Page:Memoirs of Margaret Fuller Ossoli (IA memoirsofmargare02fullrich).pdf/157

Rh you will daily learn how near He is to every one of us.’

These fragments, from a hasty report transcribed when the impressions of the hour had grown faint, give but a shadow of the broad good sense, hearty fellow-feeling, and pathetic hopefulness, which made so effective her truly womanly appeal.

This intercourse with the most unfortunate of her sex, and a desire to learn more of the causes of their degradation, and of the means of restoring them, led Margaret, immediately on reaching New York, to visit the various benevolent institutions, and especially the prisons on Blackwell’s Island. And it was while walking among the beds of the lazar-house, — mis-called “hospital,” — which then, to the disgrace of the city, was the cess-pool of its social filth, that an incident occurred, as touching as it was surprising to herself. A woman was pointed out who bore a very bad character, as hardened, sulky, and impenetrable. She was in bad health and rapidly failing. Margaret requested to be left alone with her; and to her question, ‘Are you willing to die?’ the woman answered, “Yes;” adding, with her usual bitterness, “not on religions grounds, though.” ‘That is well,—to understand yourself” was Margaret’s rejoinder, She then began to talk with her about her health, and her few comforts, until the conversation deepened in interest. At length, as Margaret rose to go, she said: ‘Is there not anything I can do for you?’ The woman replied: “I should be glad if you will pray with me.”

The condition of these wretched beings was brought the more home to her heart, as the buildings were directly