[Plymouth—Sunday, 23 June 1867]

Sunday. Morning, fresh yet warm, a heavenly day dedicated to pure thoughts and heavenly aspirations. I was stirring about five and near six went out on the piazza to enjoy the early sunshine. At breakfast a New York or Philadelphia woman who is here, a Mrs Kimball, told us of an old man living in a brick house near the hotel who was a learned man and a Professor in some college during his youth. He went to France and there became engaged to a French woman who came with him to this country, and afterward to Plymouth on a visit. She became so enamored of this place that he threw up his professorship & came here to reside. Their life seems to have been one of exquisite happiness together, for now she is dead he cherishes her memory with profound tenderness. An old French servant came over with them who never has been able to speak a word of English and who though very old devotes herself to her mistress’s bereaved children & husband. The father speaks french always with his children and all their little french ways he likes to believe they preserve in memory of her. In consequence of the presence of these two cultivated persons in so small a town as Plymouth the people have much more education and desire for it than elsewhere, the old Professor is called upon to give instruction in many branches and his children teach French.

Last night as we passed the house a little group of the father and daughters were standing by the shrubbery at the gate. He saluted us and as we went on I fancied I heard a few words of French but laughed at what seemed my own absurdity and said nothing about it until this morning when the little history was recalled.

We went to church and heard a good old doctrinal discourse nevertheless the preacher was earnest and by no means without culture.


National Endowment for the Humanities - Logo

Editorial work on The Brownings’ Correspondence is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

This website was last updated on 3-28-2024.

Copyright © 2024 Wedgestone Press. All rights reserved.

Back To Top