Page:Some unpublished letters of Henry D. and Sophia E. Thoreau; a chapter in the history of a still-born book.djvu/118

 faces," but the dear lips are silent—and that is the silence that kills.

Concord, May 24th, 1873. Dear Mr. :

After several weeks' absence, I returned yesterday to Concord, to find the volume of poems you had so kindly forwarded, and without stopping to cut the leaves I hasten to thank you most heartily for this friendly remembrance.

''Just now I am about to leave Concord, and shall make my home in Bangor, Maine. Mr. F. B. Sanborn's family will occupy my house.''

''Perhaps you are aware that my precious mother departed a year since. You will be interested to know that Mr. Channing has written a memoir of my brother, which will soon appear.''