Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895) to Sarah Pillsbury re: death of his wife Anna Douglass
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07752.01 Author/Creator: Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1882/08/20 Pagination: 3 p. 20.2 x 12.2 cm Order a Copy
Douglass writes "Thanks for your kind letter. Mrs Douglass was all you say of her and more. She was the post in the centre of my house. Different we were in many things. She was conservative and I radical, she was for the old I for the new, She did not care to learn to read - and was thus measurably that out from the things the interested me. but in all the duties of mother and wife, she deserves all you have said of her. Two people could not well live together forty and four years as we have done, without the death of either being a shock and a calamity."
Washington D.C. August 20. 1882
My dear friend Pillsbury
[illegible] differences of opinion, no criticisms upon my course which you may have been called upon to make, have ever disturbed for a moment the "deep sea" of my reverence and affection for your value and character, since I first saw your face, heard your voice, and felt your amazing power of though and feeling, in the old Liberty Hall New Bedford, Now more than forty years ago. From that how until Now them has been no break-in my thought and feeling towards you. Thanks for your kind better. Mrs. Douglass [struck] was all your day of her and more. She was the push in the centre [sic] of my house. Different we were in many things. She was conservative and I radical, she was for the old I for the new, she did not care to learn to read and was thus measurably which [illegible] from the things that interested me. but in all the duties of mothers and wife, she deserves all you have said of her. Two people could not well live together forty and four years as we have done, without the death of [illegible] being a shock and a calamity.
With best wishes for you and yours
I am yours sincerely
Fred'k Douglass.
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