Watch Hill House
Watch Hill, R.I.
July 3, 1884.Yes, Gertrude, my brave strong friend, all along the "barren, barren shore as far as the eye can reach or the ear can listen still shouts the inspiring sea." I am sitting in the rapidly fading light by my open window and high in heaven I see the sweet regent who so mysteriously commands the heart throbs, the restless, passionate pulsations of the sea. How far her strong & sweet & unseen influences extend! Even so the strong sweet influence of an absent distant friend may make the human heart throb and the pulses quiver!
How glad I was of your letter this afternoon! I do not yet dispair of having you, yourself! As I sat alone on a rock close by the mighty surf this afternoon, I more than once half turned around fancying that I might find you stealing upon me unawares in your old, sweet way. Why weren't you there? Why didn't I find myself held tight in your arms and hearing your voice, - saying things I long to hear, in my ear?
It should have been so. I cannot make it seem right that it was not. Listen! From the distance come the warning desolate sound of a busy bell out in the ocean, rung by the very waves that may prove some ship's destruction!
A letter from Laura today tells of your telegram.
"No friends like the old friends." Indeed there are not my Gertrude. Why must they be wrenched apart? There never were such girls as our girls! I never shall make again such friends as I have made at Mt. Holyoke Seminary.
You inspire me with the thought "each one of us standing free and strong somewhere." But oh, not in ourselves," - I know you do not think that, we cannot, we will falter and fail in the fight if we long to be sufficient units ourselves. But we do not have to be that.
Dear, I know Lowell's Sonnet.
"Through suffering & thro [...]" and is it not beautiful? I say it back to you.
Gertrude - what shall we do with wicked, impure tho'ts if they come like evil demons and torment the mind? I am always afraid to ask that question of anyone - I am afraid to ask you [........] that they come, for they cross our fairest moments without our bidding, - can it? It is only the harboring them that stains & defiles & blackens, is it not? Perhaps you never know them, never feel their torment, that is why I fear to ask. If we could only laugh off all sin - could be pure even as He is pure! Mizpah. Grace & peace & strength and Love be over thee & around thee & in thee. May God love thee my beloved may God love thee.