Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/170

 l62 INTRODUCTION-

nature, capable of enlivening society and comforting her friend. What a contrast to those mute, pale-faced lym- phophlegmatic women so common about us whose uncon- genial silence is oft dignified with the name of reserve! 'Tis a pleasant thing to one whom nine-tenths of women re- pel, however pleased with the other tenth, to find living specimens of what they should be. How often the forceful expression of Milton, in his work on divorce, occurs to me, where he speaks of men little versed in the world who, when they hoped to find in marriage a cheerful and con- fiding relation, discover themselves to be wedded only to an unsympathizing mixture of earth and phlegm !

My friend Nichols, having taken his degree, has gone as surgeon to the war. King longs to go, but farming for- bids. Dr. looks well, and kindly invites me to Na-

hant, but the season is awfully cold, and until it is warmer he will pipe to one that will not dance. He says that he raises strawberries there, which I should hardly have thought.

I live nearly alone at present, and take most of my meals alone, for my mother has her meals sent up to her, as leaving her more quiet, and Belinda keeps her company. If not very good society to myself, I should be tempted to travel or marry. The former I hope to do in spite of war, if war lasts two or three years ; as for the last, I hope never to herd with one that loves me not. Cousin Henry Skinner asks after you. He is erecting new buildings and surrounding himself with every comfort, and has a white cock he makes come at command.

The creepers at Stow have nearly veiled the house, and last year's birds build anew amid their leaves. The roses would cover the roof, if I let them, and promise thousands of blossoms. Our beds in Boston are full of Anna's

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