FORBES OF HARVARD 
 
 BY 
 
 ELBERT HUBBARD 
 Author of" One Day," "No Enemy," etc. 
 
 " I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the 
 old and the new. Shall 1 not call God the Beautiful, who daily showeth 
 Himself so to me in His gifts? " EMERSON. 
 
 BOSTON 
 ARENA PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 COPLEY SQUARE 
 
 1894
 
 Copyrighted 1894 
 
 By ARENA PUB. Co. 
 
 All rights reserved
 
 I DEDICATE THIS BOOK TO THOSE WHO LOVE 
 
 THEIR FRIENDS, AND ESPECIALLY TO MY 
 
 MOTHER J THE RARE EXCELLENCE 
 
 OF WHOSE UNSELFISH LIFE 
 
 MIRRORS THE LIFE 
 
 DIVINE.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 T HE sad passing away of Col. Arthur Ripley 
 Forbes, by the sinking of the steamship 
 Titania, in the English Channel, has placed in 
 my hands, as Executor, a large mass of corre 
 spondence. Many of the letters possessing a 
 certain literary value, I have been given per 
 mission by the heirs to publish such of the 
 communications as I thought proper. 
 
 Out of this epistolary aggregation of gossip, 
 business, philosophy, friendship and love, certain 
 letters have been selected, and by arranging 
 them chronologically they tell their own story. 
 
 I trust that those who read this simple record 
 of loyal friendship, will get at least a portion of 
 the pleasure out of its perusal that has been 
 derived from the pleasant task of arranging 
 the facts in order. 
 
 ELBERT HUBBARP,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER I. 
 
 MARIE MEREDITH, SPINSTER, TO ARTHUR RIPLEV 
 FORBES. 
 
 Mr. Forbes, having been advised by his physi 
 cian to quit college on account of his health, 
 follows the advice ; but financial necessities 
 compel him to accept a position as school 
 teacher. His plans frustrated. 
 
 CONCORD, MASS., April 3, 1851. 
 DEAR ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES: 
 
 We have heard of people who left their 
 
 country for their country s good ; and I am 
 
 sure that many people could confer a great 
 
 blessing on their towns-people by moving 
 
 1
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 "away off" wherever that is. Dr. Peabody 
 has advised you to pack up your scanty earthly 
 effects, and stand not on the order of your 
 going, but go at once. And still, last week I 
 heard that instead of following his advice, for 
 which he probably charged you two dollars, you 
 have agreed to teach the Lexington school. 
 You are to begin your work next Monday, by 
 ringing the bell promptly at nine o clock. 
 Then you are to live in the dust raised by the 
 shuffling feet of fifty boys breathing the hot, 
 stifling atmosphere polluted by the individual 
 family perfume of a score of the first families, 
 some of whom go swimming in warm weather 
 we will admit. Do not forget that I have 
 taught in the same school myself and know the 
 opportunities for ventilation. Why, if you 
 raise a sash just a wee bit, it makes such a 
 draft that the books get sucked right through 
 the window. 
 
 So you are going to teach the Lexington 
 school, are you, Arthur Ripley Forbes ? Well, 
 not exactly, Mr. Forbes ! I have written them 
 that you have changed your mind, gotten the 
 Pike s Peak fever, and would start to-morrow.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 And so in this letter I enclose you a New York 
 draft, which I bought in Boston to-day for 
 $326.25 ; and, in addition, I send a railroad 
 ticket to New York, which must be used within 
 forty-eight hours. 
 
 Where did I get the money ? None of 
 your business, Mr. Forbes ; I did not give it 
 out of my own personal pocket, you may be 
 sure. Neither did I steal it. But I want you 
 to leave this place at once and go straight to 
 Pike s Peak. Leave Concord for Concord s 
 good, that you may come back a well and 
 strong man. It is a long, hard trip, I know; 
 but it will not kill you, and we do not want 
 you to stay here. I am sick and tired of going 
 to a funeral every week the mortality rate 
 is getting altogether too high in Middlesex 
 County. 
 
 Yours earnestly, 
 
 MARIE MEREDITH. 
 
 P. S. Start to-morrow, Arthur ; only your 
 mother and I will be at the station to see you 
 off, and there will be no fuss. The money 
 was given by lots of folks who love you well,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Take the morning train into Boston and you 
 can catch the express for Springfield. 
 
 NUMBER II. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS MEREDITH. 
 
 The advice followed. 
 
 CONCORD, April 3, 1851. 8 P. M. 
 DEAR AUNT MARIE: 
 
 I have decided to start for the Far West 
 to-morrow. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 A. R. FORBES. 
 
 NUMBER III. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Mr. Forbes 1 former room-mate writes a breezy 
 letter, full of affection^ hope and good cheer,
 
 FORBES OF HAR VARD. 
 
 HOLLIS 19, CAMBRIDGE, April 3, 1851. 
 DEAR OLD CHUM: 
 
 Since you left here, three weeks ago, the 
 weather has been decidedly cloudy; and once 
 or twice, when I glanced over at your little bed 
 in the corner and saw how nice and smooth 
 and white the covers were, it looked like rain. 
 But they have put a new man in with me now : 
 Bridges of Albany, perhaps you remember him.. 
 A good enough sort of fellow, but he is not 
 Arthur Ripley my Arthur tall, slender, sad 
 and mirthful by turn, who could floor any man 
 in the hall, collar and elbow; and then do as 
 much for the professor in psychology my 
 Arthur, who wrote the thesis for Reddy Smith, 
 because the boy s mother died and he was so 
 broke up that his red head would not work ; 
 and who wrote a better thesis than he intended 
 to, so that it took the Bowdoin prize of fifty 
 dollars, and set a pace so rapid for the genial 
 Reddy, that he could never approach his record, 
 and has lived in suspicion ever since ! Never 
 mind, old man ; you did not mean to do it, did 
 you ? 
 
 In the Latin class, we had a high old time
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 last week. You remember Professor R 
 
 generally brings his big Newfoundland, and the 
 dog takes a quiet nap while the professor gives 
 his lecture. Well, young Larkin brought a 
 dog, too a bull terrier, with a collar and 
 chain. When the lecture was about half over 
 we heard that chain rattle, and the next instant 
 the terrier was on the platform and had the 
 Newfoundland by the neck. The big dog 
 gave a yelp, and then they went at it. They 
 upset the globe, and an easel with a blackboard 
 on it, and then the dogs fought under the 
 benches and all over the room before we could 
 get em separated. The following day there 
 was a sign on the door, "Positively no dogs 
 allowed in Class Rooms." At the next lec 
 ture given by Professor R , in walked six 
 
 Seniors, each leading a cat by a chain. 
 
 That last hemorrhage you had scared us all, 
 and I am inclined to think, now, that if you had 
 stayed here, it would have been just as well 
 provided you would have been willing to go 
 slow, and not make yourself a pack-horse for 
 every poor fellow who cannot pass his "zam" 
 or pay his board.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 I am sure it is not phthisis : your lungs are 
 not affected, for you had a great appetite and 
 only coughed a little, and that in the mornings. 
 
 But now I hear that you are going to Pike s 
 Peak well, that is great pick up all the 
 nuggets you can, and don t forget to send a 
 basket around .to Hollis for the boys who 
 swear by Arthur Ripley Forbes. 
 
 "Gawd bless you, me che-ild!" Write 
 us a letter once in a while, such as only you 
 can pen, and I will read it at the Phi Beta 
 Kappa. How the boys will applaud ! 
 
 Ever and always, 
 
 JACK. 
 
 NUMBER IV. 
 
 HEZEKIAH PENNAWORTH TO EDMUND HOSMER. 
 
 A letter to an old resident of Concord. Another 
 student has something to say somewhat 
 stilted and pedantic, perhaps ; but gives his 
 version of an extraordinary occurrence. "It 
 all depends upon the point of view. 11
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 DEP T OF DIVINITY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY, 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, April 6, 1851. 
 MY DEAR SIR: 
 
 I have a peculiar respect for your quiet vil 
 lage on account of its historical connections, 
 but I feel it my duty now to relate to you a 
 little experience which I had a few days ago, 
 that has placed me in a most embarrassing 
 position. All brought about by an eccentric 
 female purporting to reside in your village. I 
 had the honor of leading the chapel exercises 
 on the morning in question, and would not 
 have been imposed on as I was, had it not 
 been that this female brought me a letter from 
 Ralph Waldo Emerson ; for whom, you know, 
 I have a strong personal regard, although I 
 must here say his philosophy is most mysti 
 cal (if I may use the expression) dangerous 
 tending to unseat the moral convictions of 
 even those who have grown to years of discre- 
 ti6n, to say nothing of its bad effect on the 
 growing minds of the young. 
 
