[Boston—Sunday, 7 July 1865]
Sunday July 9 [sic]. Passed Friday in Concord. Called at the Emersons but were disappointed to find them all in town, Jamie particularly who wished to tell him that his new essay on Character is not suited to the magazine. Ordinary readers would not understand him and would consider it blasphemous. He thinks it would do more good if delivered simply to his own disciples first in a volume of new essays uniform with the others.
Dined with Sophia Hawthorne and the children, the first real visit since that glorious presence has departed. What an altered household! She feels very lonely and is like a reed. I fear the children find small restraint from her. Poor child! How tired she is! Will God spare her further trial, I wonder and take her to his rest?
Went to call on Sophia Thoreau. She said Mr Emerson was not pleased that she restored the tender human touches to her brother’s letter which he had cut out. “He was too courteous & kind to say much or to insist upon his own way he only said “you have spoiled my Greek statue”.
We saw a letter from Froude the historian to H.T. as warmly appreciative as it was possible for a letter to be, also “long good histories” as his sister said from his admirer Cholmondly. His journal is in 32 volumes and when J.T.F. spoke of wishing for an editor to condense these, she said there was no hurry and she thought the man would come. We spoke of Sanborn. She said “he knows a great deal but I never associate him with my brother.”
She is a woman borne down with ill health. She seemed to possess as we saw her something of the self sustaining power of her brother, the same repose and confidence in her fate, as being always good. Dear S.H. says she has this when she thinks of her brother but often loses it when the surface of her life becomes irritated and she is disabled for work. Her aged mother hearing we were there got up and dressed herself and came down to her daughter’s great surprise. She has an immense care in that old lady evidently.