[Boston—Thursday, 6 December 1866]
Thursday—last evening stayed quietly at home & re-read Lowell’s wonderful ode, to Lissie. I could not do it without tears. Jamie was called down town and on his return met Dr E.H. Chapin who had been lecturing—he is a more modest man than Beecher J. said. He always turns the talk if it drift round to his personal affairs. He leaves home every Tuesday & returns Saturday—expenses make this a necessity.
This morning Mary Dodge came in just after breakfast she is full of her western and southern trips. “I wish I had never written a word” she said “that the public might have me all fresh for I have got ever so much to say. Why, I could write a book now just as well as not. Wouldn’t I like to put on boy’s clothes and just go down South now, there is plenty of matter there. It would open the South somewhat to the North.”
She spoke of a short correspondence with “Edmund Kirke” and J. said I am sorry he has any letters of yours, he may publish them. “I don’t care if he does, I’m not afraid of what anybody does with my letters and I am only sorry that I shan’t be alive by and by when they are all collected and read.” She is full of health and has bought a farm in Minnesota.
Still housekeeping a good deal, thinking and working little I suppose but the weather yesterday was fit for Cherubim to enjoy and the world if full of loveliness and enjoyment.
Thursday night Mrs Hawthorne came to stay till Saturday—weather mild.