 As I hope soon to be an instructor in Har 
 vard, I must contradict the imputation that 
 has been put forth by persons evilly disposed,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 that these peculiar, insidious ideas (if I may be 
 allowed the expression) were acquired in this 
 institution of learning. For while Harvard 
 College is most liberal in all things, giving to 
 every man a perfect right to think for himself, 
 yet, in our imparting instruction, we know 
 where to draw the line between liberal Chris 
 tianity and that Germanic imported thing, 
 which they are pleased to call "Christian 
 Rationalism ; " which, my dear brother, you 
 must admit, is neither Christian or Rational (if 
 I may be allowed to use the comparison). 
 
 Mr. Emerson is an alumnus of this college, 
 and I have for him, personally, a great affection 
 (which remark does not imply that I endorse 
 any of his so-called philosophy). So, when the 
 female presented herself in College Chapel yes 
 terday, with a letter from Mr. Emerson, intro 
 ducing her and speaking of her most highly, I 
 at once, unthinkingly, granted her request to 
 say a few words to the men before they were 
 dismissed. 
 
 She wore a most peculiar bonnet of large 
 dimensions, with wicked intent, I now believe, 
 of making me think she was a Quakeress;
 
 10 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 and as you know the women of this sect 
 are often given to public speaking, setting 
 aside the words of St. Paul, "suffer not a 
 woman to teach," I the more readily assented, 
 as our college is most liberal in all things. 
 Her manner was most brusque and assertive. 
 In fact, she rather demanded permission to 
 speak than asked it, and you well know that no 
 
 Christian gentleman can afford to get into a 
 
 f 
 disputation with a female their talk never 
 
 being of a logical order; always without 
 sequence and lacking synthetic quality. So I 
 have made it a rule, in the past, to allow them 
 to have their own way. I make this excuse 
 for not appealing to argumentum Baculinum 
 and ejecting the intruder at once. In fact, my 
 warm sympathetic nature may cause me to lose 
 my prospective position here, and certainly it 
 has already brought upon me much obloquy. 
 I was about to dismiss the congregation with 
 the benediction, when this woman presented 
 herself, carrying a large basket on one arm, and 
 an umbrella, tied about with a strip of cotton 
 cloth. She set her basket on the platform, and 
 at once began to speak of the sympathy which
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 11 
 
 should exist between man and man : that, if a 
 worthy man needed help, all others, who had it 
 in their power to do so, should be thankful for 
 the privilege of assisting him. The boys in 
 the back part of the chapel began to applaud 
 (a thing which should never occur in a house 
 set apart for sacred worship). Several Method 
 ists among the pupils shouted "Amen" or 
 words to that effect and this only encouraged 
 the female, who spake the louder and faster; 
 and several times, by way of emphasis, she 
 smote the sacred desk with her umbrella. One 
 of the Freshmen requested her to hit it again, 
 which caused the unruly to applaud the more. 
 She then told of how a student of this college 
 had tuberculosis, or at least was threatened 
 with it, or some bronchitic affection of how 
 he supported his mother, and had given money 
 to other students more needy than himself 
 and now, when he was so reduced, physically, 
 that he could no longer follow his studies, he 
 found himself penniless, and proposed to go to 
 teaching school. "If he is allowed to do 
 this," she continued, "he will die in a month; 
 but if the money can be raised to send him
 
 12 FORBES OF HARVARD, 
 
 away to Pike s Peak, he will probably recover." 
 She wound up her harangue with, "The name 
 of the young man is Arthur Ripley Forbes, 
 52." 
 
 Of course all the boys know Forbes the 
 tallest man in the school and before the 
 old woman had gotten the words out of her 
 mouth they sent up a most disagreeable shout ; 
 and this woman ordered four men on the front 
 seat to pass the hats, for she wanted three hun 
 dred dollars for Forbes within ten minutes. 
 Everybody seemed to lose his head I put 
 in a dollar before I thought. Those who had 
 left their purses at home borrowed of others, 
 and I am sure she got over three hundred dol 
 lars. She did not wait to count the money or 
 thank me for the use of the platform, nor to 
 hear the benediction, but away she went with 
 the money tied up in a big red handkerchief ; 
 her basket on one arm and her umbrella over 
 her shoulder. It seems she came in an old 
 chaise drawn by a white horse. She left this 
 horse standing on Quincy Street in care of a 
 Sophomore, to whom she beckoned, and, call 
 ing him to her, addressed him most disrespect-
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 13 
 
 fully thus : " Sonny, hold this horse until I 
 come back." 
 
 After thinking the matter over, I am fully 
 convinced that we have been imposed upon. 
 
 There is no guarantee that this woman will 
 ever use the money for Mr. Forbes ; and I 
 do not think she had any authority from 
 him to make the appeal in his behalf. If 
 Mr. Forbes needed our assistance, it would 
 have been more proper for him to have laid the 
 matter before the Faculty, so it could have 
 been considered by the Finance Committee. 
 
 In justice to Mr. Forbes (for we are a liberal 
 institution and would not wrong any man), I 
 must say he was always a fairly good student ; 
 although he could never win a diploma, Magna 
 Cum Lauda. 
 
 I do not want to say anything against him ; 
 but several times he has been caught in the 
 act of assisting dull students in their examina 
 tions, and once he put eleven frogs in my desk 
 so that they hopped out the next morning 
 when I opened the drawer causing me 
 a severe nervous shock. He afterwards 
 explained that the frogs were only placed there
 
 14 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 temporarily, being designed for the Department 
 of Natural History, so I forgave the offense. 
 
 I do not think he is threatened with tuber 
 culosis; he had, I believe, a slight cough, not 
 much more than a clearing of the throat a 
 habit, I should say and the last few days he 
 was here he had more color in his cheeks than 
 any who sat near him. And then he has a 
 splendid physique tall and erect. 
 
 This may be merely a designing scheme of 
 Forbes to excite the sympathy of Christian 
 people his plan being to divide the spoils 
 with the female I have spoken of or she may 
 be acting alone. At any rate, I desire you, as 
 my friend, to thoroughly sift the matter ; and, if 
 the law has been transgressed, I hope you will 
 bring the offender to justice let the blow 
 fall where it will. 
 
 Believe me, I am, dear sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 HEZEKIAH PENNAWORTH. 
 
 P. S. I must add that Mr. Emerson is not 
 blameless in this matter; having been the cause 
 of this female speaking from the platform in
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 15 
 
 College Chapel no woman ever having spoken 
 there before. Her smiting of the sacred desk 
 with the umbrella, and the riotous applause, 
 being most unseemly all of which may make 
 me serious trouble if the Faculty see fit to act 
 upon it. 
 
 H. P. 
 
 NUMBER V. 
 
 MR. EDMUND HOSMER TO REV. HEZEKIAH 
 PENNAWORTH. 
 
 Mr. Edmund Hosmer assures Mr. Pennaworth 
 that Miss Meredith is a worthy person, and 
 gives an interesting fact concerning her. 
 
 CONCORD, MASS., April 7, 1851. 
 MY DEAR SIR : 
 
 Your letter received. The only woman I 
 know, who is capable of the conduct you detail, 
 is Miss Marie Meredith, a maiden-lady of this 
 village. While somewhat eccentric, she is a 
 most excellent person in every respect, and has 
 the confidence of all good people in this com 
 munity. Her name should live in history, as 
 she enjoys the distinction of being the first
 
 16 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 woman principal of a public school ever 
 employed in this capacity in Massachusetts. 
 
 Any funds you have placed in the hands of 
 Miss Meredith, I am sure, will be wisely and 
 properly used. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 EDMUND HOSMER. 
 
 NUMBER VI. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 A glimpse of that fine feeling of affection, so 
 often found among college students. The 
 other side of that strange procedure. What 
 Pennaworth lacks in humor Holworthy seems 
 to make up. A suggestive postscript. 
 
 HOLLIS 19, CAMBRIDGE, MASS., 
 
 April 7, 1851. 
 DEAR OLD CHUM: 
 
 I haven t much time to write, but I will send 
 this to Buffalo at a venture, as I hear you will 
 stay there and at Niagara Falls a day or so. 
 
 That pain in your side is nothing, dear boy ; 
 I have it myself, sometimes. And those night
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 17 
 
 sweats I know they make you weak; but 
 what does a fellow deserve who goes around 
 tutoring, and then sits up half the night 
 getting his own lessons. New sights and 
 new scenes, with fresh air, will fix the old 
 man up in good shape soon; and when he 
 comes back we will meet him in the outskirts 
 with a carriage. We will unloose the horses, 
 and a hundred men will get hold of the rope 
 and pull him over to Harvard Square in state ; 
 we will have a banquet, and the old man will 
 make so good a speech, as usual, that it will 
 leave nothing for the rest to say. 
 
