I suppose you have learned
before this by the newspapers that two weeks ago today we were fighting
for our
lives at Your Affectionate Husband
& Father. John Brown Nov. 3d 1859 P.S.
Yesterday Nov 2d I was sentenced to be
hanged on 2 Decem next. Do not grieve on my account. I am still quite
cheerful.
God bless you all Your Ever J
Brown Dear Wife and
Children, Every One, "Finally,
my beloved, be of good comfort." May all your names be ''written in the
Lamb's book of life!"-May you all have the purifying and sustaining
influence of the Christian religion!-is the earnest prayer of your
affectionate
husband and father, John Brown Letter
dated November 16, 1859
My Dear Wife:
Now let me say a word about
the effort to educate our daughters. I am no longer able to provide
means to
help towards that object, and it therefore becomes me not to dictate in
the
matter. I shall gratefully submit the direction of the whole thing to
those
whose generosity may lead them to undertake in their behalf, while I
give anew a little expression of my own choice respecting it.
You, my
wife, perfectly
well know that I have always expressed a decided preference for a
very plain
but perfectly practical education for both sons and daughters.
I do
not mean an education so very miserable as that you and I received
in
early life; nor as some of our children enjoyed. When I say plain but
practical, I mean enough of the learning of the schools to enable them
to
transact the common business of life, comfortably and respectably,
together
with that thorough training to good business habits which prepares both
men and
women to be useful though poor, and to meet the stern Realities
of life with a good grace. You well know that I always claimed
that the music of the broom, washtub, needle, spindle, loom,
axe, scythe,
hoe, flail,
etc., Afterwards. I put them in that order as most conducive to health
of body
and mind; and for the obvious reason, that after a life of some experience
and of much observation,
I have found ten
women as well
as ten men who have made their mark in life Right, whose
early
training was of that plain, practical kind, to one who
had a more
popular and fashionable early training. But enough of that. Now, in regard to your
coming here; If you feel sure that you can endure the trials and the
shock,
which will be unavoidable (if you come), I should be most glad
to see
you once more; but when I think of your being insulted on the
road, and
perhaps while here, and of only seeing your wretchedness made
complete,
I shrink from it. Your composure and fortitude of mind may be quite
equal to it all; but I am in dreadful doubt of it. If
you do
come, defer your journey till about the 27th or 28t of this month.
The
scenes which you will have to pass through on coming here will be anything
but those you now pass, with tender, kind-hearted friends, and
kind faces
to meet you everywhere. Do consider the matter well before you
make the plunge. I think I had better say no more on this
most painful subject.
My
health improves a little; my mind is very tranquil, I may say joyous,
and I
continue to receive every kind attention that I have any possible need
of. I
wish you to send copies of all my letters to all our poor children.
What I
write to one must answer for all, till I have more strength. I get
numerous
kind letters from friends in almost all directions, to encourage me to
"be
of good cheer," and I still have, as I trust, "the peace of
God to rule in my heart." May God, for Christ's sake, ever make his
face
to shine on you all. Your affectionate husband,
John Brown * * * * Letter dated November 21, 1859My Dear Wife, Your most welcome
letter of the 13th instant I got yesterday. I am very glad to learn
from
yourself that you feel so much resigned to your circumstances, so much
confidence in a wise and good Providence and such composure of mind in
the
midst of all your deep afflictions. This is just as it should be; and
let me
still say, "Be of good cheer," for we shall soon "come out of
all our great tribulations;" and very soon, if we trust in him, "God
shall wipe away all tears from our eyes." Soon "we shall be satisfied
when we are awake in His likeness." There is now here a source of
disquietude to me,-namely, the fires which are almost of daily and
nightly
occurrence in this immediate neighborhood. While I well know that no
one of
them is the work of our friends, I know at the same time that by more
or less
of the inhabitants we shall be charged with them,-the same as with the
ominous
and threatening letters to Governor Wise. In the existing state of
public
feeling I can easily see a further objection to your coming here
at present;
but I did not intend saying another word to you on that subject Why
will you not say to me whether you had any crops mature this
season? If so,
what ones? Although I may nevermore intermeddle with your worldly
affairs, I
have not yet lost all interest in them. A little history of your
failures I
should very much prize; and I would gratify you and other mends some
way were
it in my power. I am still quite cheerful, and by no means cast down. I
"remember that the time is short." The little trunk and all its
contents, so far as I can judge, reached me safe. May God reward all
the
contributors! I wrote you under cover to our excellent friend Mrs.
