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that she had hoped, now, to have had some pleasure, time,
&c; professing that she should never love her unborn offspring,
and wishing to prevent its birth. Indeed she would have effec-
ted this if the doctor had not deceived her as to the time of her
approaching delivery � so the child�s life was only saved by a
trick. All this was spoken of openly among the women, for
some months past. There as no repugnance to maternity on
the grounds that the little helpless creature�s prospects in life
might not be bright ones � all originated in pure selfishness. It
would be a trouble, and she would hate it. Patten deferred a
little to her now of the matter, wasn�t particular any way. Mrs
Potter didn�t approve of abortion, but looked upon it not with
the amount of horror which it should excite in a woman�s breast,
for � my informant told me � there d been a similar case in her
own family. In fact, as I�ve long known, Americans are
a nation of abortionists, and think nothing of tampering with
the most sacred of relations � maternity. In most cases, where
ever I�ve been intimate enough to go behind the scenes in any
family in American life, and had a chance to look deep enough
I�ve discovered some such damnable affair. Only a week ago
Woodward, in answer to my inquiry as to the number of his
children, replying that he had but two, declared, also, that
he didn�t believe in having more, pulling down and making a
slave of a woman &c. I remember Will Waud�s telling
how Levison introducing his only daughter Ellen, said �It
don�t follow we couldn�t have more if we chose.� His wife
was present. Waud said he felt awkward at such an in-
timation. I believe, though, that Levison did wish for more
children. But his wife �����. Often enough I�ve heard