 The big debate, I told you of, comes off 
 soon, and I have been named as one of the 
 speakers. 
 
 Great excitement last week ; something 
 never known in old Harvard before. I ll let 
 you guess four times; yes, ten a hundred. 
 No ! you are wrong. A woman made a speech 
 in College Chapel, and the boys applauded so 
 that they cracked two of the memorial win 
 dows ; and the bust of old Quincy frowned and 
 called, "Order!" Fact! I hope to never! 
 And who was the woman ? Give you twelve
 
 18 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 times to guess. Give it up? Well, it was 
 Aunt Marie Meredith ; and Choate could not 
 match her, if she would only take the platform. 
 I was so interested in what she was saying, I 
 forgot the old woman ; but I know she was 
 wonderfully eloquent. 
 
 Well, I was going to tell you : Serious 
 Penny, the Theolog, had charge of the chapel 
 service that morning, and Aunt Marie just 
 edged him off the platform and began her little 
 speech. It was only about five minutes long 
 something about the brotherhood of man. It 
 would not interest you, anyway ; but it touched 
 several of the boys so that they mopped, and 
 Bridges got something in his eye and blew his 
 nose on his coat tail. Some of the boys have 
 got up a sham petition to present to the Fac 
 ulty because they say Penny invited a woman to 
 preach in College Chapel, and they want him 
 bounced for treason in trying to have an old 
 woman president in place of Sparks. Penny 
 has written a long letter to Sparks, explaining 
 that Aunt Marie got under way before he could 
 get his breath, and the end is not yet. 
 
 Since the Baptists gave it up, Aunt Marie is
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 19 
 
 preaching, every Sunday afternoon, at the little 
 red school-house over by the Pond. Not much 
 science in her homiletics, I guess; but she 
 gives it to em straight as to how people 
 should live. They say the folks around there 
 turn out great to hear her lots of them never 
 inside a church, I suppose. 
 
 We had quite a scare, the other day, when we 
 saw a big red printed card on the pump, out in 
 front of Hollis, reading "The water in this 
 well has been analyzed by the Board of Health 
 and found unfit for use." The sign stayed 
 there all day, as everybody thought it was all 
 straight. The Faculty sent for the Secretary 
 of the Board of Health, and gave him a great 
 going-over ; but it turned out that some of the 
 boys had stolen the sign off from a pump over 
 in Boston, and tacked it on ours. Bridges had 
 not been feeling well for a day or so, and when 
 we saw the sign he said he always knew the 
 water in that well was "pizen." 
 
 Bridges is a fine fellow, but he ain t my 
 Arthur of the Round Table. 
 
 Eat all you can, old man ; and remember, I 
 will divide my last crust with you although,
 
 20 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 you old rascal, you never would accept " noth 
 ing from nobody " when here. But I hope 
 your proud spirit will get broken, so that you 
 will write and ask me for something. I want 
 to send you something, or do something for 
 you, and here all I can send is my love. 
 
 Bridges says he will tumble out and give you 
 back your bed whenever you want it, which I 
 hope will be soon. Rah, Rah, Rah, Fifty- 
 two, Staunch and True, Rah, Rah, Rah, 
 H-A-R-V-A-R-D. 
 
 God bless you, old man ! Don t forget the 
 nuggets when you get to Pike s Peak. You 
 always got the nuggets (of wisdom) here, you 
 
 surely will not miss them there. 
 
 JACK. 
 
 P. S. Was up to Concord Sunday. Our 
 stately Minerva what s her name? the tall 
 Iris that lives with the Alcotts asked if I 
 miss you. Do I miss you, old chum ? 
 
 NUMBER VII. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO MISS MARIE 
 MEREDITH. 
 
 Mr. Forbes writes to the woman who is "aunt"
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 21 
 
 to the wJiole community. The journey de 
 scribed. Despair veiled in lightsome, playful 
 vein. A modern Mercutio. "A deal more 
 kindness in tJie world than is ever spoken." 
 
 MANSION HOUSE, BUFFALO, N. Y., 
 
 April 8, 1851. 
 DEAR AUNT MARIE : 
 
 Thus far am I on my journey. I have fol 
 lowed your orders about not drawing on my 
 vitality by writing letters, but to-day I am 
 quite in the mood. You know I have always 
 respected your whim about disliking to shake 
 hands ; but that other whim, that you do not 
 want to be thanked, I will now defy. Here 
 am I, twenty-four years old last December 
 twenty-first day, two o clock in the morning 
 six feet three, weight one hundred and fifty- 
 five, and not a dollar in the wide world but 
 what you have given me. You paid my tui 
 tion at Harvard besides ; although no one 
 knows it. So I am under obligation to you, 
 not only for the dollars I have, but for the 
 ideas I possess, as well. 
 
 In interpreting the parable of the talents, you 
 know, Deacon Peepson always gives it the pure
 
 22 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Connecticut bias. Why do you not learn at the 
 feet of Deacon Peepson : increase your dollars, 
 instead of bestowing them on young men of very 
 hazy prospects, or loaning them to older ones 
 with future still more obscure ? I really believe 
 you have given the dear old wood-sawing philoso 
 pher a hundred dollars the past year ; and it 
 makes me smile audibly, when I think how 
 careful he always is to issue his note for these 
 favors. Yet, if Louisa turns out to be half 
 what you prophesy, it will all come back to 
 you, with usurious interest, in the shape of 
 satisfaction. Satisfaction is not quoted as a 
 negotiable security on Milk Street, but I rather 
 think that happiness is transferable after all ; 
 and all you want it for, you selfish old maid, is 
 to give it away. But to return to your finan 
 ces : although I cannot manage my own, 
 should that hinder me from giving you 
 advice about yours ? Perish the thought ! 
 
 Well, your money is all in the mill stock, 
 which pays you a fair rate of interest, yet 
 it may not always pay ; so I would advise 
 you to save up for your old age. Let me 
 see ! my old aunt is sixty-one ; but, pshaw ! I
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 23 
 
 forgot, it is not years that make people old ! 
 My dear aunt was never any younger, nor will 
 she ever be any older, than she is now. 
 
 Although the frosts of sixty-one winters 
 have whitened her hair a trifle, yet she is the 
 same scolding, loving, working, praying, laugh 
 ing, scoffing, tender-hearted heretic that she 
 always was. I set out, in this letter, to thank 
 her for all she has bestowed on me, in the way 
 of admonition, intellectual fly-blister, tender 
 love, rebuke, and coin of the realm ; but, now 
 that I try it, a big lump comes in my throat 
 and I cannot see the lines on the paper. I 
 chew my penholder, and do not know what to 
 say that will not be thrown back to me ; and 
 so, in despair, I give it up, and say, God knows ! 
 And my Aunt Marie, living so close to Him, in 
 her cottage with her cat, under the pines, the 
 lilacs in the yard, and the lines of box-wood 
 and gooseberry bushes in the garden, and the 
 rose bush climbing over the door, and the 
 Musketequid flowing lazily by surely, she 
 knows, too. 
 
 To him that hath shall be given. Did ever 
 unworthy mortal have such friends as have
 
 24 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 been given to me ? Everyone seems to know 
 it, and they try to outdo the friends at home. 
 But if they were wise they would give up in 
 despair. Coming here from Albany, the con 
 ductor made up a bunk in the express car, with 
 a pile of mail bags for a mattress, and the 
 brakeman contributed a big overcoat (that 
 smelled very strongly of tobacco) ; and these, 
 with the new quilt you gave me, made a very 
 comfortable bed. I slept well, and dreamed of 
 fishing in Walden Lake and catching a Har 
 vard diploma without honors. I am fully 
 persuaded, that if I ever get a Harvard diploma, 
 it will be in that way. 
 
