Letters, 1832-1899

Front Cover
Priv. ptd., 1903 - 216 pages
 

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 152 - And once, when Johnson was ill, and unable to exert himself as much as usual without fatigue, Mr. Burke having been mentioned, he said " That fellow calls forth all my powers. Were I to see Burke now it would kill me.
Page 49 - A political victory, a rise of rents, the recovery of your sick or the return of your absent friend, or some other favorable event raises your spirits, and you think good days are preparing for you. Do not believe it. Nothing , can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace \. but the triumph of principles.
Page 34 - At best, Paris could only be a school in which to learn to live here, a stepping-stone to Concord, a school in which to fit for this university.
Page 14 - Exulting, rich beyond the wealth of kings, I felt a sense of pain when I beheld The silent trees, and saw the intruding sky. — Then, dearest Maiden, move along these shades In gentleness of heart; with gentle hand Touch — for there is a spirit in the woods.
Page 147 - It is the relation to universal humanity which constitutes literature ; it matters not how elevated, whether it be history, philosophy, or poetry, in its highest aspirations; or how humble, it may be the simplest rhyme or story that is level to the unquestioning faith and untutored intellect of childhood : let it but be adjlressed to our common human nature, it is literature in the true sense of the term. No man can put it aside and say, te It concerns not me :" no woman can put it aside and say,...
Page 164 - sweetest letters," and the familiarity he always displays with his private affairs, show that the young courtier was a tolerably regular correspondent. It is difficult for elderly folk, when they have conceived ardent affection for their juniors, to remember how very much more space the young occupy in the thoughts of the old than the old can hope to command in youthful brains distracted by the multifarious traffic of society. Languet had little to do but to ply his pen in his study. Sidney had to...
Page 126 - ... month, the tints began to be more general, at which time the frosts began. There were scattered bright tints long before, but not till then did the forest begin to be painted. By the end of the month, the leaves will either have fallen, or be seared and turned brown by the frosts, for the most part. My friend is one who takes me for what I am. A stranger takes me for something else than what I am. We do not speak, we cannot communicate, till we find that we are recognized. The stranger supposes...
Page vi - Library was not so much used then as now. Old Mr. Bass was Librarian, and at one time a young English boy, Fisher Keeler, was employed there, with whom some of us who frequented the Library formed an alliance, and we used to play marbles with him on the floor of the long alcoves, where we were rarely interrupted by any older person.
Page 114 - ... poverty against property, which is an unequal contest, the issue must be in favour of the former, unless important Events in Europe, occasion a speedy turn to support the latter. — We shall be glad to learn how you get on, and to have such information as may be important and given with propriety. With best wishes for your health and happiness I am very truly your friend and hum Serv S: Higginson 57. TO TIMOTHY PICKERING (Massachusetts Historical Society).1 Boston Feby 15
Page 118 - Every life that has to be lived, can be lived; and however impossible it may seem to the onlookers, it has its own consolations, or, at least, interests. And I always fancy the most indispensable thing to a life is, that it should be interesting to those who have it to live. It is just like reading a book; anything will do if you are taken up with it.

Bibliographic information