Spring on
the 16th instant. I presume you have it before now. When you return, it
is most
likely the lake will not be open; so you must get your ticket at Troy
for
Moreau Station or Glens Falls (for Glens Falls, if you can get one), or
get one
for Vergennes in Vermont, and take your chance of crossing over on
the ice to
Westport. If you go soon, the route by Glens Falls to Elizabethtown
will
probably be the best. I
have just learned that our poor Watson lingered until Wednesday about
noon of
the 19th of October. Oliver died near my side in a few moments after he
was
shot. Dauphin died the next morning after Oliver and William were
killed,-namely, Monday. He died almost instantly; was by my side.
William was
shot by several persons. Anderson was killed with Dauphin. Keep this
letter to
refer to. God Almighty Bless and keep you all! Your affectionate husband,
John Brown My Dear Wife, I wrote our dear friend McKim a few lines
yesterday
saying I had got his kind letter informing me of where you then were;
& how
to direct to you while in his neighborhood. I also said to him that I
would be
glad to have you remain about there; until I was disposed of ; or
until/; I
could send you a few little articles by Express: & also write you
further;
if that ( could be) without your becoming burdensome to friends. Our
friend
McKim wrote me you had gone; or was going to stay a while with
Lucretia
Mott. I remember the faithful old Lady well; but presume she has
no
recollection of me. I once set myself to oppose a mob at
Boston; where
she was. After I interfered the police immediately took up the matter;
&
soon put a stop to mob proceedings. The meeting was I think in Marlboro
Street Church or Hotel perhaps. I am glad to have you
make the
acquaintance of such old "Pioneers" in the cause. I have just received
from Mr. John Jay of New York a draft for $50, Fifty Dollars for the
benefit of
my family; & will enclose it; made payable to your order.
I have
also $15, Fifteen Dollars to send our crippled, & destitute unmarried
son; when I can I intend to send you by Express Care of Mr. McKim Two
or Three
little articles to carry home. Should you happen to meet with Mr. Jay
say to
him that I fully appreciate his great kindness both to me; &
my
family. God bless all such friends. It is out of my power
to reply
to all the kind, & encouraging letters I get;
Wish I could
do so. I have been so much relieved from my lameness for the last Three
or Four
days as to be able to sit up to read; & write pretty much all day:
as well
as part of the Night; & I do assure you & all other friends
that
I am quite busy; & none the less happy on that
account. The time
passes quite pleasantly; & the near approach of my great
change is
not the occasion of any particular dread. I trust that God who
has
sustained me so long; will not forsake me when I most
feel my
need of Fatherly aid; & support. Should he hide
his face; my
spirit will droop, & die: but not otherwise: be
assured. My
only anxiety is to be properly assured of my fitness for the
company of
those who are "washed from all filthiness:" & for the
presence of Him who is infinitely pure. I certainly think I
do have some "hunger, & thirst after
righteousness." If it be
only genuine I make no doubt I "shall be filled.”
Please let all
our friends
read my letters when you can; & ask them to accept of it as in
part for
them. I am inclined to think you will not be likely to succeed
well about
getting away the bodies of your family; but should that be so: do
not let
that grieve you. It can make but little difference what is
done with
them. I would advise that you take any little funds you may have
to carry
home in Gold (smallish sized) in good part; which some kind
friend will
obtain at a Bank for you. You can continue to carry (the most
of it) about
your person in some safe way: & it will not be best for me
to advise
you about making the little you now get; reach as far as you
consistently can.
You can well remember the changes you have passed through. Life is made
up of a
series of changes: & let us try to meet them in the best
manner possible.