 In the morning, when I got up, the 
 express messenger wanted to divide his 
 lunch with me. He sorted mail, and flung 
 the letters with a dextrous twist right 
 and left, high and low, always in the 
 right box, and gave me his family history at 
 the same time. When I started to go, I 
 thanked him for his kindness, and told him I 
 was glad of the privilege of riding in the bag 
 gage car, for I expected to come back that 
 way. He stopped his flinging the letters and
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 25 
 
 said, with something that sounded very much 
 like a swear word : " Now, you there, pard, let 
 up on that ; don t you lose your nerve ! Why, 
 you only have a bad cold ; that s what makes 
 your side ache. When you get to Buffalo, if 
 you will go with me, my old mother will fix 
 you up a dose that will make a man of you." 
 One of the great disadvantages of being a 
 semi-invalid is, that we have to listen to all the 
 good people who have had exactly the same ex 
 perience that we have. I already have a note 
 book nearly filled with recipes, all of which are 
 warranted to cure me. One old lady on the 
 train, who, in a high conversational soprano, 
 told the entire car about her son in Ohio, 
 whom she was going to visit, leaned over the 
 aisle and said to me: "La me! Young man, 
 you look as if you was going inter the con 
 sumption ! Our neighbor Smith s hired man 
 didn t look half so bad as you, and he died 
 right in his cheer. What ! You ain t travellin 
 alone, be you ? Dear me ! You must take 
 some of my elderberry wine to wunst." 
 
 Mr. Emerson always told us, you know, that 
 there was a deal more kindness in the world
 
 26 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 than was ever spoken ; and surely mankind are 
 not so bad, after all ! If we always had the 
 power to touch the unseen spring, how the 
 heart would open and sympathy and affection 
 step forth ! 
 
 You will be glad to know that my appetite is 
 good, and that I have dozed and day-dreamed 
 and been really happy. Can I ever repay the 
 dear ones who have shown such lavish kind 
 ness ? No, I cannot ; but I believe that some 
 where and somehow, there is a something that 
 will reward you all. Above the feebleness of 
 man is God. 
 
 Does it not seem a little queer, that I, who, 
 two years ago, was the most active and strong 
 est man in my class, should now wear a shawl, 
 and pipe in falsetto? strong in every part 
 save one. If the king pin of a wagon breaks, 
 we put in another. Does the tire come off, we 
 put it on. If a spoke breaks, we replace it. 
 But when one part of a man s body gives out, 
 we deed him real estate, two by six, pass 
 resolutions and write his obituary. 
 
 I leave for Chicago to-morrow then to St. 
 Louis, and from there the work really begins.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 27 
 
 Overland in a prairie schooner, I suppose ; 
 which I have heard of, but never seen. Two 
 years ago I would have gloried in the prospect. 
 I am a savage at heart, and always had a desire 
 to live in the open air to return to nature 
 and be her child, resting on her breast and 
 having her gentle voice sing me to sleep and 
 her bounty feed me when awake. But now it 
 is all so close at hand, I shrink from the pros 
 pect. It quite took my strength to walk up two 
 flights of stairs to-day ; but here is consolation 
 if I fail, I will not be the first. There are 
 more on the other side of the Styx than here. 
 My friend, the expressman, will handle the 
 mail more gently when he reads the name on 
 the wooden box. He will tiptoe across the car 
 
 and say to the brakeman, " D you, Jim, 
 
 don t you swear in here ! " as he points to the 
 corner. And he will forget, that morning, to 
 open the sliding door and wave at the girls in 
 the farm-house, as the train goes whirling by. 
 And then there is rest sweet rest ! I do so 
 sigh for rest. Sleepy Hollow, over the hills, 
 with its sighing pines and great rocks, 
 and the quiet where my father sleeps. So,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 whether it is this way or that, I am content. 
 With great love I am, 
 
 Most sincerely, your 
 
 ARTHUR. 
 
 NUMBER VIII. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Another letter from Forbes. He adapts his 
 style to the correspondent. Chicago peculiari 
 ties. What did Aunt Marie talk about ? 
 One of three things will happen to him. 
 Which will it be ? A postscript. 
 
 CHICAGO, April 1 1, 1851. 
 MY DEAR OLD CHUM : 
 
 This is the most active, bustling place you 
 ever heard of. It seems to be filled with 
 young men from the East. 
 
 In Boston you go into a business house, 
 ask for "the head of the firm," and you 
 are shown into the private office of a 
 white-whiskered old patriarch, who patroniz 
 ingly freezes you by saying, " Ah ! Now, 
 my son well, what can I do for you to-
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 29 
 
 day?" You are looked upon as a mendicant. 
 I would rather face an audience in Faneuil 
 Hall than approach one of those gods of coffee, 
 sugar and pork, on Long Wharf. But here it is 
 all changed : the he^d of the house in Chicago 
 is a smart young fellow, shrewd, clear-headed, 
 ready. He reaches out his hand whether 
 he has ever seen you before or not, tosses 
 your letters of introduction into a corner, 
 unread, slaps you on the back and says, "Well, 
 old boy, how do you like the glorious West?" 
 And you are old friends in half a minute. 
 
 Lots of Harvard men here, and everybody 
 but me is on the go. Options, corner lots, job 
 lots, foot front, bargains, and " sure thing " 
 contracts is what one hears. No time for gos 
 sip. " Glad to see you ! Let s take something ! 
 Well, come around to-morrow," and my hand is 
 wrung and off he flies after "a deal." Just 
 what a deal is, I have not yet learned ; but it 
 must be a very attractive sort of animal : if I 
 secure one, I will stuff it and send it to you for 
 the Peabody Museum. 
 
 If I had a tithe of my old-time ambition, I 
 would "squat" here and make my fortune.
 
 30 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 As it is, I have almost caught the spirit, and 
 to-day bolted my dinner in five minutes, giving 
 the waiter a quarter and telling him to "move 
 lively." Then I got up from the table with a 
 quarter section of pie in^my hand, eating as I 
 walked. It must be a very healthful place, too ; 
 for we had three kinds of climate to-day in 
 twenty minutes. But even this does not tempt 
 me to stay and become a "hustler." 
 
 The clear type of the genus hustler goes on 
 voyages of conquest and discovery into other 
 men s pockets. His counting-room is his 
 church; his desk his pew; his ledger his 
 Bible; his god is gold, and credit his faith. 
 Nature sacrifices the man to complete the 
 work. 
 
 I got your billet-doux at Buffaloux, and of 
 course was much pleased to hear from my old 
 chum. My regards to Bridges, and tell him to 
 sleep in the bed in peace : I shall never want 
 it. I am going to do one of three things : 
 
 1. Be planted deep on the prairie. 
 
 2. Wear a wooden overcoat, with a tag on, 
 reading :
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 31 
 
 With Care 
 To the Sexton of Sleepy Hollow 
 
 Concord 
 Middlesex Co. Mass. 
 
 3. Live my life, secure a good name, and 
 get rich in the wild West. 
 
 The turning point between No. i and No. 2 
 lies in the possibility of there being found 
 money enough, in the lining of my vest, to pay 
 expenses back on the box. A request to this 
 effect is now neatly folded in my pocket-book. 
 
 At night, when I go to bed, I feel so tired I 
 am sure it will be No. I. When I get up in 
 the morning I am positive it will be No. 2. 
 After I get breakfast and move around a 
 little, I try to bluff Arthur Ripley Forbes into 
 a bet that it will be No. 3 ; and so it goes, each 
 day. 
 
 What you told me about Aunt Marie and 
 College Chapel, made me forget my side-ache
 
 32 FORBES OF HAR1 ARD. 
 
 and laugh aloud. I am not surprised, for she is 
 equal to almost anything; but what did she 
 talk about? Admittance of girls to Harvard, I 
 suppose. Well, the boys won t object. Give 
 Stoughton up to the dear creatures, have a 
 dancing platform out in front of Gore and get 
 out the catgut and horse-hair. Ah, excuse 
 me I will take that back. I have decided to 
 return to Harvard, and after graduating I pro 
 pose to return as a Post-Graduate. I may 
 become a grind who knows! and go to 
 school indefinitely, as they do at Heidelberg. 
 Don t fool yourself, old chum : if by any mira 
 cle the girls should get into Harvard, they will 
 make you fellows brighten up your wits. You 
 don t believe this, and old Jared Sparks would 
 call it idiotic drivel and pluck me for being an 
 ass ; but Balaam s ass knew a thing or two. 
 You hear me, you grinning monkey ? Well, 
 laugh away; it s so, just the same. 
 
 The presence of women in a lecture room 
 would work a change in the manners of profess 
 ors, for one thing. You have noticed that 
 when a Harvard professor reads his lecture, 
 he often seats himself in a chair and sprawls
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 33 
 
 over the table like a devil-fish seeking its 
 prey. 
 
 If he is not confined to his manuscript, he 
 may lean back and endeavor to balance his 
 weight on one leg of the chair; his hands are 
 in his pockets up to his elbows, and often one 
 foot is on the table. The students forget the 
 theme to watch the gyrations, and all pray hard 
 that the Prof, will take a tumble. You remem 
 ber old Doctor Hardhead, who gave the course 
 in Geology, used to lecture resting one foot in 
 a seat ; and in the pause that marked the exit 
 of one thought and the coming of another, 
 instead of scratching his head for inspiration 
 as some of us do, he would scratch various por 
 tions of his anatomy as the notion struck him, 
 and we would lay bets as to what part he 
 would scratch next. And then there was that 
 man in English, who lectured sitting astride of 
 a chair, using the back for an abdominal sup 
 porter. Occasionally he would turn his head 
 and spit, which you must admit was much better 
 than to spit straight ahead at the audience. 
 
