Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/226

 2 1 8 INTRODUCTION

" Saturday, Nov. 7, l8gi. Made a visit on the Randalls this afternoon, and stayed to dinner. John is very feeble, but shows very little signs now of his paralytic stroke. His mind is as clear as ever. He read aloud to me some of his poetry. Both he and Belinda welcome me as if I were a brother born. I asked him if he was willing to put his MSS. in my hand by and by to prepare for the press, as a labor of love for him, — said I knew that he was care- less of fame, but that I thought such works of beauty as his poems ought not to be allowed to die. He answered emphatically, yes, and mentioned particularly a review of Bryant, intended to be printed before Bryant's death, but never published."

" Mo7iday, Dec. 28, l8gi. ... I then went on alone to visit the Randalls. It was after five when I got there, and very dark. No light was at any window, and I was struck with a nameless fear of disaster. After twice ringing, however, Belinda came to the door. She said she and John have both been very sick, with only the servant Annie to tend them. I urged employing a special attendant who should be on hand in case of necessity. She obj ected that they had no room they could warm [for an attendant], and did not want a stranger around. I was distressed at the lonely and helpless situation of this dear old couple, the danger of the grippe, their insensibility to this danger. I begged them to send for me instantly if anything happened

— I would come without fail, like a son, for I was unspeak- ably grateful to them for all they did for me in my boy- hood and loved them with unquenchable affection. John looked at me with his great blue eyes, softened and lu- minous ; Belinda saw my emotion, her eyes filled with tears, and she said — ' Your father once said to me [so and so] '

— she repeated this saying again ' [so and so].' I was

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