[Boston—Wednesday, 8 May 1867]
Wednesday May 8th Jamie ill with headache & cold, all day raining hard. Una Hawthorne passed last night here and told me the particulars of her engagement. This morning in spite of the bad weather Mr Tait a young artist and friend of T.B. Read came to breakfast. J. was not well enough to be up so I had to do the honors alone and poorly enough I fear. He was to sail in the steamer at eleven with Garrison & Thompson. I was sorry not to be able to see them all off according to previous agreement. The young man talked pleasantly & like a gentleman & described the manner of his work (in charcoal often finely finished) in an unobtrusive way which led me to think it might be very good.
I have had a day among things wearisome enough.
Ah! “Things are of the Snake” I know, but the mortal coil twists tightly and becomes itself the Snake without we heap the fair beyond forever in peaceful view.
Tonight the wind has gone south & west and after this long draft of penetrating sea winds we are at last to see the Spring indeed.
