A week later she fulfilled an old threat, and, attended by her husband, went away for some weeks, leaving no address; "driven," as she said, "into the wilderness." She felt that if her students did not know her whereabouts, their minds could not so persistently prey upon hers. The following letter to Daniel Spofford is postmarked Boston, April 14th, but seems to have been written upon the eve of Mrs. Eddy's flight from Lynn.
Dear Student—This hour of my departure I pick up from the carpet a piece of paper write you a line to say I am at length driven into the wilderness. Everything needs me in science, my doors are thronged, the book lies waiting, but those who call on me mentally in suffering are in belief killing me! Stopping my work that none but me can do in their supreme selfishness; how unlike the example I have left them! Tell this to Miss Brown, Mr. McLauthlen, Mrs. Atkinson, and Miss Norman[1] but do not let them know they can call on me thus if they are doing this ignorantly and if they do it consciously tell McLauthlen and them all it would be no greater crime for them to come directly and thrust a dagger into my heart they are just as surely in belief killing me and committing murder.
The sin lies at their door and for them to meet its penalty sometime. You can teach them better, see you do this.
O! Harry,[2] the book must stop. I can do no more now if ever. They lay on me suffering inconceivable.
If the students will continue to think of me and call on me, I shall at last defend myself and this will be to cut them off from me utterly in a spiritual sense by a bridge they cannot pass over and the effect of this on them they will then learn.
I will let you hear from me as soon as I can bear this on account of my health; and will return to prosecute my work on the Book as soon as I can safely. I am going far away and shall remain until you will do your part and give me some better prospect.
- ↑ Four of Mrs. Eddy's students. Miss Brown was an invalid of Ipswich. Miss Norman was also of Ipswich, and a friend of Miss Brown. Mrs. Atkinson was the wife of Mayor Atkinson of Newburyport. Mr. George T. McLauthlen was a manufacturer of machinery in Boston.
- ↑ Mr. Spofford's Christian name is Daniel Harrison. Mrs. Eddy always called him "Harry."
