e
sisters were equally interested. At one time when Susan had expended
her last dollar in the publication of her paper, _The Revolution_, and
also $5,000 given her by a wealthy cousin, Anson Lapham, Mary
generously advanced another five thousand, and thus bridged the last
chasm. And now with life's earnest work nearly accomplished, the
sisters are living happily together, illustrating another of the many
charming homes of single women so rapidly multiplying in later years.

[84] Mrs. Gage received a somewhat remarkable early training. Not only
was her father a man of profound thought, a reformer thoroughly
studying all the new questions coming up, but his house was a station
on the underground railroad, the home of anti-slavery speakers and
advanced thinkers upon every subject, as well as that of a large
number of clergymen, who yearly held "protracted meetings" in the
place. Sitting up until midnight listening to the discussions of those
reverend gentlemen upon baptism, original sin, predestination, and
other doctrinal points, her thought was early turned to religious
questions. She read the Bible through before she was nine years old,
and became a church member at the early age of eleven, her parents, in
accordance with their habits, not attempting to influence her mind for
or against this step.

Dr. Joslyn paid great attention to his daughter's education. From her
earliest years it was a law of the household that her childish
questions should not be put off with an idle reply, but must be
reasonably answered; and when she was older, he himself instructed her
in mathematics, Greek, and physiology. But that for which she feels
most indebted to him, as she often says--the grandest training given
her--was to think for herself. She was taught to accept no opinion
because of its authority, but to question the truth of all things.
Thus was laid the foundation of Mrs. Gage's reform tendencies and of
her non-acceptance of masculine authority in matters of religion and
politics. Nor was she, in a certain way, less indebted to her mother,
a Scotch lady, belonging to the noble, old, and influential family of
Leslie, a woman of refined and elevated tastes, universally respected
and beloved. From this side Mrs. Gage inherited her antiquarian tastes
and habits of delving into old histories, from which she has unearthed
so many facts bearing upon woman's degradation.

[85] See Appendix.

[86] See Appendix.

[87] See Appendix.