[Boston—Wednesday, 27 March 1867]
Wednesday. Bright day. Made several calls in the afternoon one upon old Mrs Loring (Ellis Gray) and I could not help reflecting how old age makes apparent the faults of character. The skill which youth possesses for hiding and glozing over fades utterly as the weakness of years takes possession and only utter simplicity and truth can make life beautiful then when they can no longer be acquired; they must be our youthful companions in order to travel with us then.
Saw also a Miss Brown, a lady of middle life who supports herself by teaching drawing, hoping always for a lull to come in her necessities many lessons when she can paint. Her library attracted me—books of french philosophy—Les morales de Zoroaster etc. Plato—Dante—and good things many.
