[Boston—Saturday, 29 April 1865]
April 29th Club dinner for J.T.F. Mr Brownell was present. Author of “The Bay Fight” as Dr Holmes’ guest. Dr H. said privately to us “Well t’ain’t much for some folks to do what I’m doing for this man but it’s a good deal for me. I don’t like that kind of thing you know. I find myself unawares in something the position of a lion-hunter which is unpleasant!!”
He has lately discovered that Forceythe Willson the author of a noble poem called the “Color Sergeant” [sic, for “The Old Sergeant”] has been living two years in Cambridge. He wrote to him and told him how much he liked his poem & said he would like to make his acquaintance. “I will be at home,” the young poet replied to the elder, “at a time you may appoint to call upon me.” This was a little strange to O.W.H. who rather expected as the elder who was extending the right hand to be called upon, I suppose although he did not say so. He found a fortress of a man, “shy as Hawthorne” and one “who had not learned that the eagles wings should sometimes be kept down, as we people who live in the world must” said the Professor to me afterward.
“In State” by F.W. is a great poem.
