Nov. 22nd
1863

My Dear Cousin Lucy

What an interesting letter thee has sent me! thank thee for it, and Mrs. Kirkland says I must also thank thee for our friends. She and Mrs. McKaze were with us last sunday, and I read it to them.

Dear Lucy you ought both to keep a journal of the events so wonderfully working about you,--and you in them, God bless you! I thank him that he put it in your hearts to go and bless his poor suffering people. What a wonderful deliverance they are having. Not as my father and all of us hoped by moral power changing the heart of the master--not as we feared by bloodhounds and fiery torch of insurrection when endurance had passed human limit, neither is their deliverance being wrought out by a thunderbolt of God's wrath, but by the wrath and wickedness of their oppressors which is now turned to destroy themselves so that the wrath and wickedness of man is becoming the glory of God in the freedom of his long suffering devoted people who in the times of tribulation ever trusted in him. Their entire life should now be thanksgiving that their deliverance has been wrought out without one stain upon their hands and souls. Be not afraid of working up this feeling too much in them, they cannot e too thankful--Let them should Glory to God who has gotten us the victory! Let them sing unto the Lord new songs for he hath triumphed gloriously. Their souls touched with a live coal from off the holy altar will open to the truths you teach them.

I do not wonder at the quickness with which they learn to read. I have taken a colored woman from her was tubs where she earned daily bread for herself and family, and she has learned all the letters, to spell several words, and to write them all, in one day. And in six weeks she could extract bread of life from the Bible for herself, and the blessed light of knowledge shone into the dark places of her mind. I am truly thankful, and proud as colored people say, to have been the instrument God used to enlighten her darkness, and that of others also.

I remember the woman of whom I spoke said she did not want to learn the letters, "I want to learn to read the bible, these only block up my mind!" Then I said, "I want you to go to the shoemaker and tell him to cut me out a pair of shoes all whole, made without seams. I will not have them first cut in pieces." Then she laughed and understood when I showed her how the letters were parts of the word, as B in Boy, and in the alphabet. If these freedpeople are at once instructed, their freedom will from the first be a blessing to them. They have so kept their faith while wandering in the wilderness, of others sins that the true Lord may at once guide them to the good land flowing with the milk of kindness and the honey of knowledge, and blessed shall be the friendly hand that leads them.

Be not weary in well doing--Keep yourselves well--rejoice in your work. God bless and keep you in all your ways and bring you in grand time back to loving friends.

Think of me and write to me. I long to hear all I can of the people for whose freedom my father worked and prayed, and suffered persecution. They were in his thoughts in his last hour and little did he think how near their deliverance was at hand.

God bless and keep you
dear cousins
Affectionately

Rebecca B. Spring

 

We--Marcus and I have had a delightful run through New England this autumn. I don't know but I told you about it. We saw in a little time by help of Railroads many friends. We went by Hartford N Haven--Springfield, worcester, Uxbridge--Providence, Valley Falls, Boston, Concord--Fall River, where Marcus made my sister Lucy happy by finishing the payment of her house so that [?] what may happen in these war times she will have her home. Mother now in her eighty-third year is in her usual comfortable health--a sweet quiet old age.

Since our return we have had several friends to visit us--Mr & Mrs Robert Waterston from Boston--and a lovely visit from Dr Belllows--the day he came was the 27th anniversary of our marriage. He happened to appoint that day to come He says he hardly makes a friendly visit now his time is so full. This war has given much work to good people. Once more farewell

R.B.S.

While writing I have had a visit from the Academic Superintendent of the School of learned gentlemen--90 boys in the school. Our Jinne[?] and James are with us well and happy. She expects a little daughter in Dec. Will you come as midwife now you have your hand in?