t more odious by any marked advocacy of it. It was a new trial to her,
but she did not murmur. One who in early youth has rebelled against the
very laws by which he has his existence, and has become reconciled, does
not go through life hitting his head against every projection which
society thrusts in his way. She did what she could. She cleared
_herself_, as far as possible, from all participation in the sin, gladly
avowed her views when called upon, and never hesitated to show, by
suitable words and acts, her sympathy with a despised people. Yet she
could not accomplish much. But if she did little for the cause, it did a
great deal for her. It broadened her life, enlarged her views, increased
her comprehension of the world's progress as revealed in history, and
brought her into closer sympathy with reformers of all ages. It gave her
a perpetual object of interest. It was like a great drama, whose acts
were years and whose scenes were continually passing before her. It gave
a new zest to life, made this world more real, and diminished her
longings for the next. In narrowing her friendships it made them more
vital and satisfactory; and being in communion with hundreds of other
minds in the country, reading their thoughts became almost like personal
intercourse with them, and was a new happiness to her. Studying daily a
subject of such vast complications, her mind perceptibly grew, and from
year to year she was able to grasp new and higher truths. She gained the
hatred of a few clear-sighted opponents, but most persons only ridiculed
her, contemptuously wondering why she should pursue this course when her
interest lay so clearly the other way. But she was now far beyond the
reach of such weapons.

'I have given you, thus, a sketch of the history and character of
Laetitia, but I cannot reproduce her as she appears to my own mind. You
must fill up the outlines from your own personal knowledge. I fear I
have rendered her too intense, and, perhaps, too sombre. Intense she
certainly was, but it did not oppress one in ordinary intercourse; and
she was not at all sombre. After she recovered fully from her youthful
grief, her elasticity of temperament returned, and her love of fun. She
looked on the bright side of all things, and was full of encouragement
and hope for her friends. To me, besides being, during the last five
years particularly, a valuable friend and adviser--no one but myself can
know how valuable--she was always a