Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-03


written. he gave the manuscripts to his nephew to
be conducted through the press, and threw hun
sells back upon his reticushoned lounge with
ndescrhnble fceliug of rslietl IIc added that tho
great fatigue of mind throughout the whole task
had resulted from the care asd pains required in
tho construction and arrangement OF materials.
and not in the mere literary composition Of the
successive chapters. -
but what magnificent volumes What work
for IN old man To have achieved What fitting
close to tho labors of long and busy lifs They
unite on page, and will pcrpetuate In ono
memory, not only great name, but It's great
namesake tho Father of the American Republic
of Letters.
On the parlor wall hung the engraving Of Fned's
picture Of "Scott and his Contemporaries" al
ludcd to it rs presenting group of his former
friends.
Yes" said he. II knew cvory man of them but
three; and now they are all gone
"Aro the portraits good ?" inquired.
"Scon's head" he rcplied "is we'll drawn,
though the e. Expression lacks something's Scott's
force; Campbell's is tolerable; l.pekharts is the
worst. Lockhart." said he. twas man OF very
delicate organization. but he had more manly
look than in tho picture"
you should write one moro book, hintcd
what is thnt 7"
Your rcminiseencc. of those literary frend-..
"Ah," he exclaimed, III ID too late now! !
shall never tako the pen again; havo 10 entirely
given up writing thut even my best friends lei-
| tcrs lie unanswered. must hnve rest. No moro
books now p
lie referred to the visit n week before. from
| Mr. Willis. whose letter he had just been reading
,, in tho Home Journal.
| IL am most glad" said he, "thnt Mr.. Willis re-
meinhered my nieces; they are my housekccpcrr
| aud nurses; they tnkc such good care of me that
really nm the most fortunate old bachelor IN thr
| world ! Ycs," he repeated with merry empha
| .. n,.at f,rtu oll bncht lor the
WORLDLY
1t was delightful to witness the animation Of
his manner. and the hcartiness Of hs gratitude.
a. he continued to relate how they supplied Nil
his wants-gavc him his medicines at tho right
time without troubling him 10 look ut the clock
| i,r himself-calcd him down TO break fast--cloak
| 81 and shnwled him for his morning gridc--brought
| Him his Int for his fine weather walks-and in ev
cry possible way humored him in every possible
| whm.
81 call them sometimes my ncioos,' ho said.
| "but oftoner my daughters ]!
| As rose TO 20, he brought from corner Of
| the room photograph of u little girl. exhibiting
| it with great enthusiasm. IL was gilt from II
| litle child who In come to 30 him every dny du
ring his sickness. Tho picture accompanied
with note. printed in large letters with n lend
pencil by the little correspondent, who said shc
was to write! lie spoke with great viyacity OF
his childish visitor "Chdren," said the old man.
"nre great pets am very fond Of tho little crea-
| tures.'
The authors studv--into W ich looked for n
few moments before lcaving-is n small room, nj
most entirely flle1 by tho great writing table md
| the l,ungr benin it. The walls are laden with
bnoks md pictures. which evidently are rear.
ranged every dav Nv some delicate hand; ior none
! nf tho books were tumbled into chrnsr, nnd no
paper. were lying loose upon the table, Tho ren
too was hid precisely parallel to the edge of tho
ink tnnd n nicely which only n womnnlv house
! keeper would pcrsevere to maintain !! Besides,
there was not speck of dust upon carpet or
cushion
| stood tevercnily in tho little room-ns il it
were n sacred place Its associations filled my
mind with ms much delight as il Ind bcen
breathing fragrance from hidden flowers. On
leaving | carried the picture oft vividly in nv
mind and still carry it the quiet, secluded.
poetic hnunt in which great author wrote his
greatest works
Az came away the old gentleman bundled
his shawl about him. and stood nfew moments on
tho steps A momentary bnrst of sunshine fell
! on him through the lrcaking clouds, In that
full light he looked still less lik an old man TINA
in the dark paror by tho shaded window. lli4
form WAS slightly bent, but the quiet humor ct
the early portraits was still lingering in his fncr.
He was the same genial. generous merry-cycd
man at seventy seven ns Jarv. had painted him
nearly fifty years before. wish always tn re-
member him asI saw him at that last mo-
! mont, TnEoD7RE TlLToN.