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 PREFACE

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WHEN, in 1879, I was asked by my friend Charles Dudley Warner to write the bio- graphy of Thoreau which follows, I was by no means unprepared. I had known this man of genius for the last seven years of his too short life; had lived in his family, and in the house of his neighbor across the way, Ellery Channing, his most intimate friend outside of that family; and had assisted Channing in the preparation and publication of his “ Thoreau, the Poet-Naturalist,”— the first full biography which appeared. Not very long after Thoreau’s death Channing had written me these sentences, with that in- sight of the future which he often displayed:

“ That justice can be done to our deceased brother by me, of course I do not think. But to you and to me is intrusted the care of his imme- diate fame. I feel that my part is not yet done, and cannot be without your aid. My little sketch must only serve as a note and advertisement that