 Well, the point I would make is, that any 
 man who speaks to an audience composed in
 
 34 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 part of women will take the attitude that is 
 respectful and which is proper for a speaker. 
 He will then be teaching manners as well as 
 his regular subject; and manners must never 
 be left out of a college curriculum. 
 
 But about Aunt Marie : if she should show 
 up at college again, and any of the boys happen 
 to treat her disrespectfully, I will trust to you, 
 Jack, to catch him on the point of the jaw with 
 your left. If he does not apologize, see that 
 he is well ducked in Charles River you can 
 easily get enough help. But I guess that will 
 not be necessary ; the boys will all recognize 
 her goodness under the big bonnet, vintage of 
 23. Yet there are very few that understand 
 her at all. I think I know her greatness better 
 than anyone else. 
 
 To tell you confidentially, Jack, I could not 
 have made this trip if it had not been for her. 
 She got the money somewhere, she would not 
 tell how ; going around, I suppose, among the 
 neighbors and over to Maiden and she would 
 tackle a few in Boston, too. Thoreau would 
 help her, for he has not much else to do, and 
 Alcott would borrow a dollar to put in. Never
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 35 
 
 mind; they are a queer lot, ain t they, Jack? 
 But even though we do make sport of them, 
 we know their virtues, and here s to all those 
 who love those that we love. 
 
 Hoping you will pass 100 in your Greek, 
 I am, 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 ARTHUR. 
 
 P. S. The young woman that you spoke of 
 at Alcott s is Miss Honor Harold. I saw her 
 several times at the Lyceum hardly thought 
 she would remember me. 
 
 A. R. F. 
 
 NUMBER IX. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO MRS. PRUDENCE FORBES. 
 
 Son to mother. As requested, describes his 
 symptoms. The mother-love given back with 
 interest. " Thoreau and Holworthy will look 
 after your needs, come what may" 
 
 SHERMAN HOUSE, CHICAGO, 
 
 April 12, 1851. 
 MY DEAR MOTHER: 
 
 You see I am one thousand miles from you ; 
 but I love you just as much, as if \ were writ
 
 36 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 ing this in our sitting-room, and you were in 
 the kitchen, and the door between was open, 
 and you were busy at your work, singing, 
 "Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to thy bosom 
 fly." I think you would not stay long here if 
 you could not sing. They say that soldiers, 
 on the march, sing ; and they sing when going 
 into battle. Shepherds sing away the long 
 hours of the day or night. And you know the 
 first chorus was formed in the country : in 
 fact, the word chorus means country. In the 
 country it is sometimes lonely, and so "God 
 sent his singers." 
 
 I am sure my good old mother gets much of 
 her courage, fortitude and patience through 
 her song. It sort of puts her into close rela 
 tionship with the "Over-soul," and she feels 
 she is not alone ; that God is near, and what 
 cares she, though the north winds blow, and 
 her big boy has gone off to make his fortune 
 and get strong ! 
 
 You were so anxious to have me write 
 exactly how I felt, and about the cough, that I 
 will comply, lest you be grieved that I do not 
 follow my good mother s orders. Well, firstly,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 37 
 
 I do not cough quite so much, but I lay abed 
 this morning quite a while, dreading to get 
 up, knowing the coughing would begin as 
 soon as I stood on my feet. I have used 
 nearly all the boneset you gave me, and 
 have some of the cold hop tea on the chair 
 near my bed, so I can reach out and get it 
 when my throat gets dry and parched, in the 
 night. 
 
 The shooting pains through my left shoulder- 
 blade are not so bad, but I still have those 
 awful dreams. You know I have my father s 
 spirit, and fear nothing in the day-time; but 
 the instant I fall asleep those black, leering 
 forms come up, and I often awaken with a 
 start, all in a cold sweat, and lie awake hours, 
 conjugating the Greek verb up and back, down 
 and across, before I can go to sleep again. 
 
 It looks as if nature was afraid to sleep 
 lest she forget to waken ; and so, last night, 
 I got up and dressed, put on my overcoat, 
 and sat looking out of the window for two 
 hours: watching the stars and one big yel 
 low star, in particular, which was right off over 
 old Middlesex County. I listened to the echo-
 
 38 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 ing feet of the belated travelers and the watch 
 men, as they trod the pavement beneath my 
 window. By and by the milk wagons began to 
 rattle through the streets ; the stars stole to 
 rest, and then away off in the direction of Bos 
 ton, great red streaks shot up, until the whole 
 eastern sky was aglow. The light always comes 
 from the east, you know. Then I undressed 
 and went to bed, and slept pretty nearly as 
 well as I used to, up in our little garret. I 
 dreamed that that big light in the east would 
 have forgotten to appear, had I not watched 
 for it. Now, I wonder, after all, would the 
 sun come up just the same if I should go 
 hence ? 
 
 Despair seems to clasp me in his leaden 
 arms, crushing my heart in his embrace. I am 
 so tired all the time, dear little mother ; some 
 way I do not get rested as I should. When I 
 get up in, the morning I am more tired than 
 when I went to bed. My limbs ache so, and I 
 feel sore all over. I think, to-day, that if I had 
 just stayed at home in the old house, with my 
 little fidgety sweetheart mother, and rested 
 rested quietly, and let you take care of me
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 39 
 
 the old-time strength would soon come back. 
 Yes ; it is rest I need rest. I seem to have 
 lost my will power, and need the help of a 
 stronger and clearer mind to tell me just what 
 to do. 
 
 Do you think it would be very weak in a 
 man six feet three, to acknowledge he was 
 homesick and wanted his mother ? Well, never 
 mind, you will not tell anyone ; but I want 
 my mother so badly, to-night, that I could cry 
 and perhaps I have, a little. I once heard a 
 gray-haired old man say he longed to leave 
 this earth so that he could see his mother, and 
 I guess the mother-love ever lingers down in a 
 man s heart ; so, when he is away in a strange 
 city and the weather is cold and rainy, and he 
 sits alone in his room in a big, bustling hotel 
 where nobody cares for him, and he ain t very 
 well his head is hot and his feet cold he 
 just wants his mother to come and bring some 
 hot water with mustard in it, so he can warm 
 his feet. She will put her hands on his throb 
 bing head. Her form may be bent a little, and 
 she may wear spectacles with brass rims and 
 her hands may be hard and calloused, but the
 
 40 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 touch is very gentle and loving. She would 
 help him undress and go to bed, and then she 
 would tuck the warm blankets around him and 
 kiss his forehead, and taking up the candle 
 would move off quietly down the stairs, that 
 might creak a little ; and sweet sleep would 
 come stealing in, with calm rest and pleasant 
 dreams. 
 
 I leave for St. Louis to-morrow, and if you 
 write me there soon after you get this, care of 
 the Southern Hotel, I will get it before I 
 leave. 
 
 If you need anything, in any way, just call 
 on Henry Thoreau or write to John Holworthy 
 at Cambridge. I had a quiet chat with each 
 before I left ; so, you see, my wee, white-haired 
 sweetheart, you have three boys instead of 
 one. Affectionately, 
 
 ARTHUR.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 41 
 
 NUMBER X. 
 
 MRS. PRUDENCE FORBES TO ARTHUR RIPLEY 
 FORBES. 
 
 Mrs. Forbes writes to her son, telling him of her 
 new boarder ; of household and family affairs. 
 Expresses her fears as to his spiritual state, 
 and gives earnest advice as to his physical 
 condition. 
 
 [It seems, at first view, almost like sacrilege 
 to put in cold print the lavish outpourings of 
 this loving mother s heart. 
 
 Living for many years a life of ceaseless toil 
 in a sequestered spot, devoted to her fam 
 ily and household affairs, with a deep religious 
 feeling, she is the type of a class unhappily 
 growing rare. Mr. Emerson s followers were 
 few in 1851. He was regarded by many as a 
 "dangerous" man. In this and other ways, 
 possibly, this good woman s faith is not ours ; 
 and, while some may not agree with all of her 
 opinions, all good souls will certainly most 
 earnestly respect her motives. Let no man 
 accuse us of irreverence in reproducing such 
 tender words ; for, if we smile, it is in love and 
 sympathy, knowing the groundlessness of her 
 fears. 
 
