Stevens, Aaron D. (1831-1860) to his brother Henry
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07231.12 Author/Creator: Stevens, Aaron D. (1831-1860) Place Written: Charlestown, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 February 1860 Pagination: 2 p. : envelope Order a Copy
Ponders his sentence and the prospect of death. Hopes for mercy so that he may continue to live, but is doubtful and accepts death calmly. Discusses spiritualism. Written from Charlestown jail.
Charlestown Jail, Va: Feb 23rd/60.
My Dear Brother,
I have just read your kind lettor of Feb: 15th and now sit down to write you one in return, and it may be the last, but I will try to write you one more. I do hope you will not worry in least about me, for I am cheerful and happy, and if I have to die now, it will be only be going before you a few years, we have all got to die sooner or later, and death has no terrors for me, still I have a desire to live yet awhile for I am yong yet and have just learnt how to live.
I should like to see you and yours very much, but I must give up these wants for a time. It may be that they will show me some mercy yet, I think they aught to for I have alwase shown Mercy when I could, and it is a great pleasure to me [2] now to feel that no one ever asked mercy of [inserted: me] in vain. There is a great deal I should like to say to you on religion, but I shall not be able [inserted: to say] much in the few short hours I have got to live. I have a great many lettors to write and you must excuse me from writing long lettors. you say if the Spritual theory has no god and savior you cannot embrace it. it has a god and its Savior is good actions, if does not take christ as the son of god, but as the son of man, and a reformer of his day.
Spiritualism holds out the Idea of eternal progression here and here after. I do not want you to have any faith in the Spiritual theory unless you find it out yourself. and all I ask is for you to investigate it and if you find it false condemn it butt if you find it true accept it though you are scared by some. I will not write any more this morning as I want to send this lettor off [inserted: in] this [inserted: mail] [struck: morning] good by
give my love to your wife and little one your loving Brother,
A.D.S.
[envelope]
Mr Henry E. Stevens.
Monticello
Minesota
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