NAWSA General Correspondence Gage, Portia Vineland July 28 1890 My Dear Lucy I am willing to contribute a little something for the sattisfaction of knowing that I am not entirely forgotten you are two blessed souls to work and work - and keep on working hold your "grip" in spite of grippe and rheumatism, and heart and everything else - I love you and am proud of you, but not one bit envious - I lost my "grip" many years ago and have never felt any inclination to take hold again. It is coming, Wyoming is only the foreruner, wedged in to prepare the way - I hope you may see of the travail of your souls and be satisfied I send five dollars for S Dacota not much, but all I can afford. We are now living out the savings of former years - shall have enough unles we live too larg. Portia Gage but I have more fear of ecclesiastical rule than of disfranchisment (I am used to the latter) I repeat my new lesson "All is good," "There is no evil," many times daily, and try to make myself comprehend, understand and believe, but my grip is very weak– Whatever is is right said Pope, so said the sturdy theif. But when his neck required the rope He varied his belief and so do I You want means to carry freedom into South Dakota Haywood wants means to carry freedom in Mass Harmon wants money for the same purpose for Kansas, Ried the same in Iowa, New York needs something to keep Comstock from imprisoning little girls on suspicion of writing obscene cards- N Jersey needs something to enable her noble free minds and "old wood choppers" to keep out from "behind the bars" and nothing but entire separation of Church and State will do it- will Woman Suffrage help to separate? John and I, with the girl in the kitchen, are the sole occupants of this great house Both are well, both work according to our individual inclinations. Mr Gage is most 88, of course he fails in memory, hearing, and eyesight and I am following close in his tracks, but I do not allow of being called the "old woman" or "old Mrs. Gage." We have two sons living [*Will send you a marked paper, want you to study it and get a Mental scientist to put you in good fighting order again. Let work alone and your heart is right*] [*Portia Gage Vineland N J. $5 Dak Re July 31 '90*] here, very near us, two in Chicago, expect them here in Aug to visit Henry who is Commander of Post Geo. H. Thomas No. 5 will be in Boston during the National encampment of the G.A.R. Porcius is eating with us now, his wife and son are away Asahel and wife are with us daily they go with me in the investigation of "Mental Science," the other members of the family make fun of it. We have had a Neice with us the past ten years but she is gone now - Sarah M. Gage is in Mich with her BrJoe expect her here in the fall Mr Gage neither reads or writes or does very little at it. I read to him, but I find it a great task to write We are very happy in a quiet way, seldom go out. I should like to go more but do not want to leave Mr. Gage alone should like to be in Boston while the G.A.R are there Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.