Marcus Spring to John Brown, November 28, 1859

Eagleswood, Nov. 28, 1859.

To John Brown.

My Dear and Venerated Sir: Ever since my dear wife and son's visit of sympathy to you, and your excellent wife's short sojourn with us, I have felt a strong desire to write to you some words of cheering and strengthening sympathy. But I could say nothing, of this kind, that is not better said in the two hymns I here send you, which have been blessings to me, and many others, in times of trial.

With the most earnest wish and prayer that God may be with you to the last, and that in surrendering your life as an offering in behalf of the oppressed, you may also be enabled to feel, towards all who have misunderstood you, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do," and "incline the hearts of this people to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God," as the only course of true safety, and solid national prosperity and peace,

I remain, sincerely your friend,

Marcus Spring.

_______________

 

 “COURAGE AND HOPE.”

Awake, our souls; away our fears;
    Let every trembling thought be gone;
Awake, and run the heavenly race,
    And put a cheerful courage on.

True 'tis a strait and thorny road,
    And mortal spirits tire and faint;
But they forget the mighty God,
    Who feeds the strength of every saint;

The mighty God, whose boundless powered
    Is ever new and ever young,
And firm endures, while countless years
    Their everlasting circles run.

From Thee, the overflowing spring,
    My soul shall drink a fresh supply;
While such as trust their native strength,
    Shall melt away and drop and die.

Swift as an eagle cuts the air,
    We’ll mount aloft to thine abode;
On wings of love our souls shall fly,
    Nor tire amidst the heavenly road.

                                                        WATTS.
                _______________


“NEARER, MY GOD, TO THEE.”

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me:
Still all my song shall be,
    “Nearer, my God, to Thee, — nearer to thee!”

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be
    “Nearer, my God, to Thee, — nearer to thee!”

There let the way appear steps unto heaven;
All that thou sendest me in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me
    “Nearer, my God, to Thee, — nearer to thee!”

Then with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll Raise:

So by my WOES to be  
    “Nearer, my God, to Thee, — nearer to thee!”

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon and stars forgot, upward I fly,
Still all my song shall be,
    “Nearer, my God, to Thee, — nearer to thee!”

                                                                S. F. ADAMS.

SOURCE: James Redpath, Editor, Echoes of Harper’s Ferry, p. 410-1

Marcus Spring to Mary Ann Day Brown, April 6, 1860

Eagleswood, Perth Amboy, N. J., April 6th, 1860.

Do not feel at all troubled, or imagine that we have the least feeling of blame towards you, that the two daughters did not come here to school. We should have been delighted to have had them here, and as it had been pretty generally talked of, that they were expected here, we naturally felt a little disappointed at first, but, on the whole, as these Mass. friends were the old friends of your husband, and they are there nearer your home and the school an excellent one, we do not doubt that your decision was a wise and good one and we rejoice that while it secures the means of education to them, it allows (with your consent) the $250 to go to other members of the family, in whom we also feel deep interest and sympathy.

We shall send the checks tomorrow, as you have designated.

It will always give us pleasure to hear of your prosperity and happiness. . . .

Any storekeeper will give you the money for this check.

SOURCE: Lillie Buffum Chace Wyman and Arthur Crawford Wyman, Elizabeth Buffum Chace, 1806-1899: Her Life and Its Environment, Volume 1, p. 353

Marcus Spring to Mary Ann Day Brown, December 25, 1859

Eagleswood, Perth Amboy, N. J., Dec. 25th, '59.

We shall rejoice to hear all about your plans, especially in regard to the two daughters, whom we hoped it might be found desirable to send here, and even that we might hope to have your whole family somewhere near us. But I suppose the desire of Mr. Brown that you should return to North Elba, and that his remains be buried there, settles that matter with you, for the present, at least.

As regards our proposal in relation to the education of the two daughters, we wish you to consider that we are prepared to pay the amount named ($250) towards it wherever it seems best to you (after full consideration) to place them. Should it be elsewhere than here, the bills have only to be sent to me each quarter and they shall be promptly paid. I am not quite sure but that the $100 subscription of Mr. Birney for the same object was conditioned upon their coming to this school. But possibly he would change the terms if desired, and it was so.

With love and sympathy from us all to all your group.

SOURCE: Lillie Buffum Chace Wyman and Arthur Crawford Wyman, Elizabeth Buffum Chace, 1806-1899: Her Life and Its Environment, Volume 1, p. 352-3