Page:Familiar letters of Henry David Thoreau.djvu/48

24 to inquire at Mr. Marston's for an old singing-book I left there,—the &quot;Handel and Haydn Collection,&quot; without a cover? Have you ever got those red handkerchiefs? Much love to the Marstons, Crockers, and Muenschers. Mr. Josiah Davis has failed. Mr. and Mrs. Howe have both written again, urging my going to Roxbury; which I suppose I shall do. What day of the month shall you return? 1em

One remark in this letter calls for attention,—that concerning the &quot;bluebird box&quot; for Mr. Emerson. In 1853 Emerson wrote in his journal: &quot;Long ago I wrote of Gifts, and neglected a capital example. John Thoreau, Jr., one day put a bluebird's box on my barn,—fifteen years ago it must be,—and there it still is, with every summer a melodious family in it, adorning the place and singing his praises. There's a gift for you,—which cost the giver no money, but nothing which he bought could have been so good. I think of another, quite inestimable. John Thoreau knew how much I should value a head of little Waldo, then five years old. He came to me and offered to take him to a daguerreotypist who was then in town, and he (Thoreau) would see it well done. He did it, and brought me the daguerre, which I thankfully