THOREAU, HENRY DAVID Autograph letter signed ("your Friend Henry") TO RALPH WALDO EMERSON (in New York); Concord, 10 February 1843. 4 pages, 4to, 252 x 202mm. (9.7/8 x 8in.), central portion of page 4 with address panel (no postmarks). In very fine condition. THOREAU TO EMERSON A charming letter written during the most active period of the transcendental movement. Thoreau writes from Emerson's home (where he served as unofficial housekeeper), while the poet is away in New York. Perhaps at the request of Emerson's wife Lidian, he poetically and humorously depicts the domestic scene, especially the Emersons' young daughter, Edith: "I have stolen one of your own sheets to write you a letter upon, and I hope with two layers of ink to turn it into a comforter. If you like to receive a letter from me too, I am glad, for it gives me pleasure to write. But don't let it come amiss -- it must fall as harmlessly as leaves settle on the landscape. I will tell you what we are doing here now. Supper is done and Edith...perhaps more than the dessert [i]s brought in...and now she goes near to this altar & then to that with her monosyllabic invocation of 'oc, oc,' It makes me think of 'Langued'oc'--she must belong to that province. But like the gypsies she talks a language of her own while she understands ours....No intelligence passes between us -- she knows. That is the reason she smiles so. How well the secret is 'kept'--she never descends to explanations....And now she studies the heights and depths of nature on shoulders...And now she runs the race over the carpet while all Olympia applauds. Mamma, Grandma and Uncle, good Grecians all....Grandmama smiles over all -- and Mamma is 'wondering' what Papa would say should she descend on Carlton House some day....But now the trumpet swells, the games are over...Soon [illegible] comes and Edith is translated, I don't know where, it must be yo some cloud for I never was there. Query: what becomes if the answers Edith thinks but cannot express? Mrs. Emerson said I must tell you about domestic affairs when I mentioned that I was going to write, perhaps...if only to say that I am well and happy in your house here in Concord..."
THOREAU, HENRY DAVID Autograph letter signed ("your Friend Henry") TO RALPH WALDO EMERSON (in New York); Concord, 10 February 1843. 4 pages, 4to, 252 x 202mm. (9.7/8 x 8in.), central portion of page 4 with address panel (no postmarks). In very fine condition. THOREAU TO EMERSON A charming letter written during the most active period of the transcendental movement. Thoreau writes from Emerson's home (where he served as unofficial housekeeper), while the poet is away in New York. Perhaps at the request of Emerson's wife Lidian, he poetically and humorously depicts the domestic scene, especially the Emersons' young daughter, Edith: "I have stolen one of your own sheets to write you a letter upon, and I hope with two layers of ink to turn it into a comforter. If you like to receive a letter from me too, I am glad, for it gives me pleasure to write. But don't let it come amiss -- it must fall as harmlessly as leaves settle on the landscape. I will tell you what we are doing here now. Supper is done and Edith...perhaps more than the dessert [i]s brought in...and now she goes near to this altar & then to that with her monosyllabic invocation of 'oc, oc,' It makes me think of 'Langued'oc'--she must belong to that province. But like the gypsies she talks a language of her own while she understands ours....No intelligence passes between us -- she knows. That is the reason she smiles so. How well the secret is 'kept'--she never descends to explanations....And now she studies the heights and depths of nature on shoulders...And now she runs the race over the carpet while all Olympia applauds. Mamma, Grandma and Uncle, good Grecians all....Grandmama smiles over all -- and Mamma is 'wondering' what Papa would say should she descend on Carlton House some day....But now the trumpet swells, the games are over...Soon [illegible] comes and Edith is translated, I don't know where, it must be yo some cloud for I never was there. Query: what becomes if the answers Edith thinks but cannot express? Mrs. Emerson said I must tell you about domestic affairs when I mentioned that I was going to write, perhaps...if only to say that I am well and happy in your house here in Concord..."
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
