Page:Familiar letters of Henry David Thoreau.djvu/326

 302 FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS. [1855,

I do not know how the mistake arose about the Cape Cod excursion. The nearest I have come to that with anybody is this : About a month ago Channing proposed to me to go to Truro on Cape Cod with him, and board there a while, but I declined. For a week past, however, I have been a little inclined to go there and sit on the seashore a week or more ; but I do not venture to propose myself as the compan ion of him or of any peripatetic man. Not that I should not rejoice to have you and Brown or C. sitting there also. I am not sure that C. really wishes to go now ; and as I go simply for the medicine of it, I should not think it worth the while to notify him when I am about to take my bitters. Since I began this, or within five minutes, I have begun to think that I will start for Truro next Saturday morning, the 30th. I do not know at what hour the packet leaves Boston, nor exactly what kind of accommoda tion I shall find at Truro.

I should be singularly favored if you and Brown were there at the same time ; and though you speak of the 20th of July, I will be so bold as to suggest your coming to Concord Friday night (when, by the way, Garrison and Phillips hold forth here), and going to the Cape with me. Though we take short walks together there, we can have long talks, and you and Brown will