What changes we are destined to witness! How suddenly are the tables turned! and upon her who so short time ago thought she had occasion to make apology for her prompt replies. Two and a half months! What a blank! How easily bursts the bubble of fame! How, after long years of honest toiling to establish a character, do we see it, by a single misstep, collapse and disappear forever! and the reason assigned for the long delay is "occupied time mostly", which is said to take off half. There,– that's enough; and, "more" say you.
Yes, I read the exposure of Spiritual jugglery. What of it? No matter how extravagant may be one's claims; he is sure to have plenty of adherents ready to follow him to the last, and even lay down their useless lives in the cause; and I hope you will not cease to denounce the base pretenders with all the ability God may give you. I regard Vik. Woodhull as a woman of much ability with a bad heart.
Be assured of my sense of obligation on account of your encomiums on my affectional nature & literary qualifications, which I think you greatly overate. I really regard myself only as a smatterer in all those points in which you are pleased to adjudge me a proficient. But— O, dear! 'As a Scientist I am wanting." Presume I should plead guilty to the charge, if I knew exactly what is meant by the term. I do not find it any of the Lexicons in my possession. Were I to guess at the meaning of this new-fangled word, I should say it meant one who knows. Now, some things I know, although very many things I do not know. Scientist must be to science, what knowist, if there were such a word, is to knowle dge. Quite possibly some of us poor noodles may be in possession of a knowledge of some things of which those who arrogate to themselves this high-sounding title are ignorant. One man may see through a millstone as well as another: but, neither can, unless there be a hole in it. I don't believe any of these soi-disant Scientists has picked up all the pebbles on the great shore of truth. Humbly groping here & there perchance As Written: perchan I may fall upon one which others of a more lofty carriage may have overlooked. 'Do I mean you'? By no means. Such a garment of course would ill befit a lady, so, pray, do not try it on.
In regard to the " potato patch As Written: potato-patch ", I believe that God placed man in the garden not only to enjoy its sights & sounds, but, to "dress" itGen 2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. , which, as I understand, means work; and now it means "sweat of the face"Gen 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. .
No, I did not visit the great CentennialEditorial Note: This is a reference to the Centennial International Exhibition, held in Philadelphia in 1876, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Mary Baker Eddy attended the Exhibition.,- had no ticket. You would like to have had me at your elbow? On the contrary, I think you would have been thoroughly mortified. It would have been like the case of the two young, greenhorns from the country looking at a picture of some young porkers by an eminent artist in the art gallery in Boston, when one remarked to his companion, "Ben'tEditorial Note: “Ben’t” is an archaic Irish expression meaning "aren't.” them just like Pap's pigs?"
Yes, I can conceive of a hush when under the influence of deep emo tion. Just there is my great deficiency. Cannot express what I feel. Suppose impressions not sufficiently definite.
I enclose a piece of my poetry; and I must tell you, that it is of the highest order, or you would never dream of it. You see, we had an exhibition in GreenlandEditorial Note: Greenland, New Hampshire,- where we attend the little village church,- at which I played "Tim Crane" with "Widow Bedot". which accounts for the signature. We had a jolly time, as you might guess. So here I take my leave. Good night. Angels & ministers of grace attend you.Editorial Note: “Angels and ministers of grace defend us!” is a line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 4.