The Portland daily press., 1880-09-29

walking was atrocious. Hawthorne took me
INTO ms study, which was opposite the room in
Which we mad dined on my first visit, where
there was bright blazing wood fire. We
drew up Dy the table at which he was accus-
toned TO write, and began to discuss my Off
cial prospects. The announcement that dinner
was ready cut short our discussion, and led us
into the parlor or dining room, where l met
Mrs Hawthorne, whom had not met before,
as well as Julian, and Una, and think Rose,
who was merely child in arms. / forget
what we had for dnner-a leg of mutton may
be, with bottle of vim ordinaire; or what our
talk was about, except that it was not shop"
After dinner Hawthorne took me into his
study once more, and brought out some cigars,
winch we smoked with will and which
found stronger than liked. can see myself
and Hawthorne, as we sat there that winter
afternoon-the position of the table and our
seats beside it, where the inkstand was-and
what bother Master Julian proved to be; for
he followed us thither from the dining room,
and would medde with the pens, ink and
paper, in spite of all his father could do to
prevent it. The child was father of the man
In his case. aud at an early age. My ostensible
object in visiting Hawthorne custom
house; an institution with which he was tol-
erably familiar, as the readers of "The Scarlet
Letter" will remember. But we not toucl,
upon it now for Hawthorne was in the mood
Tor desultory conversation. He manifested
lively curiosity about two or three of his cid
Brook Farm associates, who were living in
New York and with whom was in frequent
contact. He wanted to know what thought
OF G, Tor example, and whether liked ID and
X. gave him my impression of these alpha
betical gentlemen, and it seemed to amuse him
greatly. That he was amused at my want of
reverence did not occur to me at all. l found
him frank enough for he told me that a little
volume of fairy stories, which l had lately
published, were not good; and could not but
agree with him. l knew that tue author of
The Wonder Book" and "The Snow Image
was my master in fairy lore as in everything
else so was not disheartened, or not much
so, though never adventured in fairy land
again.
When l returned to New York, 1 received
the following letter, with which | will close
my glimpse of Hawthorne:
concord March 1G 1858.
DEAR SToDDARD: l beg your pardon for not
writing before; but have been very busy and not
particularly well. enclose lettsr to Atherton.
Koll up p and pile up as much of SNOWFALL as you
was fercer time than this among the ohice-seek-
ers. You had better make your point in the custom
house in New York If possible, for from what can
Washington.
Atherton is man of rather cold exterior; but
has good heart-at least for politician of quar-
ter OF centurys standing If it be certain that he
cannot help you, he will probably tell you Per-
haps it would be as well for you to apply for some
place that has literary fragrance about t-brari-
an to some department-the office that Lanman
held. don't know whether there is any other such
office. Are you fond of brandy? Your strength of
head (Which you tell me you possess) may stand you
IN good stead in Washington for most of these pub
lie men are inveterate guzzlers and love man that
can stand up to them in that particular. 1t would
never do to let them see you corned, however, But
must have you to find your way among them.
If you have never associated with them heretofore
you will find them new class and very unlike
poets
have finished the Tanglewood Tales and they
Will make volume about the size OF the Wonder
Book, consisting of six myths the 'Mnotaur' the
Golden Fleece, the STORY of Proserpine etc.. etc..
done up in excellent style, purified from all moral
stains, re-created good as new, or better,-and
fully equal in their way to Mother Goose never
did anything SO good as those old baby stories. In
haste, truly yours, NATH. HAWTHORNE.
P.S.-Mhen applying for office, if you are con-
scious OF any deficiencies, (moral, intellectual
educational, or whatever else) keep them to your
self, and let those lind them out whose business it
may be. For example, supposing the Office of trans
lator to the State department to be rendered to
Accept 1t boldly without limiting your acquaintance
with foreign languages may not De the most famil-
iar If this unimportant fact be discovered after
ward, you can be transferred to some suitable
post. The business is to establish yourself some-
how and anyhow.
, have had as many oficeseekers knocking at my
door Tor three months past as If were prime
minister, so that have made good many scientific
observations in regard to them. The words that
Brandamante Il think it was) read on the enchanted
hall are. and ought to be, their motto BE bold be
bold, and everywhere be bold But over one door
she read: BE not too bold A subtle boldness
with veil of modesty over it is what is needed