y
believe so that they may have the substance of their belief."

Isaac Hecker's business in Concord had, as usual, two sides.
Externally it meant going on with Greek and Latin, under the guidance
of the lately deceased George P. Bradford, a scholar of rare
acquirements, whose acquaintance he had made at Brook Farm the
previous year. The end he sought in this study was to fit himself for
"working in the field of the church." But as the question of which
church was not even yet fully settled in his mind, his search for the
true religion still remained his deepest and most inmost purpose.
Nevertheless, he was enjoying at this time one of his periods of
profound interior and exterior peace. "I feel," he writes, "that I am
growing in God's grace. To Him I look for support. Will He not impart
wisdom as well as love?"

His surroundings at Concord are so vividly described in the letters
he wrote to his family that we cannot omit quotations from them. The
first of these is dated at Brook Farm, and describes his efforts to
find a room after reaching the village. He seems to have gone at once
to Mr. Bradford's house on his arrival.

"April 22, '44.-. . . After supper we sallied forth again. We saw a
room, and what do you imagine they charged for it? Seventy-five
dollars a year!! This was out of the question. We went further and
found a room, good size, very good people, furnished, and to be kept
in order for eight dollars a quarter. This seemed reasonable to me,
and also to Mr. Bradford. I felt safe in telling the lady that I
thought I should take it. I requested Mr. Bradford to keep a look-out
for me while I was gone, and if we could not find a better place
before I returned I would accept this. This morning I left Concord to
come and see Charles Dana concerning the books I shall require, and
to see some of my friends. I got into Boston at ten o'clock, and
walked out here by dinner-time. All of the old set that are here were
delighted to see me. I have conversed with a few of them, and find
them more open to consider the claims of the Church than I had
anticipated."

"Concord, April 24, '44.--Dear Friends: This evening I can say that I
am settled, comfortably settled in every particular. All that is
needed for my comfort is here: a good straw bed, a large table,
carpet, washstand, book-case, stove, chairs, looking-glass--all, all
that is needful. And this for seventy-five cents a week, including
lights; wood is extra pay. T