Margaret L. Bailey

Margaret L. Bailey (, Shands; December 12, 1812 – 1888) was an American anti-slavery writer, "The Blind Slave Boy" (1845). Words by Mrs. Dr. Bailey. Music arranged from Sweet Afton.

In 1833, she married Dr. Gamaliel Bailey, a physician in Cincinnati.

In 1837, Dr. Bailey became the editor and proprietor of The Philanthropist, a well-known anti-slavery journal, which was merged into The Cincinnati Morning Herald, in the year 1843. as well as white antislavery activists. Her weekend salons were frequented by writers and abolitionists.

After Dr. Bailey's death in 1859, Mrs. Bailey served as the publisher of The National Era until the time of its suspension, February, 1860.

Critical reception According to Griswold & Stoddard (1878), The Youth's Monthly Visitor "was perhaps the first of its class every published in the U.S., and its content justify the critical opinion of Mr. William D. Gallagher, that Mrs. Bailey is one of the ablest women of the age."

She did not like the poems of her early life, though Rufus Wilmot Griswold, stated, "They have less individuality than her prose, but they are informed with fancy and a just understanding.".

Duty and Reward

LABOR—wait! thy Master perished Ere his task was done; Count not lost thy fleeting moments, Life hath but begun.

Labor! and the seed thou sowest Water with thy tears; God is faithful—he will give thee Answer to thy prayers.

Wait in hope! though yet no verdure Glad the longing eyes, Thou shalt see the ripened harvest Garnered in the skies.

Labor — wait! though midnight shadows Gather round thee here, And the storms above thee lowering Fill thy heart with fear-

Wait in hope; the morning dawneth When the night is gone, And a peaceful rest awaits thee When thy work is done.

Selected works "National era. : To the subscribers of the Era: When the National era was suspended, last March, I hoped that arrangements could be made to resume its publication on the 1st of May.", 1860 "The National era, Washington, D.C. Volume XIV. January, 1860. : The National era is a political, literary, and family newspaper. It is an uncompromising opponent of slavery and the slave power ... it has supported and will continue to support the Republican Party, so long as it shall be true to freedom", 1860