Page:The first and last journeys of Thoreau - lately discovered among his unpublished journals and manuscripts 2.djvu/21

 you shall release yourself when you please. We dine at one.

With much regard,

. Esq., Present.

No date appears on this note-sheet, it having been carefully torn off; but it was probably in April, 1861. Very likely at this "promised visit" the proposition was made for young Mann to accompany Thoreau. He was a botanist, and a grave, silent pupil of mine, along with his more lively younger brothers, George and Benjamin. For his journey Thoreau selected, and his mother and sister prepared, an outfit of clothes etc., which will be listed hereafter. It was finally arranged between him and his most intimate friend (then living across the street from Thoreau), Ellery Channing, who could not go with him from Concord, that they should meet at Niagara, where Thoreau was to make his first long halt; but the moody Channing failed to keep his rendezvous. Thoreau bought his ticket from Boston to Chicago, with liberty to stop over at [ 11 ]