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54 brother during his last years. She lived, moreover, to redeem his character from the unjust representations of ultra-stoicism and an egotistic autocracy. To her true and loving memory are due the later testimonies to her brother's home-tenderness and his friendships. After his death, she continued the family business of preparing plumbago and showed keen, sage ability. Forty years ago it was unusual for a woman to conduct business; with her friends she used to laugh at her inability to establish her name as a business agent. Though she signed her letters with her full name, the replies were invariably addressed, "Dear Sir." Among the interesting reminiscences in the Outlook already mentioned, are the tributes to the practical judgment and the artistic and musical gifts of Sophia.

Chance visitors and Concord friends have concurred regarding the tender, deferential, even winsome, relations of the Thoreau family. Their conversation was sentient and witty but always reverential of nobler ideals of life and broad religion. They read the best books and discussed them with fresh, potent insight; they enjoyed games and music; they exchanged visits and tea-gatherings and took part in town-events of social and literary moment. The erroneous theory that the Thoreaus were admitted to Concord society by