Page:Thoreau - His Home, Friends and Books (1902).djvu/67

Rh climbing the Fairhaven Cliffs,—or else, in my boat at Walden, let the water kiss your hand, or gaze at your image in the wave."

Helen Thoreau, who died in 1849, before her brother's genius had met any wide appreciation, was always proud of him and confident of his success. It was Helen who said to Mrs. Brown, the sister of Mrs. Emerson, after a lecture by the "Concord sage,"—"Henry has a thought very like that in his journal." Moreover, she loaned the journal to Mrs. Brown who thus brought it and Thoreau to the attentive interest of Emerson. She was always fearful lest people might misinterpret her brother's frank aims and speech. In a letter to her in October, 1837, just after Henry had finished college, he refers to her defense of his attitude; with characteristic freedom, he urges honest, open expression of opinion, received by society with a justice which will require neither apology nor explanation. Again, Helen is associated with the incident that examples the gay, teasing humor of Mrs. Thoreau, the proud, supersensitive heart of Henry, and the tender, protecting love of the elder sister. Just before college was ended, Thoreau asked his mother what profession he should choose and merrily she replied,—"You may buckle on your knapsack, dear, and seek your fortune in the