Page:Familiar letters of Henry David Thoreau.djvu/465

 J3T.43.] CHOLMONDELEY TO THOREAU. 439

whom he became intimate in the anti-slavery agitation, wherein they took part, while he was a famous orator, celebrated by Emerson in one of his Essays. Mr. Pillsbury visited Thoreau in his last illness, when he could scarcely speak above a whisper, and, having made to him some remark concerning the future life, Thoreau re plied, &quot; My friend, one world at a time.&quot; His petulant words in this letter concerning na tional affairs would hardly have been said a few days later, when, at the call of Abraham Lincoln, the people rose to protect their govern ment, and every President s Message became of thrilling interest, even to Thoreau.

Arrangements were now making for the inva lid, about whose health his friends had been anxious for some years, to travel for a better cli mate than the New England spring affords, and early in May Thoreau set out for the upper Mis sissippi. He thus missed the last letter sent to him by his English friend Cholmondeley, which I answered, and then forwarded to him at Eed- wing, in Minnesota. It is of interest enough to be given here.

T. CHOLMONDELEY TO THOREAU (iN MINNESOTA). SHREWSBURY [England], April 23, 1861.

MY DEAR THOREAU, It is now some time since I wrote to you or heard from you, but do