Yet the artists are but messengers whom we send before
into the undiscovered country. They return and
sing to us songs familiar in the Eldorado of our hope,
yet of which we have learned no note. Afloat upon
the depthless sea we loose doves and ravens, who bear
back to us olive boughs and flowers which we cannot
analyze, but whose form and fragrance make our homes
beautiful. When the first shock of delighted wonder
is past we receive great men as the present attainment
of an illimitable Nature, as the Earth receives the
light of stars, unnoticed save of wandering lovers,
and sweeps undisturbed on its way. If sometimes
we are warped from our sphere by the apparition of
noble persons, wise men presently recover themselves
and serve with a milder and firmer persistence their
own nature. The way is made clearer by these
bright lights, universal nature is fairer that there
are so many single stars; but they must be only stars
in our heaven and fires on our hearth, nor turn out
the heart by inserting themselves in the bosom.
G.W.C.
XIII
CONCORD, Friday evening, May 10th, 1844.
Since our arrival here I have been busy enough.
From breakfast at 6 to dinner at 12-1/2, hard at work,
and all the afternoon roaming over the country far
and near. When we came the spring was just waking,
now it is opening like a rose-bud, with continually
deepening beauty. The apple-trees in full bloom,
making the landscape so white, seem to present a synopsis
of the future summer glory of the flower-world.
Our farm lies on one of the three hills of Concord.
They call it Punkatassett. Before us, at the
foot of the hill, is the river; and the slope between
holds a large part of the Captain’s orchard.
Among the hills at one side we see the town, about
a mile away; and a wide horizon all around, which
Elizabeth Hoar tells me she has learned is the charm
of Concord scenery. The summit of the hill on
which we are is crowned with woods, and from a clearing
commands a grand prospect. Wachusett rises alone
upon the distance, and takes the place of the ocean
in the landscape. There is a limitation in the
prospect if one cannot see the sea or mountains.
The Blue Hill, in a measure, supplies that want at
West Roxbury. Otherwise the landscape is a garden
which only pleases. We are much pleased with
our host and his family. He is that Capt.
Nathan Barrett to whom Messrs. Pratt and Brown came
for seed, and who raises a good deal of seed for Ruggles,
Nourse and Mason. We go into all work. The
Captain turns us out with the oxen and plough, and
we do our best. Already I have learned a good
deal. The men are very courteous and generous.
Copyrights
Early Letters of George Wm. Curtis from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
