Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/380

Rh excellent treatise upon the fundamental idea of this association. Association is the natural movement of life in the Free States.

July 21st.—I have happened during these last few days in Philadelphia to fall in love—yes, really to fall desperately in love—with a young girl, not so very handsome, but of a glorious young-womanly character, richly endowed, both soul and body, with that spark of inspired life which is so enchanting and so infinitely revivifying; a girl fresh as morning dew, and who sings as I never have heard any one sing since her, who has long since ceased to sing on earth, yet not in my soul. But true it is that she was Fanny Kemble's “pet,” and had in her an incomparable instructress in declamation. And the girl, the glorious girl, the girl of the new world, whom I have for the first time seen since I had an idea of her: she is called ——, but no, I will not write her name; I feel as if that would desecrate it, and she is to me holy. I could weep when I think that such a girl should not have a different fate to quiet, ordinary girls. Such a young woman ought to be the priestess of a holy temple, and deliver oracles to the world. I will tell you more about her by word of mouth. She has called to life in my imagination a figure which has lain bound there for more than fifteen years.

I shall set off to-day to New York. It has been so oppressively hot this time in Philadelphia that I have not been able to accomplish much. To-day it is beautiful and fresh after yesterday's rain. N. B. that was the first regular shower of rain which I had seen for five months, and through the whole of that time I had not seen one entire cloudy day.

I now cordially rejoice in the prospect of so soon seeing once more those good, excellent friends of mine at Rose Cottage.