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letter written in black ink on plain brown paper (probably browned by age); the image shows the letter lying on a paper with a vertical label of General Library, University of California, Berkeley
I was very sure you would run across that story somewhere, I am glad you have. A
drummond light—no, I mean a Brush light—is thrown upon the negro
estimate of values by his willingness to risk his soul & his nightly peace
for ever for the sake of a silver sev'npence. And this form of the story seems
rather nearer the true field-hand standard than that achieved by my
I judge you haven't received my new book yet—however, you will in a day or
two. Meantime you must not take it ill if I drop Osgood a hint about your proposed
story of slave life; For the more I deal with him the more I am satisfied that
whosoever has a book will do the judicious thing to let him have it. He is a fine
man every way; he knows we know, now, how to get Canadian copyright
— & I doubt if anyone else in America does
When you come north I wish you would drop me a line & then follow it in person & give me a day or two at our house in Hartford. If you will, I will snatch Osgood down from Boston & you won't have to go there at all unless you want to. Please do bear this strictly in mind, & don't forget it.