and a thousand times more than the richest affluence of earthly happiness

I know my dear Sister that no one can bear your burdens for you -- but you can look forward to laying them all down, & can feel even now that it is the sick and sorrowing Child that has the Parent's care -- -- --

I hope we shall be together a part of the Summer -- When I get to Stockbridge I shall make some arrangement by which you can come down with Frances -- and that will I trust obviate your chief difficulty in leaving home now Cathe is gone -- We shall enjoy more together at Stockbridge & Lenox than we could any where else, & when all the family are assembled there, should it please God to spare our lives and health, we may my dear Frances make you very happy -- 3

I presume you have heard the last accounts from Egbert -- They sustain hope but certainly are not flattering -- He was better than he had been, but his fever was regular, & his cough bad -- -- I cannot give up the hope of his recovery, but there is little encouragement from experience 1 -- --

Watson is I think in a very critical situation -- He attempted to go into business here -- but it was impossible, and he is now quite willing to desist from any farther effort -- He will go to Stockbridge today or tomorrow with G Sergeant who is wretchedly unwell -- He has had a slow fever for three or four weeks, he is better now, & I think a change of air will probably set him up again -- He announced his engagement to us yesterday 2 -- I presume you have been in the secret all along -- I think she is a little treasure and I am very glad that George is to possess her -- --

We expect Elizabeth and Kitty here this week -- and Eliza Cabot next week -- so our house will be brim-full -- -- I have pretty much made up my mind to return to Stockbridge by the way of Boston -- I have some reasons for going there other than mere pleasure, and I do not know when I can go better than this Summer -- --

Harry and Robert are engaged in a speculation in the Rhode Island Coal-mine, which is now very promising -- Harry is buried deep in 4 it -- He scarcely hears you when you speak to him on any other subject -- He is now in Boston --

I shall send Robert herewith the Travellers 3 -- It is as you will perceive made pretty much out of my journal, and may amuse you by recalling the delightful scenes through which we passed together -- --

I have got a bagatelle 4 which I shall publish that I think is much better adapted to children than this -- I meant it for a tract but Harry thinks I had better print it he says for profit -- as he says people value a great deal more what they pay for -- --

I havenot heard from Eben for a longtime --

Did you ever enquire at the P office for that confounded letter? If you get it, I wish you to keep it my dear sister -- but I have very little expectation of hearing of it again --