You will not wish to make yourself & children any more burdensome
to
friends than you are really compelled to do. I would not. I will close this by
saying that if you now feel that you are equal to the
undertaking
do exactly as you FEEL disposed to do about coming to see me
before I
suffer. I am entirely willing. Your
Affectionate
Husband, John Brown Letter dated November 30, 1859 My Dearly Beloved Wife, Sons and Daughters, Everyone-- As I now begin what is probably the last letter I shall ever write to any of you, I conclude to write to all at same time. I will mention some little matters particularly applicable to little property concerns in another place. I recently received a letter from my wife, from near Philadelphia, dated November 22, by which it would seem that she was about giving up the idea of seeing me again. I had written her to come on if she felt equal to the undertaking, but I do not know that she will get my letter in time. It was on her own account chiefly that I asked her to stay back. At first I had a most strong desire to see her again, but there appeared to be very serious objections; and should we never meet in this life, I trust that she will in the end be satisfied it was for the best at least, if not most for her comfort. I inclosed in my last letter to her a draft of fifty dollars from John Jay, made payable to her order. I have now another to send her, from my excellent old, friend Edward Harris, of Woonsocket, R. L, for one hundred dollars, which I shall also make payable to her order. I am waiting the hour of my public murder with great composure of mind and cheerfulness, feeling the strong assurance that in no other possible way could I be used to so much advantage to the cause of good and of humanity, and that nothing that either I or all my family have sacrificed or suffered will be lost. The reflection that a wise and merciful, as well as just and Holy God, rules not only the affairs of this world, but of all worlds, is a rock to set our feet upon under all circumstances--even those more severely trying ones into which our own feelings and wrongs have placed us. I have now no doubt but that our seeming disaster will ultimately result in the most glorious success; so, my dear shattered and broken family, be of good cheer, and believe and trust in God with all your heart, and with all your soul; for He doeth all things well. Do not feel ashamed on my account, nor for one moment despair of the cause or grow weary of well doing. I bless God I never felt stronger confidence in the certain and near approach of a bright morning and a glorious day than I have felt, and do now feel, since my confinement here. I am endeavoring to return, like a poor prodigal as I am, to my Father, against whom I have always sinned, in the hope that he may kindly and forgivingly meet me, though a very great way off. Oh! my dear wife and children, would to God you could know how I have been travailing in birth for you all, that no one of you may fail of the grace of God. Through Jesus Christ--that no one of you may be blind to the truth and glorious light of his Word, in which life and immortalty are brought to light, I beseech you every one, to make the Bible your daily and nightly study, with a childlike, honest, candid, teachable spirit of love and respect for your husband and father. And I beseech the God of my fathers to open all your eyes to the discovery of the truth. You cannot imagine how much you may soon need the consolations of the Christian religion. Circumstances like my own for more than a month past have convinced me beyond all doubt, of our great need of some theories treasured up when our prejudices are excited, our vanity worked up to the highest pitch. Oh! do not trust your eternal all upon the boisterous ocean without even a helm or compass to aid you in steering. I do not ask any of you to throw away your reason; I only ask you to make a candid, sober use of your reason. My dear younger children, will you listen to this last poor admonition of one who can only love you? Oh! be determined at once to give your whole heart to God, and let nothing shake or alter that resolution. You need have no fears of regretting it. Do not be vain and thoughtless, but sober minded; and let me entreat you all to love the whole remnant of our once great family. Try and build up again your broken walls, and to make the utmost of every stone that is left. Nothing can so tend to make life a blessing as the consciousness that your life and example bless and leave you the stronger. Still, it is ground of the utmost comfort to my mind to know that so many of you as have had the opportunity have given some proof of your fidelity to the great family of men. Be faithful unto death; from the exercise of habitual love to man it cannot be very hard to learn to love his Maker. I must yet insert the reason for my firm belief in the divine inspiration of the Bible, notwithstanding I am perhaps naturally skeptical, certainly not credulous. I wish all to consider it most thoroughly when you read that blessed book, and see whether you cannot discover such evidence yourselves. It is the purity of heart filling our minds as well as work and actions, which is everywhere insisted on, that distinguishes it from all the other teachings, that commends it to my conscience. Whether my heart be willing and obedient or not, the inducement that it hold. out is another reason of my convictions of its truth and genuineness; but I do not here omit this my last argument on the Bible that eternal life is what my soul is punting after this moment. I mention this as a reason for endeavoring to leave a valuable copy of the Bible to be carefully preserved in remembrance of me, to see many of my posterity, instead of some other book equal cost. I beseech you all to live in habitual contentment with moderate circumstances and gains of worldly store, and earnestly to teach this to your children and children's children after you, by example as well as precept. Be determined to know by experience, as soon as may be, whether Bible instruction is of divine origin or not. Be sure to owe no man anything, but to love one another. John Rogers wrote to his children, "Abhor that arrant whore of Rome." John Brown writes to his children to abhor, with undying hatred also, that sum of all villainies--Slavery. Remember, he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth in spirit than he that taketh a city. Remember, also, that they, being wise, shall shine, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. And now, dearly beloved family, to God and the work of His Grace I commend you all. Your affectionate husband and father, John Brown |