[Manchester—Sunday, 18 July 1875]
Sunday July 18. A wondrous morning: full of Sunday rest and sweetness.
Yesterday came John S. Dwight to pass today with us. A gentle Sweet old man, full of music and full of gentleness. Sophie and Robert Darrah came in the afternoon, also Mr. Rufus Ellis, his wife, and Mrs Paine. Mrs Burlingame, with her married son & his wife, came in the evening to sit in the moonlight. It was one of the great nights of the year. It seemed too bad to go to bed at all.
Laura told me yesterday she seemed to have lost all feeling. She had lost all faith long ago—that belonged to the weakness of her youth; now she felt strong in her unfaith. Poor child! She seems to me unutterably miserable where she stands. I besought her to follow by the side of the men of great faith and perchance they could help to lead her back to the fountain of all faith. Unhappily a strange self-esteem seems to keep her away. Her ears are holden that she does not wish to hear. She doubts if she be right or she would not be so sad and low. I hardly know what miracle is to smite the rock of her being. What, O what! if she could be moved here. That would be joy indeed. She is only one of a large class. Celia stands much as Laura does, but alas! alas! “The clouds that gather round their setting sun”!
It is a blessed thing to have these friends here and this day shall be devoted to their need.
Have read a noble sermon by Robert Collyer today of Elijah and the ravens who appear to have been his neighbours!!!
