Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-03-20
ALCOTTS KINDNESS.
A Day Spent with the Author In Her
Concord HOme-Her Kind Recep-
tion of Q Young Stranger.
Taking Him TO ths Couch of her Father
and to the Homo of Emprson-A Young
Mans Graceful Tribute.
(Copyrighted, ISIS.

l was visiting Boston when the desire TO
meet Mr.. Emerson took possession of me
and I started for Concord. Arriving at
the quaint historic town 1 learned that
Emerson's health was such that his family
prohibited any strangers from seeing him.
1 naturally gave up the idea, but recalling
that Miss Alcott's resideace WAS in the
town repaired to the old Alcott mansion.
l was an entire stranger to her, but had q
friendship of ten years standing
existed between US the reception
she accorded me could not have been
more warm and cordial. For more than an
hour we chatted about literary matters,
when 1 casually inquired concerning her
father. "He is in mis- room DOING" she
explained; "it is no longer the same
pleasure for strangers to meet him, but
come and see him for yourself" and she
led the way into room on the opposite
side OF the hall. There, on sofa, COM
fortably reclining on pillow of snowy
white, lay the old philosopher. STOPPING
down, the devoted daughter tenderly
kissed the brow of her distinguished
father. He opened his eyes slowly,s smile
crept over the somewhat tired features, l
thought, as he saw who had reused
him, and then seeing me stand at the foot
Of the lounge, he nodded and extended
his hand. Miss Alcott pronounced nv
name, and, like d schoolboY after his
teacher, ne repeated it. "How pleasant
it is to look upon youth in the full blush
Of health" he said, as he gszed st me
thoughtfuIly moment. "Will you not sit
down here moment and talk with me?"
he asked, and seating myself on q low
stool at the side of his couch, the old
philosopher and essayist took my
hand in his, and for brief FIVE
minutes he sconVinced me how pleasant
must his off-hand public stalks"
have fallen upon the ears of those
who listened to him in his years of
strength and health. Repairing again to
the parlor, Eold Miss Alcott that 1 re-
gretted my inability to meet MI. Emer
son. "He sees scarcely any one now"
she replied, shut let US walk to the house,
and perhaps you can catch glimpse OF
MIN, even if you cspnot speak to him." 1t
was crisp day in November, and in the
clear, Wtntry air Ihadan envisble oppor-
tunity Of studying the features OF the
woman whose written words had de-
lighted 30 many thousands Of children.
1t was strong, Intellectual face; the
eye was kindly, and from 1t beamed 8
look of contentment and happiness. And
yet / thoul ht look OF care aud sadness
was on the face. She realized only too
well, even at that time, that the strong
mind of her father WAS slowly loosing its
activity, and it clouded her otherwise
happy life. During that short walk to
the Emerson home the conversation dealt
only with him whose love she deemed
more precious than sll the laurels of her
literary success. Tepderly she spoke
kei him, and when she expressed the
| hope 20 me that her fathers former good
health might agsin return to him, new
light seemed to come into her eyes, and
her step quickened. A daughters love,
beaut fuI and almost heavenly, filed her
bosom, and in all the words Of her con-
versation none was spoken with such
feeling as when she required to "Father."
We shortly reached Mr.. Z merson's house.
Miss Emerson greeted US at the
door, and We coined me with true New
England hospitality as 1 was intro
duced to her by Miss Ale cit as her "yOung
friend" had been placed in Louisa AL
colts category of friends, and IS an
ardent reader and admirer of her books,
is it not pardonable that a feeling Of
pride took possession OF me? Miss EN-
erson took us into the comfortable little
parlor, and felt as if had beeneon-
Quoted in room filed win the
associations of the choicest spirits
OF American letters. After brief c1n-
Fersation Miss Alcott told Miss Emerson
OF my desire to meet her father. "He
meets no one," she said, turning 10 me,
9s5ft will go and see him." She had
gone but moment when Miss A4cott also.
excused herself, saying, "You shall see
Mr. Emerson if it is st all possible" A
few minutes passed, and the ladies re-
turned. Miss Alcott had smile upon
her face, and knew she had succeeded
for an audience. "Your wish is to be
realized" she said simply, and
reckoning me, 1 followed my
interesting guide. Through two
rooms We went, and l was about
to cross through the third when found
myself in Emerson's library. There, at
his desk, his face turned toward the fire
as in deep meditation. sat the man whom
had SO msny times fondly hoped to
meet. was again introduced by Miss
Alcott. Emerson rose with quiet Dig
nifty in his manner, extended MS hand,
which shook in hearty way. Motion
ing me to char, sat down and was
about to begin a conversation when he
rose, walked to the window and stood
silently looking out as If no one
was in the room. l looked st Miss
Alcott, who put her finger to her mouth,
indicating that was to be silent. Not q
word WAS spoken for an uncomfortably
long time. l turned in my seat, being
determined that l should st least see
Emerson's back if was not to see his
face again. Presently he left the window,
resumed his chair, looking intently at the
fire, still ignoring the presence OF either
Of US. Shave you read this new
work Of Ruskin's, yei?" broke
upon the stiffness as Miss
Alcott asked the question Of
Emerson. Slowly the crest master
of English turned IN his chair, and asked
with great elaboration: "Did you speak
to me, madam" I was dumbiounded
and in en- instant realized the reason Of
his seclusion from the world. He did
not know mis- friends, not even Louisa
Alcott! The sense Of recognition had
left him! After moment casually in
quired Of Emerson If he would not write
his name in my autograph album, which
had carried with me from
New York. "My name?" he asked. |
"Yes," replied, "I should esteem it
highly" "Write it on that piece OF paper,
T ho u1.l,I