Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-03

ries." | alluded to it as presenting group of
his former friends.
"Yes," said he; 81 knew every man of them
but three, and they are all gone"
care the portraits good g" inquired.
"Scott's head" he replied, "is well drawn,
though the expression lacks something of
SCOTS force Campbell's is tolerable Lock-
harris is the worst. Lockhart," said he, "was
a man of very delicate organization, but he
had more manly look than in the picture "
'YOu should write one more book, !" l hinted
"What is that 2"
Your "reminiscences of those literary
friends"
"Ah, he exclaimed, "it is too late now
shall never take the pen again; | have so en-
tirely given up writing that even my best
friends letters lie unanswered. l must have
rest. No more books nowp'
He referred to the visit, week before from
Mr. Willis, whose letter he had just been read
ing in the Home Journal.
81 am glad, said he, chat Mr.. Willis re-
membered my nieces; they are my housekeep-
ers and nurses they take each such good care
of me that really l am the most fortunate old
bachelor in the world Yes" he repeated
with merry emphasis, "the most fortunate
old bachelor in all the world p
1t was delightful to witness the animation of
his manner, and the heartiness of his gratitude,
his wants-gave him his medicine at the right
time, without troubling him to look at the
clock for himsef-caled him down to break
fast-clOaked and shawled him for his morning
ride-brought him his hat for his fine weather
walks and in every possible way humored him
in every possible whm.
81 call them sometimes my nieces," he said,
"but oftener my daughters !"
AS | rose to go, he brought from corner of
nh al.
iting it with great enthusiasm. 1t was a gift
from little child who had come to see him
every day during his sickness. The picture
was accompanied with note, printed in large
letters, with lead pencil by the little cores
pondent, who said she was too young to write
He spoke with great vivacity of his childish
visitor Children" said the old man, care
great pets-l am very fond of the little crea-
lures"
The authors study-into which | looked
for few moments before leaying-is small
room, almost entirely filed by the great writ
ing table and the lounge behind it. The walls
are laden with books and pictures, which evil
IDENTIFY are re-arranged every day by some del.
icate hand for none of the books were tumb-
led into corner, and no papers were lying
loose upon the table The pen, too, was laid
parallel to the edge of the ink stand-a
nicely which only a womanly housekeep-
er would persevere to maintain Besides,
there was not speck of dust upon carpet or
cushion
/ stood reverently in the little room-as if
it were sacred place Its associations filed
my mind with as much delight as if l had
been breathing fragrance from hidden flowers
On leaving, carried the picture of it wildly
in my mind, and still carry it;-the quiet Sc
cluded, poetic haunt in which a great author
wrote his greatest works
AS came away, the old gentleman bundled
his shawl about him, and stood few moments
on the steps momentary burst of sunshine
fell on him through the breaking clouds In
that full light he looked still less like an old
man than i'll the dark parlor by the shaded win
dow. His form was slightly bent, but the
quiet humor of the early portraits was still
lingering in his face. He was the same genial,
generous, merry eyed man at seventy seven as
Jarvis had painted him nearly fifty years be-
fore. L wish always to remember him as |
saw him at that last moment!
THEODORE TLToN.