“A.E.G.”

The entry in Sarah’s diary respecting this incident is as follows.  The date is two days before that of Angelina’s letter to her.

“The suffering which my precious sister has brought upon herself by her connection with the anti-slavery cause, which has been a sorrow of heart to me, is another proof how dangerous it is to slight the clear convictions of truth.  But, like myself, she listened to the voice of the tempter.  Oh! that she may learn obedience by the things that she suffers.  Of myself I can say, the Lord brought me up out of the horrible pit, and my prayer for her is that she may be willing to bear the present chastisement patiently.”

In Angelina’s diary, she describes very touchingly some of her trials in this matter.  Writing in September, 1835, after recording in similar language to that used in her letter to Sarah the state of feelings under which she wrote and sent the letter to Garrison, she says:—­

“I had some idea it might be published, but did not feel at liberty to say it must not be, for I had no idea that, if it was, my name would be attached to it.  As three weeks passed and I heard nothing of it, I concluded it had been broken open in the office and destroyed.  To my great surprise, last Fourth Day, Friend B. came to tell me a letter of mine had been published in the Liberator.  He was most exceeding tried at my having written it, and also at its publication.  He wished me to re-examine the letter, and write to Wm. Lloyd Garrison, expressing disapproval of its publication, and altering some portions of it.  His visit was, I believe, prompted by the affection he bears me, but he appeared utterly incapable of understanding the depth of feeling under which that letter was written.  The editor’s remarks were deeply trying to him.  Friend B. seemed to think they were the ravings of a fanatic, and that the bare mention of my precious brother’s name was a disgrace to his character, when coupled with mine in such a cause and such a paper, or rather in a cause advocated in such a way.  I was so astonished and tried that I hardly knew what to say.  I declined, however, to write to W.L.G., and said I felt willing to bear any suffering, if it was only made instrumental of good.  I felt my great unworthiness of being used in such a work, but remembered that God hath chosen the weak things of this world to confound the wise.  But I was truly miserable, believing my character was altogether gone among my dearest, most valued friends.  I was indeed brought to the brink of despair, as the vilest of sinners.  A little light dawned at last, as I remembered how often I had told the Lord if He would only prepare me to be, and make me, instrumental in the great work of emancipation, I would be willing to bear any suffering, and the question arose, whether this was not the peculiar kind allotted to me.  Oh, the extreme pain of extravagant praise! to be held up as a saint in a public newspaper, before thousands of people, when I felt