MEMORIES OF HAWTHORNEByRose Hawthorne LathropPREFACEIt will be seen that this volume is really written by SophiaHawthorne whose letters from earliest girlhood are so expressed andso profound in thought and loveliness that some will of sternerquality than a daughters must cast them aside I have tried to weedout those written records of hers even from 1820 reaching to herlast year in 1871 that could give no especial pleasure to anydescendant who might come upon them and I have been astonished tofind that there was scarcely one such page This is the explanation ofmy return in the company of the friends of my father and mother toan old garden a familiar discourse and a circle of life thatembraced so much beautyROSE HAWTHORNE LATHROPNEW YORK February 20th 1897CONTENTSonline ed page numbers omittedCHAPTER ITHE HAWTHORNES AND THE PEABODYSThe Hawthornes summoned from their quietude by the Peabodys SophiaPeabodys mother and grandmother the latter wife of General Palmerwho was prominent in the Revolution Characteristics of the MissesPeabody Letters to the Hawthornes from the Peabodys though so closeat hand because of the difficulty of seeing the former at any timeThe dignity of George Peabodys nature Sophias fondness for profoundbooks The great affection of friends for her who bring rare flowersto the little studio where she is often imprisoned ElizabethHawthorne consents to walk with the Peabodys Dr Channings regardfor Sophias artistic talent and motive Miss Burleys literary clubto which Hawthorne liked to go with Sophia The wooing not a momentdelayed Visits from Emerson and Very Elizabeth goes forth among themost interesting people of Boston and remains to teach theirdaughtersCHAPTER IITHE DAYS OF THE ENGAGEMENTHawthorne and Sophia become engaged but defer the announcement for ayear Sophia visits friends in Boston and Hawthorne visits Bostonalso Washington Allstons deep approval of Sophias talentsElizabeth visits the Emersons in Concord and writes as if fromheaven Mr Bancroft remarked to Emerson that Hawthorne wasexceptionally thorough in business Sophia draws and paints vigorouslyin her happy security of the highest love Letters from Hawthorne toher Fragment of a ScrapBook kept by Hawthorne at the Boston CustomHouse Friends rejoice in the engagement when it is made knownCHAPTER IIITHE EARLY DAYS OF THE MARRIAGEThe beautiful marriage is appreciated by all Letters to Mrs CalebFoote and to Sophias mother describe life at the Old Manse inConcord The birth of Una Emerson Thoreau and Hawthorne skate uponthe river near the Manse with differing aspects The radiance andsublimity of a Massachusetts winter enrich the landscape Eveningreadings by Hawthorne to his wife from the classics begun and alwayscontinued Friends call somewhat frequently at last from the outsideworld Visits to relatives in Boston and Salem Mary Peabody becomesthe wife of Horace Mann Sophia describes Unas favorable impressionupon the circle of friends in Salem and Boston Returning to the OldManse renews the enjoyment of nature and peaceCHAPTER IVLIFE IN SALEMSalem becomes their home for the second time Letter from George WCurtis while in Europe Sophia expresses in a letter to Hawthorne herentire satisfaction though poor and in the midst of petty caresunder his enchanting protection Daniel Websters oration in SalemAlcotts monologue Thoreaus lecture Letters about the attack ofcertain mistaken people upon Hawthorne as a Democrat and officialHawthorne writes to Horace Mann upon the subject The best citizensare active to remedy the offense against Hawthorne George Mulletsletters describing Hawthorne as official and manCHAPTER VFROM SALEM TO BERKSHIREThe Hawthornes seek a home by the sea but drift up to the mountainsof Berkshire and are happy Letter from Mrs James R Lowell _nee_White The Sedgwicks are the kindest friends in the world HermanMelville is drawn to the life by Mrs Hawthorne in a letter to hermother A poem by Mrs Hawthorne to her husbandCHAPTER VILENOXLetters and visits from friends are frequent in Lenox where aliterary group begin to suggest flight to the Hawthornes who have noliking for a fussy succession of intercourse Hawthorne reads theHouse of the Seven Gables aloud to his wife as he writes it Hesends a long letter to William B Pike Charming long letters comefrom Herman Melville though he is not far offCHAPTER VIIFROM LENOX TO CONCORDLetter full of amused astonishment from Hawthorne to Mrs TappanDescriptions of the divine Lenox home life by Mrs Hawthorne Theremoval to West Newton and finally to Concord is made Letter fromMaria L Porter a kindred nature Mr Alcott is lovingly analyzed byMrs Hawthorne Letters to her from Mr Alcott Letters to her fromEmerson of an earlier date Letters from Margaret Fuller MrsHawthorne describes The Wayside General Solomon McNiel wields hisaffable sword The Emersons pervade the little town like reigningpowersCHAPTER VIIITHE LIVERPOOL CONSULATEThe Wayside begins to be hospitable in earnest and Mr Miller theartist talks unceasingly there Mrs Hawthorne describes her husbandHawthorne visits the Isles of Shoals ExPresident Pierce is insultedand bears it well Hawthorne visits Brunswick College and is welcomedback there A talk on The Wayside hill The Liverpool Consulate isgiven to Hawthorne who visits Washington before embarking forEngland Description of Hawthorne by his daughter Rose The voyage isdescribed in a letter from Mrs Hawthorne Field Talfourd pleases herespecially Mr Henry Bright shines upon the family Rose describeshim Mrs Hawthorne writes to her father about him his family attheir home and of English waysCHAPTER IXENGLISH DAYS IHospitable English strangers make the American strangers welcome AnEnglish mansion described by Mrs Hawthorne Liverpool organizationshonor Hawthorne by attentions The Squareys of Dacre Hill Hawthornesunstinted friendliness towards Americans in distress The De Quinceyfamily greatly desire to see Hawthorne Ticknor says Hawthorne meetsthe sons of Burns Liscard Vale and its dinnerparty described by MrsHawthorne who is entertained by the magnificence and the charactersrichly gathered there Mrs Hawthorne tells her father about a visitto Chester on Sunday The Westminster Review praises Hawthornesart Distinguished English people seek Hawthorne out Mr Martineaudescribed by Mrs Hawthorne Mr Bennochs first call upon the familyMiss Cushman visits the Hawthornes with her splendid geniality MrsHawthorne described by her daughter Rose Hawthorne is hunted togorgeous dinners against his better instincts Henry Bright moredelightfully drives him to beautiful scenes The Scarlet Lettersells very largely in England and is read The Consulate