Page:Poems of Nature and Life.djvu/63

 THE RANDALL FAMILY 55

published many years ago will show that his soul was full of love. From long and intimate acquaintance with him, I can truly say he was one of the tenderest-hearted and kindest of men I have ever known.

" (I have written these pages under disadvantages — not to be shown, &c. He then gives me leave to impart any- thing to Mr. Abbot that I think may be useful. I have

sent the whole.) ^ ^

"T. Gushing.

��An old-fashioned letter, folded as letters used to be before the advent of separate envelopes, sealed with red wax, addressed to " Mr. John W. Randall, Hallowell, Maine," postmarked "Brookhne, Mass., Oct. 14," and having the postage noted in ink on the outside as " Paid i8i," is the only contemporaneous record in my posses- sion of a young friendship as deep, strong, true, and ill- fated as that of Tennyson and Arthur Hallam. The "Memorials of the Class of 1834" contains the following brief story of the writer's life : —

" Nathaniel Babcock Ingersoll, son of Nathaniel and Eliza (Babcock) Ingersoll, was born in Brookline, Mass., Dec. 15, 18 1 3. He was fitted for college at the High School in his native town. During his collegiate course, which was highly creditable to him, he lived with his widowed mother in a modest house within walking distance of the college, where his friends in the class enjoyed a simple and sweet hospitality. His personal appearance, manners, conversation, everything about him, indicated un- common sweetness, purity, and conscientiousness. Every- body loved and respected him, and hoped that, with increasing years, he would acquire a physical vigor that

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