[Letter of 1868 April 16]

[Letter of 1868 April 16]

1868-04-16

Equality -- United States

Liberty -- United States

Page 2 missing.

image/jp2

Correspondence

This material is made available for private study, scholarship, and research use. For access to the original letter or high-resolution reproduction, please contact the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection (blockson@temple.edu; 215-204-6632).

Temple University Libraries, Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection

William Still Collection

Blockson manuscripts

William Still Collection

Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Libraries

blockson@temple.edu

BMS010X0047

Lincoln University/ Ap 16th 68/ Dear cousin:-/ Yours of March the 8th/ was received some days ago./ At the time of its arrival at the/ University, I was spending/ a pleasant visit at home./ I found all of my people/ very well; but sister Emma/ I had a long conversation,/ with Uncle James, and in the/ course of our ple^asant converse,/ he informed me, that his/ son William would not/ remain at college longer than/ June. All of my old friends/ were glad to see me, and/ of course, I was pleased to see/ them On the whole I had a/ good time./ Your eyes; but still you may/ not agree with me. But never-/ the less we wait the glorious/ day of liberty. I mean liberty/ in its truest, and strictest sense./ With much anxiety do I watch/ the signs of the times. - There is/ an enternal[sic] reformation, work-/ing in the heart of this nation,/ which I trust, will restore freedom/ to all. I know, that there are/ all manner of workmen trying/ to prevent the coming of that/ auspicious,^ day Which^ we long to see/ But the Crisis of a tenable con-/flict is at hand, when the/ iron arm of the [bold?] tyrant/ is to be broken, or the ship of this/ Republic must sink/ May that ^day be hastened, when/ the [xxx?] shall be permitted/ to shine, upon a land of/ freedom, consecrated to/ God, in the name of a true/ Republic; having this inscrip-/tion indelibly written upon her/ banner, freedom justice, and/ humanity. And then shall this/ indeed be a land of the free/ and brave, and a hone for/ the oppressed. Lest I weary with/ a dry and unimportant subject/ I will change the conversation/ We are preparing for commence/ment day, at which time/ we hop[sic] to make a grand display/ I must close, hoping the next/ time you write, I will be favoured/ with your photograph./ Tell me what your friend/ thinks of Lincoln University/ I will send you this years/ Catalogue soon Will you be so/ kind as to send me one of/ yours Friend Waters & [Harmon?]/ are well. If you [should?] by chance/ see an old maid, who would ^ like to/ keep house for ^a young bachelor/ please let me know, as I shall/ want a good house keeper as/ soon as I am [done?] here. She/ must be pleasant true and kind/ When your friend one answering/ the description. I will exchange/ photographs./ I hope you will look around/ and send me word soon./ Respectfully/ [?] Jos [L?] Thompson/