a whole.  Chief among these was the Rev. George Ripley, who, convinced by his experience in a faithful ministry, that the need was urgent for a thorough application of the professed principles of Fraternity to actual relations, was about staking his all of fortune, reputation, position, and influence, in an attempt to organize a joint-stock community at Brook Farm.  How Margaret was inclined to regard this movement has been already indicated.  While at heart sympathizing with the heroism that prompted it, in judgment she considered it premature.  But true to her noble self, though regretting the seemingly gratuitous sacrifice of her friends, she gave them without stint the cheer of her encouragement and the light of her counsel.  She visited them often; entering genially into their trials and pleasures, and missing no chance to drop good seed in every furrow upturned by the ploughshare or softened by the rain.  In the secluded yet intensely animated circle of these co-workers I frequently met her during several succeeding years, and rejoice to bear testimony to the justice, magnanimity, wisdom, patience, and many-sided good-will, that governed her every thought and deed.  The feelings with which she watched the progress of this experiment are thus exhibited in her journals:—­

’My hopes might lead to Association, too,—­an association, if not of efforts, yet of destinies.  In such an one I live with several already, feeling that each one, by acting out his own, casts light upon a mutual destiny, and illustrates the thought of a mastermind.  It is a constellation, not a phalanx, to which I would belong.’

* * * * *

’Why bind oneself to a central or any doctrine?  How much nobler stands a man entirely unpledged, unbound!  Association may be the great experiment of the age, still it is only an experiment.  It is not worth while to lay such stress on it; let us try it, induce others to try it,—­that is enough.’

* * * * *

’It is amusing to see how the solitary characters tend to outwardness,—­to association,—­while the social and sympathetic ones emphasize the value of solitude,—­of concentration,—­so that we hear from each the word which, from his structure, we least expect.’

* * * * *

’On Friday I came to Brook Farm.  The first day or two here is desolate.  You seem to belong to nobody—­to have a right to speak to nobody; but very soon you learn to take care of yourself, and then the freedom of the place is delightful.

    ’It is fine to see how thoroughly Mr. and Mrs. R. act out, in
    their own persons, what they intend.