 She rests from her labors beneath the great 
 pines in Sleepy Hollow, where the winds make 
 mournful melody among the branches ; and 
 over the moss-covered mound where she sleeps, 
 I strew thyme and mignonette. E. H.j
 
 42 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 CONCORD, April 18, 1851. 
 MY DEAR BOY : 
 
 Your letter received. Miss Honor Harold 
 brought it from the post-office. She is living 
 with me now. Since you went away it is so 
 lonesome. Even when you were at Cambridge 
 you were always here Sundays. The first 
 Sunday you were away seemed very long. 
 Henry brought Miss Harold here and intro 
 duced her. He thought she would be com 
 pany for me. It is so noisy down at the 
 Alcotts. They talk so much about foolish 
 things that nobody knows anything about. I 
 know Miss Harold will like it here. She told 
 me to call her Honor ; but she is so tall and so 
 smart, I told her, if she had as lief, I would call 
 her Miss Harold. She has your front room. 
 I have put up a new chintz curtain, and put 
 down the new rag carpet that I had woven last 
 year. I put the log-cabin quilt on the bed, 
 and the one with the pink border which you 
 liked so well. She is a very likely person, I 
 think ; but so quiet I have to talk all the time 
 to entertain her, when she is down-stairs. 
 
 We got eleven eggs yesterday, and I have
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 43 
 
 decided to set the speckled hen, and also the 
 black one, that came here of herself last June. 
 
 I was to charge Miss Harold three dollars a 
 week, which will help quite a bit, won t it 
 Arthur? But she wipes the dishes and takes 
 care of her- own room ; so, if you tell me that 
 you think best, I will make it $2.50, for she 
 gets her dinner twice a week in Boston. She 
 goes tutoring on Beacon Street, to some rich 
 family. Write me if you think $2.50 is 
 enough, or shall I make it $2.75 ? 
 
 It is very kind of Henry Thoreau to say he 
 will look after me ; but you know, Arthur, I do 
 not like him, and you should not grieve the 
 only mother you have by sending him here. 
 
 He treats his folks well, I will admit, but you 
 know he never goes to church ; and one Lord s 
 day, just after the Doxology was sung, and we 
 were all going home filled with the spirit, there 
 walked Henry Thoreau, right through the vil 
 lage, with a tree on his shoulder that he had dug 
 up somewhere. He was taking it home to plant, 
 and I have no doubt he dug a hole and planted 
 it that Sabbath afternoon. O, my son, how can 
 we hope to escape, when we desecrate the Sab-
 
 44 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 bath ? " Remember the Sabbath day to keep 
 it holy," Arthur, and shun those evil compan 
 ions. 
 
 Mr. Emerson, I know, is a very nice man 
 so civil and gentle like. He always shakes 
 hands with me on the street, and says, "A 
 woman who has a boy like you should be very 
 happy." But, oh, my son, good works will not 
 save us; and a man who rejects my Saviour, 
 who died for us on the cross, cannot be a good 
 man at heart. See how his example has 
 affected so many of the young people in Mid 
 dlesex County ! And I believe Henry Thoreau 
 would not be a Sabbath-breaker, were it not for 
 him. 
 
 Only by the blood of Jesus can we hope 
 to escape, and how I long to hear that my only 
 son has accepted his Redeemer ! 
 
 " There is a time, we know not when, 
 
 A place, we know not where, 
 That marks the destiny of men, 
 To glory or despair." 
 
 O ! my son, if you could have heard the 
 fervent appeals that went up to the Throne of 
 Grace for you, last Wednesday night, at the
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 45 
 
 prayer meeting at Deacon Palmer s, I know 
 your stubborn heart would have been touched ; 
 and you would turn and live. I never 
 heard Elder Fisher wax so powerful. As 
 he prayed, the tears ran down his whiskers. 
 It was a time of deep feeling. I had given in 
 your name, and all who took part prayed for 
 "the young man who seemed stricken by the 
 hand of death, and whose mother might be left 
 alone in her old age, desolate." I know our 
 prayers will be heard, Arthur; and, while the 
 light of His countenance seems withheld for a 
 time, we must remember that "Whom the 
 Lord loveth he chasteneth." "Blessed are 
 they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." 
 Throw away those infidel essays of Emerson 
 and read your Bible. Mr. Emerson s mother 
 never taught him these untrue things. Of 
 course, many things he says, are so we all 
 know that. But there is poison in it ; and, 
 although bread is good, you would not eat it if 
 there was poison in it, would you ? No ! And 
 so you cannot read those infidel books without 
 being contaminated. There are only two ways, 
 my son : the right, and the wrong. If you
 
 46 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 reject your Saviour you are lost, no matter how 
 many beautiful things you may say about 
 woods and flowers and sunshine, and stars 
 and streams, and meadows, and all such 
 foolishness. 
 
 " He that believeth ahd is baptized shall be 
 saved ; but he that believeth not shall be 
 damned." (Mark xvi, 16.) 
 
 Take the powders Dr. Peabody gave you 
 regularly, and make a tea of the herbs which I 
 send in the blue paper, and take a table-spoon- 
 
 
 
 ful every hour, without fail. The doctor says 
 you should take the pills in the wooden box 
 before each meal, and four of those in the tin 
 box before you go to bed every night. 
 
 Miss Harold read your letter to me, as my 
 glasses were up-stairs. I guess they do not 
 pay much attention to writing at Harvard, for 
 you are like your father : he never could write 
 so anyone could read it. But she read your 
 letter right straight along, in such a low, sweet 
 voice. I sat and rocked in the splint chair 
 you made. When she got through, I asked her 
 if it was not the most beautiful letter she ever 
 read. She looked at me with her great big
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 47 
 
 eyes, and seemed so awful sad. Then she 
 looked out of the window over toward the 
 hills, and sat there until I had to tell her 
 twice that the tea was drawed. I don t think 
 she heard my question ; she seems a trifle hard 
 of hearing or absent minded, or something. I 
 often have to say the same thing over. If it is 
 something wrong with her ears, I will take her 
 over to Dr. Peabody s. You know he is first- 
 rate on ears. He cured your pa, once, of a bad 
 attack of one ear. I insisted that he should go 
 to the doctor ; but he kept putting it off, and 
 putting it off. And one day I just put on my 
 bonnet and shawl and said, very firm-like, 
 "James, we will go to the doctor s" and we 
 went. The doctor said if we had put it off 
 another day the case would have been hopeless. 
 
 Please read St. Mark viii, 36, and St. John 
 vii, 15-24. 
 
 I will send the medicine by express, care of 
 Southern Tavern, and put in the blue woolen 
 stockings which I just heeled off. 
 
 Miss Harold read my chapter to me last 
 night. I asked her to pray, as something was 
 the matter with my throat, She just repeated
 
 48 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 the Lord s prayer, and I joined her. I am sure 
 that she is a believer, although she has never 
 told me so. 
 
 I like to hear her read, and sit and rock, 
 and close my eyes and listen, just as when 
 you used to read to me after you did the 
 chores, and we had had tea and put the things 
 away. 
 
 I hope I haven t said anything that sounds 
 like scolding in this letter, for you know I am 
 thankful for such a dutiful son. My con 
 stant prayer is, that he may be a God-fearing 
 man. 
 
 I put the box of pills in one of the stockings, 
 so they would not get stolen. You don t know 
 who you can trust nowadays. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 P. FORBES.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 49 
 
 NUMBER XI. 
 Miss HONOR HAROLD TO Miss MEREDITH. 
 
 Miss Harold suggests a plan for the bettering 
 of Mr. Forbes" condition. 
 
 BOSTON, April 16, 1851. 
 DEAR Miss MEREDITH: 
 
 I know all about your getting the money for 
 Mr. Forbes, so he could start West. I also 
 know of the purse you put in his mother s 
 hands, so that he would know that she was 
 provided for during his absence. But I think 
 it would be well if we could arrange matters so 
 that Mr. Forbes will have employment on the 
 overland trip. If he goes as a mere passenger, 
 it will take considerable of his money to pay 
 expenses; and, worse than this, his mind will 
 be on his condition and on his own affairs. 
 Independence is hygienic. 
 
 I think I have a plan whereby, with your 
 help, Mr. Forbes can be benefited. Meet me 
 at the Concord station for the 7.40 train to 
 morrow morning we will go down to Cam 
 bridge and I will tell you my plans on the way.
 
 50 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 To give you a hint now, let me say, we must 
 secure letters from certain dignitaries there, to 
 a man known to me by reputation, in St. Louis, 
 insisting that Mr. Forbes be given employ 
 ment. When you touch the right spring, the 
 door always flies open. 
 
