[Boston—Sunday, 14 June 1868]
Sunday. At home. Cool and perfect—our first “June day.” Everything to write about but the mood is wanting.
We have a tea-party tonight. Professor & Mrs. Botta & about 20 persons.
I forgot to say that Mr. Clarke of Newport told us, two years after Dana records in in Two years Before the Mast a man being left behind with the savages this same man was picked up by a vessel in which Mr. C. was. He had been tattooed all over, had become half a savage, but was overjoyed to get away. His companion had married and concluded to live among them. The story would make a good sequel or note to a new edition.
We leave home this week though [th]is place is looking lovely—but we fancy the house must be cleaned & that we should like a country run. So I got a new book and begin another era and shut away in a drawer much of all I may ever be able to record of Charles Dickens. He is a daily companion however to our thought. We cannot fail of this nor fail to be grateful.
We think daily of Longfellow, absent, and the verses on the cover describe him perfectly now. His name might be united with them forever.
