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Modern Persecution, or Insane Asylums Unveiled

From: Modern Persecution
Creator: Elizabeth P. W. Packard (author)
Date: 1873
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 1  Figure 2  Figure 3  Figure 4  Figure 5  Figure 6  Figure 7  Figure 8  Figure 9  Figure 10  Figure 11  Figure 12  Figure 13  Figure 14  Figure 15  Figure 16

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1131  

Among my asylum papers I find a copy of a letter I wrote to my children on some cotton underwaists, which I tried to send by Miss Wilson, of Kankakee city. As all communication with my children was cut off by the authority of Dr. McFarland, I was led to resort to strategy to secure this end.

1132  

Therefore I procured some nicely dressed bleached cotton, and embroidered for my daughter some double underwaists, on which I could easily and legibly pencil a long communication, such as my feelings prompted, hoping thus to bring myself to their recollection, so that I might not become an object of indifference to them.

1133  

The Doctor knew that I was making these waists for her, and it seems he suspected the plan which might thus open some kind of communication between us. Therefore as Miss Wilson was leaving, as a discharged patient, for her home in Kankakee, he, knowing that my Manteno home was only twelve miles from there, took her aside and asked her if she had any letter from me with her.

1134  

She replied that she had no letter.

1135  

"Have you anything from Mrs. Packard to her children?"

1136  

"Yes, I have some waists for her daughter, which I promised to take to her."

1137  

"Let me see them!" She then took them from her bosom, where she had placed them for concealment, and handed them to the doctor. He unfolded them and saw the penciling on the inside, and after reading it, ordered them to the laundry to be washed and ironed before they could he sent! thus thinking he had swept the letter into oblivion.

1138  

But his sagacity was outwitted by his prisoner this time, for if the exultant Doctor felt that all traces of my intelligence and sanity had been obliterated by the destruction of my letters, he will now see he was mistaken, when he sees this printed copy was preserved to be my passport to the world, of the state of this prisoner's mind while behind his dead-locks, and numbered among his "hopelessly insane maniacs."

1139  

INSANE ASYLUM, June 20, 1861.

1140  

MY BELOVED CHILDREN: -- So long as we are sure we have conscience and God on our side, we have nothing to fear, although we are maligned by those who deny that conscience is designed as our guide. Let these who dare to disregard this silent monitor do so; but you, my children, will with me, dare to "serve the Lord," won't you? For it is only fidelity to its dictates which the Lord requires as his service.

1141  

You are in danger of losing your souls by contact with those who encourage you to set aside conscience as your guide to heavenly happiness. In this net of false doctrines, Satan is ensnaring guileless souls, and leading them unawares into captivity to himself. Do, children, be warned, and escape this snare before it is. too late.

1142  

But, children, since we cannot secure the safety of any soul in opposition to their freedom, I rejoice that God does not hold us absolutely responsible for any soul but our own.

1143  

To save ourselves depends upon ourselves; and he who is fully determined to "work out his own salvation with fear and trembling," is the only one who will experience this salvation.

1144  

Children, do right in everything whether you are praised or blamed, and you will certainly secure a crown of righteousness, and so long as you continue to do right, no one can rake it from you.

1145  

But one sin, one wrong act, may forfeit it forever; as only small stream may drown one if he lies prostrate in it.

1146  

Oh! beware of little sins, little deviations from rectitude, truth, honesty, uprightness, from kindness, from forbearance, from patience, from forgiveness, from charity.

1147  

Encourage the very incipient beginnings of repentance on the part of offenders, by showing that your heart yearns and longs to meet it with forgiveness, with God-like forgiveness, bestowed on the gospel ground of repentance.

1148  

But, children, I fear you will think mother is preaching you a sermon instead of writing a letter. Pardon me, if I have burdened you thus, for you know this is not your mother's way to teach you Christ's religion. Her way has been to practice godliness, and thus endeavor to be a "living epistle known and read of all men." But being absent, I am under the necessity of taking this method of instructing you.

1149  

Your mother is doing here as she did at home, trying to secure her happiness in doing right; although by so doing, I often offend others by becoming thus a" terror to the evil doer, as well as a praise of them that do well."

1150  

I cannot express how much I regret the course your father has taken in separating me from your society and sympathy. But he is alone responsible for a great wrong by so doing.

1151  

Oh! how I do rejoice now that I never wronged that man! I beg of you to do the same.

1152  

Keep clear of guilt, however much he may tempt you. Remember, that to be angry, is but to punish yourself for another's fault. Love yourselves too well to do it, for you cannot be really happy if you sin in the least thing.

1153  

I do feel deeply sorry you have so desolate a home. But be patient, and all will be right some time.

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