 Sincerely, 
 
 HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 NUMBER XII. 
 Miss MARIE MEREDITH TO Miss HAROLD. 
 
 Miss Meredith promises her support. Takes 
 occasion to give her opinion of men, boys, and 
 college professors. 
 
 CONCORD, April 16, 1851. 
 DEAR GIRLIE : 
 
 Just let me throw my arms around your 
 neck, Honor Bright, and kiss your peachblow 
 cheek for the note just received. I must 
 answer at once, and will send this letter down 
 by Grimes red-headed boy; so, if you do not 
 get it, you will know the rascal has dropped it 
 off the bridge into. the river just to see it
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 51 
 
 float down stream, as he did with one of my let 
 ters once before. If there is anything more 
 untrustworthy than a man, it is a boy. Thank 
 the Lord ! I have no use for either, and Provi 
 dence has protected me from both ; except for 
 a couple of days each spring, when the garden 
 must be spaded and then they always dig 
 where they ought not, and leave undigged 
 where they should have dug. 
 
 I know Arthur should have work on the 
 overland trip; but how could I, a poor old 
 maid, help him get it ? / don t know anyone 
 at St. Louis. I talked with Arthur about this, 
 and he said he thought it was hopeless : as 
 there are so many strong and experienced 
 young men going West, who are anxious to 
 work to pay their way, and of course no one 
 would hire an invalid, anyway. 
 
 He said if he could only get strong, then he 
 would find work at something. He seemed a 
 little disappointed, though, about the pros 
 pect ; for a young lawyer s education is not 
 such as to fit him for handling a pickax 
 gracefully. 
 
 Of course I will be at the train in the morn-
 
 52 FORBES OP HARVARD. 
 
 ing if rheumatism does not positively forbid. 
 I went down to Cambridge once, and brought 
 them to time, and am not afraid to go again ; 
 although a woman does not stand much show 
 at Harvard. Cambridge is made up of stu 
 dents, professors, philistines and cattle. The 
 students are all right, even if they do traverse 
 the sidewalks four abreast ; let the philistines 
 grow rich by having their wives keep boarders, 
 or wax wise on picked-up scraps of Varsity 
 lore ; and I am willing the cattle should chew 
 the contemplative cud in peace ; but if all the 
 professors should go up to Lynn on a picnic, 
 they would surely run down a steep place into 
 the sea and be drowned. 
 
 "Women lack the ability for consecutive 
 application and are wholly wanting in literary, 
 analytical power," said Professor Walker. " But, 
 thank the Lord!" said I, "we do not apply 
 ourselves consecutively and analytically to 
 smoking and chewing. Neither do we have the 
 ability to support the saloons. Yes, it is true, 
 we lack ability you men have it. You fill 
 the colleges and the jails and penitentaries, 
 as well and after awhile you will all go to a
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 53 
 
 very warm place that is filled with nothing but 
 men." I think Professor Walker will not 
 argue equal rights with me again. But we will 
 call on him to-morrow, and I rather guess he 
 will treat us civilly. If you want any of those 
 fool professors to address your influential man 
 in St. Louis, about getting Arthur work, you 
 must write out the letter and simply have them 
 sign it. You do not know men, my child 
 they blunder and mix up everything they touch. 
 I do not know why God made them ! Where 
 there is important work to do, it is always nec 
 essary to call on a woman. To-morrow, at the 
 7.40 Providence and rheumatism permitting. 
 If I am not there, go alone I will trust you. 
 Yours lovingly, 
 
 MARIE MEREDITH.
 
 54 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XIII. 
 
 PROF. JARED SPARKS TO COL. H. C. BALCOM. 
 
 Jared Sparks, President of Harvard, requests 
 that employment be given to Mr. Forbes. 
 This letter evidently a result of the trip 
 mentioned in previous letter. 
 
 HARVARD UNIVERSITY, CAMBRIDGE, MASS., 
 
 April 17, 1851. 
 To COL. H. C. BALCOM. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : I write you this letter on a 
 matter that is of vital importance to several 
 parties concerned. You never failed me when 
 within the bounds of "Fair Harvard," and I 
 know you will not now. What I desire is 
 simply this: Mr. Arthur R. Forbes, 52, will 
 call on you very soon ; I want you to get him 
 a position in an overland train for California, 
 in any capacity where he can let his services 
 pay his way. He is a rare soul; a little 
 depressed physically but I need not explain 
 further. When you see him, your good 
 common-sense will tell you what is wanted, 
 and then I know you will do it 
 
 Sincerely yours, JARED SPARKS. 
 
 I concur in the above request. 
 
 JAS. WALKER,
 
 FORBES OF HAR VARD. 55 
 
 NUMBER XIV. 
 
 DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES TO COL. H. C. 
 BALCOM. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE, 
 HARVARD COLLEGE, 
 
 BOSTON, April 17, 1851. 
 MY DEAR ALUMNUS : 
 
 I write to say that you will be favored with 
 a call, within a few days, from Mr. Arthur 
 Forbes, class of 52, as fine a young man as 
 ever wrestled with a Greek verb. He is 
 making an overland trip for the benefit of his 
 health, and I am anxious he should have 
 employment on the way, instead of going as a 
 passenger. We all need work, as you have 
 often heard me say; and those who are ill 
 should have right mental occupation, in order 
 that nature may heal. Put Forbes in some 
 where, so he will think he is useful, and I am 
 always your debtor. 
 
 We are all glad to hear of your promotion, 
 and on each Commencement Anniversary you 
 must wear the crimson tied to a shining button 
 on your manly breast. 
 
 Fraternally yours, O. W. HOLMES.
 
 56 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XV. 
 
 MISS HONOR HAROLD TO ARTHUR RIPLEY 
 FORBES. 
 
 Miss Harold writes her first letter to Mr, Forbes. 
 Gives advice at variance from what he has 
 received from others. 
 
 [This letter was as much of a surprise to me 
 as it doubtless was to Mr. Forbes. 
 
 By chance, I read the various other letters 
 written by Miss Harold, herein published, 
 before I read this. My estimate of the young 
 lady was that she possessed a mind of rare 
 discrimination, clear insight and the delicate, 
 subtle intuition which is found only in women 
 of the highest type; animated, yet reserved; 
 modest, but not prudish ; thoroughly kind ; 
 always gentle, considerate, sympathetic and 
 appreciative ; never indulging in the abuse 
 of the superlative or asserting herself bluntly 
 and arbitrarily. 
 
 The abrupt manner of this letter, I now 
 believe, was caused by the thought that Forbes 
 condition was extremely critical ; that hope was 
 reduced to a feeble, fitful flame ; and this exer 
 cise of will, on her part, was only meant to 
 arouse him until he could get into a position 
 where nature s healing forces could act. In the 
 quiet village she had heard much of Forbes, and 
 his many manly traits had appealed to her. The 
 letter written to his mother, which she had
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 57 
 
 read, had thoroughly enlisted her sympathies. 
 Her motives were purely disinterested ; and 
 that she showed the rare good sense which only 
 a woman possesses, in thus securing employ 
 ment for Mr. Forbes, is very evident. 
 
 There may be those who have traveled fur 
 ther into the realm of romance than I, who 
 will say that Forbes and this woman had met 
 and loved. Eyes had looked into eyes, heart 
 had responded to heart, soul spoken to soul ; and 
 that she should thus interest herself in his wel 
 fare was the most natural thing on earth. 
 That he looked for this letter longed for it 
 and, when it came, it caused his heart to leap 
 with joy; and, in thus receiving a letter written 
 by her he loved, the satisfaction was curative. 
 Perhaps these metaphysicians have as good a 
 right to their theories as those who differ from 
 them. It is not for me to stand arbiter; I 
 merely record the facts as they appear.] 
 
 ON CARS BETWEEN CONCORD AND BOSTON, 
 
 April 1 8, 8.15 A. M. 
 MR. ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES: 
 
 I make no apology for addressing you, and 
 writing on this scrap of paper with a lead pen 
 cil. It is necessary for me to explain, however, 
 that I am at present boarding with your 
 mother; and, for fear you will not recollect me, 
 let me say, that I formerly lived with the fam 
 ily of Mr. Bronson Alcott, and had the pleasure
 
 58 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 of seeing you at Mr. Alcott s, on two different 
 occasions. 
 
 I am aware that your physical difficulty 
 began with the boat race, last June ; when the 
 collision occurred, and you were in the water so 
 long, rescuing the men. But I bring you good 
 news, and I know whereof I speak. You are 
 to get well stronger than ever; and your 
 health will come flowing back from the very 
 instant you read these lines. 
 
