[Boston—Tuesday, 24 December 1867]

Tuesday. Put up the Xmas tree. When Mr Longfellow dropped in, in the evening I carried him up to see it. How proud I felt at the praise he gave it. We all went to hear “The Carol” Ah! how beautiful it was! How everybody felt it. How the whole house rose and cheered! How grateful we felt somehow to this man who had written such helpful loving words to help other men, his fellows with, like one who should hold a candle to light others in a dark way. The enthousiasm was inspiring. Afterward he sent for us to shake hands with him but he was very tired & it would have been almost better to have stayed away except that he had sent for us.

Indeed of my own self I could not help feeling proud I fear at all the kind words and lovely things which are bestowed upon me but there is something else which will, Heaven helping! keep me from it, the knowledge of short coming and the slight value of the world’s praise compared with true well-doing and the difficulty of it. For Mr Dickens is very kind and we cannot help loving him as all must do who have the privilege of coming near him and seeing him as he is.


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