188 ELIZABETH CARY AGASSIZ 
benediction te 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, ete., 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 
...1 Hap 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 
