"
Before leaving New York, Mrs. Stowe gave Milly Edmondson her check for
the entire sum necessary to purchase her own freedom and that of her
children, and sent her home rejoicing. That this sum was made up to
her by the generous contributions of those to whom she appealed is
shown by a note written to her husband and dated July, 1852, in which
she says:--
"Had a very kind note from A. Lawrence inclosing a twenty-dollar gold-
piece for the Edmondsons. Isabella's ladies gave me twenty-five
dollars, so you see our check is more than paid already."
Although during her visit in New York Mrs. Stowe made many new
friends, and was overwhelmed with congratulations and praise of her
book, the most pleasing incident of this time seems to have been an
epistolatory interview with Jenny Lind (Goldschmidt). In writing of it
to her husband she says:--
"Well, we have heard Jenny Lind, and the affair was a bewildering
dream of sweetness and beauty. Her face and movements are full of
poetry and feeling. She has the artless grace of a little child, the
poetic effect of a wood-nymph, is airy, light, and graceful.
"We had first-rate seats, and how do you think we got them? When Mr.
Howard went early in the morning for tickets, Mr. Goldschmidt told him
it was impossible to get any good ones, as they were all sold. Mr.
Howard said he regretted that, on Mrs. Stowe's account, as she was
very desirous of hearing Jenny Lind.
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