would eat no flesh, I would drink no wine while the world lasted. I
would become as devoted an ascetic as yourself, my dear Isaac. But to
what end is all speculation, all dreaming, all questioning, but to
advance humanity, to bring forward the manifestation of the Son of
God? Oh, for men who feel this idea burning into their bones! When
shall we see them? And without them, what will be phalanxes, groups
and series, attractive industry, and all the sublime words of modern
reforms?

"When will you come back to Brook Farm? Can you do without us? Can we
do without you? But do not come as an amateur, a self-perfectionizer,
an aesthetic self-seeker, willing to suck the orange of Association
dry and throw away the peel. Oh! that you would come as one of us, to
work in the faith of a divine idea, to toil in loneliness and tears
for the sake of the kingdom which God may build up by our hands. All
here, that is, all our old central members, feel more and more the
spirit of devotedness, the thirst to do or die, for the cause we have
at heart. We do not distrust Providence. We cannot believe that what
we have gained here of spiritual progress will be lost through want
of material resources. At present, however, we are in great straits.
We hardly dare to provide the means of keeping warm in our pleasant
nest this winter.

"Just look at our case. With property amounting to $30,000, the want
of two or three thousands fetters us and may kill us. That sum would
free us from pecuniary embarrassment, and for want of that we work
daily with fetters on our limbs. Are there not five men in New York
City who would dare to venture $200 each in the cause of social
reform, without being assured of a Phalanx for themselves and their
children for ever? Alas! I know not. We are willing to traverse the
wilderness forty years; we ask no grapes of Eshcol for ourselves; we
do not claim a fair abode in the promised land; but what can we do,
with neither quails nor manna, with raiment waxing old, and shoes
bursting from our feet?

"Forgive me, my dear Isaac, for speaking so much about ourselves. But
what else should I speak of? And who more sympathizing with our
movement than yourself?

"Do not be surprised at receiving this letter so long after date. Not
less than four times have I begun it, and as often have been
interrupted. Pray write me now and then. Your words are always sweet
and pleasant to my soul. Believe me, ever yours truly,

"GEORGE