Andover U.S. Dec 14 1852 Dr Wardlaw Dear Sir I was most deeply & gratefully touched by your kind letter, & by its certainly very unexpected contents -- That christian hearts in good old Scotland should turn so warmly towards me, seems to me like a dream, -- yet it is no less a most pleasant one. For myself I can claim no merit, in that work which has been the cause of this, -- It was an instinctive irresistible outburst & had no more merit in it than a mother's waiting for her first born. The success of the work so strange so utterly unexpected only astonishes me! -- I can only say that this bubble of my mind has risen on the mighty stream of a Divine Purpose -- & even a bubble may go far on such a tide. I am much of my time pressed down with a heavy sadness -- "for the hurt [2] of the daughter of my people" -- it is so horrible! -- so sad -- such a dishonor to Christ & his cause! But again when I see that a Spirit above me is using this feeble book -- choosing the weak things of the world to confound the mighty, then I have hope -- Why has he given it this success unless He means some mercy to the cause? Please say to those christian friends who have sent me the invitation in your letter that I gladly accept it, tho when I get there I fear they may be disappointed -- I never was much to see -- & now I am in feeble health -- worn & weary -- I am now putting thro the press another work -- a Key to Uncle Tom's Cabin containing all the facts & documents which confirm the story -- truth darker & sadder & more painful to write than the fiction was -- I shall call heaven & Earth to witness to the deeds which have been done here! Alas that I should [3] do it. Should God spare my life till April, I trust to mingle prayers & christian affection with the christians of Scotland. Yours in the gospel of Jesus. H B Stowe