188 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 



benediction to every one. You don't know our Paul- 

 ine very well, but her presence is like your sister 

 Mary's, a blessing for us all. Do you know Words- 

 worth's two lines: 



" Glad hearts without reproach or blot, 

 Who do Thy work and know it not" 



That expresses what I mean about these unconscious 

 pure natures, who seem to live very near to God. . . . 

 I did find, as you said I should, great support 

 and encouragement from Mr. Longfellow. He came 

 every day for a week and passed two hours with me, 

 while I read aloud to him my work as far as it has 

 gone. He was intensely interested in the material, 

 letters, etc., and cheered me very much about it 

 all. The manuscript has now gone to Mr. Guyot, 

 the only survivor of that circle of young men who 

 sympathized so affectionately in each other's in- 

 tellectual work. I know that his criticism will be 

 of great service to me. He also has written me very 

 warmly about it, but has not yet finished it. 



Cambridge, January, 1879 



... I HAD it in my mind to write a month ago, but 

 I have been delayed because I wanted to send you 

 these two or three letters of your father's, which 

 it seemed to me you would all be glad to read 

 now, or if you have seen them before, to re-read. 

 They are so full of elevating and noble thoughts, 

 especially the one of January, 1833, where he speaks 

 of self-sacrifice in love, the being able to bear and 

 to suffer together as the closest tie. I think he says 



