That this narrow and busy life was led even after Angelina joined her we judge from what Angelina writes to her brother Thomas, thanking him for sending them his literary correspondence to read.  She says:  “It is very kind in thee to send us thy private correspondence.  We enjoy it so much that I am sure thou would’st feel compensated for the trouble if thou could’st see us.  We mingle almost entirely with a Society which appears to know but little of what is going on outside of its own immediate precincts.  It is therefore a great treat when we have access to information more diffuse, or that which introduces our minds in some measure into the general interest which seems to be exciting the religious world.”

The fact, however, remains, that in 1829 Sarah sent to Angelina various anti-slavery publications, from which the latter drew strength and encouragement for her own arguments.  Angelina also mentions reading carefully Woolman’s works, which she found very helpful.  But it is evident that neither she nor Sarah looked forward at all to any identification of themselves with the active opponents of slavery.  For them, at that time, there seemed to be nothing more to do than to express their opinions on the subject in private, and to get as far away from the sight of its evils as possible.  As Sarah had done this, so now Angelina felt that the time had come when she too must go.

She had done what she could, and had failed in making the impression she had hoped to make.  Why should she linger longer where her feelings were daily tortured, and where there was not one to sympathize with her or aid her, where she could neither give nor receive any good?  Still there was a great struggle in her mind about leaving her mother.  She thus writes of it: 

“Though I am favored to feel this is the right time for me to go, yet I cannot but be pained at the thought of leaving mother, for I am sure I shall leave her to suffer.  It has appeared very plain to me that I never would have been taken from her again if she had been willing to listen to my remonstrances, and to yield to the requisitions of duty, as shown her by the light within.  And I do not think dear sister or I will ever see her again until she is willing to give up slavery.”

“10th Mo. 4th.  Last night E.T. took tea here.  As soon as she began to extol the North and speak against slavery, mother left the room.  She cannot bear these two subjects.  My mind continues distressingly exercised and anxious that mother’s eyes should be open to all the iniquities of the system she upholds.  Much hope has lately been experienced, and it seems as though the language to me was:  ’Thou hast done what was given thee to do; now go and leave the rest to me.”

Two weeks later, she writes as follows: