Page:The first and last journeys of Thoreau - lately discovered among his unpublished journals and manuscripts.djvu/51

 children are soon to leave her,—Helen and Sophia to keep school in Roxbury, and John and Henry to go to the West. They purpose instructing there, but have no fixed plan. (April 13.) Mrs. Thoreau is very busy preparing her sons to go to the West. John is expected home from Taunton to-morrow; he will stay here a week, and then set out with Henry. They will go as far as Louisville, in Kentucky, unless employment (school-keeping) can be found nearer. This plan was arranged while I was in Boston. To-day Henry has had a letter from President Quincy of Harvard College, speaking of a school in Alexandria, Virginia, to be opened the 5th of May. He is willing to take it, and if he is accepted, this may alter or delay a little their journey. Helen and Sophia have advertised their intention of opening a boarding-school in Roxbury. When there she found a suitable room, and a lady willing to board them with some of the scholars. This is a great undertaking, with H.'s feeble health. She wished to have Louisa Dunbar [Mrs. Thoreau's sister] for a partner, but she is [3]