Page:Familiar letters of Henry David Thoreau.djvu/366

 342 FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS. [1856,

first from Fitchburg, I did not spend the forenoon with you as I had anticipated, on account of baggage, etc. If it had been a seasonable hour, I should have seen you, i. e., if you had not gone to a horse-race. But think of making a call at half past three in the morning ! (would it not have implied a three o clock in the morn ing courage in both you and me ?) as it were, ignoring the fact that mankind are really not at home, are not out, but so deeply in that they cannot be seen, nearly half their hours at this season of the year.

I walked up and down the main street, at half past five, in the dark, and paused long in front of Brown s store, trying to distinguish its fea tures ; considering whether I might safely leave his &quot;Putnam &quot; in the door-handle, but concluded not to risk it. Meanwhile a watchman (?) seemed to be watching me, and I moved off. Took another turn round there, and had the very earliest offer of the Transcript 1 from an urchin behind, whom I actually could not see, it was so dark. So I withdrew, wondering if you and B. would know if I had been there. You little dream who is occupying Worcester when you are all asleep. Several things occurred there that night which I will venture to say were not put into the Transcript. A cat caught a

1 A Worcester newspaper.