[Boston—Saturday, 23 March 1872]

Saturday morning March 23. Celia and I were first at breakfast but Mr. Emerson & J. soon followed. Mr. E. had evidently been at work, his hands were somewhat cold. I heard him stirring before seven o’clock. He came down bright and fresh however with the spirit of youth in his face. Jamie made him laugh two or three times which is always a sight to see. He does not laugh out but his internal gymnastics seem to crush him. It is a laughable sight in itself to see him overtaken by laughter; he does not surrender easily. They fell upon anecdotes of animals at table and birds. He said he had never heard a parrot say any of these wonderful things himself but the Storer family of Cambridge who were very truthful people had told him astonishing anecdotes of a bird belonging to them which he could not disbelieve because they told them.

At ten o’clock we went to Miss Lorings Mt. Vernon St. where the young ladies of the Saturday Morning Culture Club were convened to hear Mr. Emerson on Manners. He told us we had better remain at home as we had heard this paper many times but happily we did not choose and the good things were many which he revived and in some cases added. One of his points was quite new the saying “of a wise woman who remarked she did not think so much of what people said as what made them say it.” We [sic] was pretty to see the enthousiasm of the girls and to hear what Celia called their virile applause. Celia enjoyed it deeply and we parted shortly after both very happy in our friendship and in our “privileges” as our good country folk say of the church.

Afternoon and evening shut in by a glorious snowstorm and deep quiet—passed chiefly in note-writing and sewing however, in spite of my desire for a good read. My dear boy came home from a Horticultural dinner whither Emerson & Collyer had accompanied him pretty tired and after tea fell fast asleep. How beautiful a thing is rest in sleep!


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