Page:Familiar letters of Henry David Thoreau.djvu/383

 mi. 39.] TO HARRISON BLAKE. 357

I should n t wonder if my two-year-old invalidity had been a positively charming feature to some amateurs favorably located. Why not a blasted man as well as a blasted tree, on your lawn?

If you should happen not to see me by the train named, do not go again, but wait at home for me, or a note from yours,

HENRY D. THOREAU.

TO HARRISON BLAKE (AT WORCESTER).

CONCORD, April 17, 1857.

MR. BLAKE, I returned from New Bedford night before last. I met Alcott there, and learned from him that probably you had gone to Con cord. I am very sorry that I missed you. I had expected you earlier, and at last thought that I should get back before you came ; but I ought to have notified you of my absence. How ever, it would have been too late, after I had made up my mind to go. I hope you lost no thing by going a little round.

I took out the celtis seeds at your request, at the time we spoke of them, and left them in the chamber on some shelf or other. If you have found them, very well ; if you have not found them, very well ; but tell Hale l of it, if you see

1 Rev. Edward E. Hale, then pastor at Worcester. Others mentioned in the letter are Rev. David A. Wasson and Dr. Seth Rogers, the latter a physician with whom Mr. Wasson was living- in Worcester.