When Catherine Beecher took her leave of Angelina, she cordially invited her to visit Hartford, and examine for herself the system of education there pursued.

Sarah returned to Philadelphia in March, 1832, cutting short her visit at the earnest entreaty of Angelina, who was then looking forward to her first Yearly Meeting, and desired her sister’s encouraging presence with her.  Writing to Sarah, she says:  “I have much desired that we might at that time mingle in sympathy and love.  Truly we have known, might I not say, the agony of separation.”

Soon after Sarah’s return, Angelina went to live with Mrs. Frost, in order to give that sister the benefit of her board.  This separation was a great trial to both sisters, and only consented to from a sense of duty.

CHAPTER IX.

In July, 1832, Angelina, accompanied by a friend, set out to make her promised visit to Hartford.  Her journal, kept day by day, shows her to have been at this time in a most cheerful frame of mind, which fitted her to enjoy not only the beautiful scenery on her journey, but the society of the various people she met.  At times she is almost like a young girl just out of school; and we can hardly wonder that she felt so, after the monotonous life she had led so long, and the uniform character of the people with whom she had associated.  She visited New Haven, with its great college, and then went to Hartford, where a week was pleasantly spent in attendance on Catherine Beecher’s classes, and in visiting Lydia Sigourney, and others, to whom she had brought letters.  After examining Angelina, Catherine gave her the gratifying opinion that she could be prepared to teach in six months, and she at once began to try her hand at drawing maps., and to take part in many of the exercises of the school.  She could, however, make no definite arrangement until her return to Philadelphia; but she was full of enthusiasm, and utilized to the very utmost the advantages of conversation with Catherine and Harriet Beecher.  She was evidently quite charmed with Harriet’s bright intellect and pleasant manner, and refers particularly to a very satisfactory conversation held with her about Quakers.  The people of this Society were so little known in New England at that period, that Angelina and her friend, in their peculiar dress, were objects of great curiosity where-ever they went.  Catherine Beecher accompanied them back to New Tork, and saw them safely on their way to Philadelphia.  But when Angelina mentioned to Friends her desire to return to Hartford and become a teacher, she was answered with the most decided disapprobation.  Several unsatisfactory reasons were given—­“going among strangers”—­“leaving her sisters,”—­“abandoning her charities,” &c., the real one probably being the fear to trust their impressionable young member to Presbyterian influence.  And so she must content herself to sink down in the old ruts, and plod on in