Morris tribune., 1881-06-30
HAWTHORNE TO AN OLD FRIEND.
His Books, One of His Babies, Some Gin,
and Buying n House.

His Books, One of His Babies, Some Gin,
and Buying a House.
Harper for July contains long and fresh
letter from Nathaniel Hawthorne. 1t is ad-
dressed to William 3. Pike. Mr.. Pike was
for many years collector for the port Of Sa-
lem, and his acquaintance with the great
romancer began early and did not close un-
til he died. The letter was written from
Lenex, Mass, ON July 81, 1851, and, in
part, is<as follows!
DEAR PIKE:-I should have written to
you long since, acknowledging the receipt
of your gin. and in answer to your letter,
but have been very busy with my pen. AS
to the gin, cannot speak of it's quality. for
the bottle has not yet been opened, ana will
probably remain corked till cold weather,
when l mean to take an occasional sip.
really thank you for it, however; nor could
help sheddinga few quiet tears over that
which was SO uselessly split by the express
man.
The most important news I have to tell
you Gf you have not already heard it) is
that we have another daughter, now about
two months old. She is a very bright and
healthy child and neither more nor less
handsome than babies generally are. l
think / feel more interest in her than I did
in the other children at the same age, from
the consideration that she is to be the
daughter of my age-the comfort tat least
SO it is to be hoped) of my declining years.
BY the way; if 1 continue to prosper as
heretofore IL the literary line, shall soon
be in condition to buy place; and if you
should hear of one, say worth from 81, :
500 to $4,000, | wish you would keep your
eye on it for me. should wish to be on
the sea- coast, or at all events with easy ac-
cess to the sea. Very little land would
suit my purpose; but want q good house,
with space enough inside, ana which will
not need any considerable repairs. find
that I do not feel at home among these
hills, and should not like to consider my
self permanently settled here.
Why did you not express yo,tr opinion OF
"The House of the Seven Gables, which
sent you? I suppose you were afraid OF
hurting my feelings by disapproval, but
you need not have been. I should'receive
friendly censure with lust as much
equanimity as if it were praise; though Ger
tainly, had rather you would like the book
than not. At any rate, it has sold finely,
and seems to have pleased q good many
people better than the other, and I must
confess that I myself am among the num-
ber. tits more characteristic of the author
and more natural book for me to write than
the Scarlet Letter" was. When I write
another romance I shall take the commit
nifty for subject, and shall give some Of
my experiences and observations at Brook
Farm. Since the publication OF the Seven
Gables" have written book for children,
which is to be put to press immediately.
On receiving your letter wrote to Long
fellow, requesting him to forward you any
books that might facilitate your progress in
the Swedish language. He has not told
me whether or no he did so. I asked
him to send them to the Mansion house in
Salem. l wish you had rather undertaken
Latin, or French, or German, or indeed al
most any other language in which there
would have been moro extensive and at
tainable literature than in the Swedish.
But if it turns out to be pleasure and i'm
provement to yourself, the end is attained
You will never, I fear, (you see that I take
frienIs privilege to speak plainly,) make
the impression on the world, that in years
gone by used to hope you would. It will
not be your fault. however, but the fault OF
circumstances. Your flower was not des-
tined to bloom in this world. I hope to
see its glory in the next.