 The tide runs out until it looks as if Charles 
 River would be emptied ; but by and by it 
 turns, and great ships of war come floating 
 in clear up to Mt. Auburn. Have you not 
 seen them ? But with this difference in the 
 simile : the tide of health that is now setting 
 toward you, will not ebb. Tides act according 
 to the law of nature, which is the law of God. 
 What strength there must be in a force set in 
 motion by the Infinite! He is our strength, 
 and when you read this, say to yourself, over 
 and over "He who causes the tides of the 
 
 sea is my strength." He himself has said His 
 
 
 work was very good ; and I know it is His 
 
 desire that a strong, athletic young man should
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 59 
 
 become a stronger one, and evolve into a man 
 of wisdom, and thus reflect back somewhat of 
 the goodness of his Creator, in whose likeness 
 man was made. 
 
 Now, hold constantly in- your mind these 
 thoughts. Forget the pills and powders ; 
 throw them away, if you please, but not into 
 the Missouri River for I heard you say, the 
 last evening I saw you, that one of your pro 
 fessors had remarked, "If all the medicine in 
 the world was thrown into the sea it would 
 be a good thing for mankind, but bad for 
 the fishes." Just forget all about yourself, 
 and forget the medicine, and remember that 
 drugs have no power to impart life ; all life is 
 from God. You are God s child you are in 
 God s hand. Hold firmly this truth, and your 
 life and strength will all come back. 
 
 By the way, Col. H. C. Balcom, 79 Front 
 Street, St. Louis, has an important message for 
 you ; please see him at once. 
 
 You need not write to me, for I shall see the 
 letters you send to your mother. The tide is 
 
 coming in. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 HONOR HAROLD.
 
 60 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XVI. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 The visit of Misses Harold and Meredith to 
 Harvard is graphically described. It causes 
 very peculiar psychic disturbances in Mr. 
 Holworthy s atmosphere. 
 
 HARVARD UNIVERSITY, 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, April 19. 
 DEAR OLD CHUM : 
 
 My pulse has been eighty-eight for a week, 
 temperature five above normal. Cause why, 
 old man ? 
 
 Well, Bridges has gone to a powwow, and I 
 will pull down the blinds, look under the bed 
 and behind the door, then I will turn the key 
 in the lock, and tell you all about it. 
 
 The Iris came down, Wednesday, with your 
 Aunt Marie must have left Concord on the 
 7.40. They walked down North Avenue and I 
 saw them first as they were going through the 
 west gate, and the left ventricle of my heart 
 seemed to fill and stay there. Skin became 
 warm, moist, and suffused. Then cold ; and
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 61 
 
 Bridges said he thought coma would follow, 
 with rigor-mortis in due time. But I soon got 
 all right. They went straight to Sparks 
 office, as I saw positively; for I had business 
 over that way about the same time. They 
 stayed, say five minutes, and came out very 
 smiling, old Sparks walking with them nearly 
 to Boylston, bare-headed. So I am sure he 
 did not bluff them ; and whatever it was they 
 tackled him for, they got and if they had 
 nailed me, I am sure I would have signed away 
 everything, down to the prospective M. D., 
 if only those blue eyes had looked into mine. 
 
 Her whole figure seemed enveloped in an 
 atmosphere of ethereal sweetness the spirit 
 of dreamland, with all its serene blissfulness, 
 covered her round. 
 
 They went on toward Dane, and I followed 
 after. I thought I had lost them there ; and, 
 although it lacked twenty-five minutes of time 
 for the lecture, I went in and waited. And, 
 old man, my heart failed to contract, or some 
 thing; I grew purple in the face for, as I 
 live, when I went into the lecture room there 
 they were. And she came right up to me and
 
 62 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 held out the prettiest hand I ever saw; not 
 small, and not large, but long tapering fingers. 
 And so alive, odorous, soft, lovable, and so sen 
 sitive was that hand, that I felt a thrill clear 
 through me, as I touched her finger-tips. I 
 would have fallen had not Aunt Marie asked, 
 "How s your mother and your sister and your 
 uncle when you last heard from home and 
 all the folks ? " I recovered my breath enough 
 to say it was a fine day, and that it looked like 
 rain and got them a couple of chairs. They 
 wanted to see Dr. Holmes (he is giving the 
 course in Physiology this year), and said they 
 would wait for him. Aunt Marie took out her 
 knitting, and whacked away at a white stocking 
 which was about two feet long ; and, as the boys 
 came strolling in, the stocking caught their 
 eye. Aunt Marie knitted as if the success of 
 Harvard depended on her getting the toe of 
 that stocking finished in ten minutes. The 
 needles flew, the ball rolled down under the 
 benches ; and she called to a Senior " Sonny, 
 crawl under the benches and bring that ball 
 back." Then the boys, who had been pretend 
 ing not to know we were there, just roared.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 63 
 
 How they did look over at us, as I stood 
 talking to her! She would look up at me, 
 once in a while, and say, "That is true," and 
 smile or nod assent to what I said. But she 
 did not have much to say herself. I made a fool 
 of myself, old chum. I talked like a windmill, 
 about everything and nothing of art, the 
 weather, poetry, Spitz dogs, education, John 
 Ruskin, and baked beans as an inspirer of 
 the poetic fancy. 
 
 I know she hates me ; yet, when she 
 went away, she reached out the same 
 pretty hand, with the long tapering fin 
 gers and the thrilling warm touch. They 
 talked with Dr. Holmes only a minute, and 
 he signed some sort of a paper they had. 
 He is always very polite and gracious, you 
 know, and he seemed this time more so than 
 ever. He treated your aunt as if she was the 
 Queen of Spain, and of the Netherlands 
 besides. She wasn t the queen, though it was 
 the other. You never saw her, I guess : tall, 
 slender, and full a head above Aunt Marie. 
 Wore some sort of a blue dress ; was so stately, 
 dignified, and so knowing, although she did
 
 64 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 not say much. Just listened, smiled a little, 
 now and then, and looked at me with her 
 big blue eyes. The finest teeth I ever saw! 
 Hair, not exactly blonde; auburn, perhaps. 
 No, not that one lock I saw looked as if the 
 sun was shining on it and all was wavy ; sort 
 of a coil on top, I thought, although her bonnet 
 covered it. But come and kick me, old man, 
 for being a fool and not talking sensibly to a 
 splendid woman who knows more than all the 
 books in Gore Hall. Talk about admitting 
 women to Harvard! Don t you think it pos 
 sible that they may, some day? As I am a 
 sinner, I would die, gladly, if she was sick and 
 a transfusion of my blood would cure her ; she 
 should have my last corpuscle, red or white. 
 Yes, old man, I d bare my neck and let them 
 stick a scalpel chuck into my jugular, if it 
 would benefit her. 
 
 But about admitting women to colleges : 
 how I would like to hold the ladder and help 
 her over the Harvard wall. Better still, old 
 man better, a thousand times if she was in 
 Harvard and willing to leave, I would help her 
 over the wall and out. Keep the room alone,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 65 
 
 Bridges ! You can have my books. Good 
 bye, sheepskin and the M. D. I want you not. 
 Over the fence is out "me and she." 
 
 JACK. 
 
 NUMBER XVII. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO MRS. PRUDENCE FORBES. 
 
 Col. Balcom takes an interest in our heros 
 welfare. Fashionable raiment packed away; 
 army trousers, flannel shirt, boots and som 
 brero take their place. No use for umbrellas. 
 " The sun coming otit and the tide coaming in" 
 
 ST. Louis Mo., April 25. 
 MY DEAR MOTHER: 
 
 I am born into a new world ; and, if you could 
 gaze on me as I write, I am sure you would 
 disown me. Let me tell you how it has come 
 about. Monday morning I received a call from 
 Col. Balcom, class of 46. How he knew I 
 was here, I cannot imagine. Possibly he saw 
 my name in the list of the hotel arrivals ; but 
 even this would not explain it. How did he 
 know that I was a Harvard man ? Well, never 
 mind he sent his card up to my room, and
 
 66 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 then followed it himself, without waiting to 
 see if I was- at home. As I glanced at his 
 jaunty blue jacket, top boots, and brass but 
 tons, I thought that he had come to arrest 
 me for running away from home ; for I knew 
 not a soul in St. Louis, and why should 
 this sprightly, manly fellow in blue, with a 
 big pistol stuck through his belt, want to 
 see a sick man from Concord ? His waxed 
 mustache looked very fierce, as he asked, "Are 
 you Forbes "52?" None but a college man 
 ever uses such an expression as that, and I 
 smiled and said, "Yes; what class are you?" 
 He smiled, too, and said, " 46, without honors, 
 and only by hard cramming and cribbing, at 
 that ! Forbes," he continued, without stopping 
 for breath, " I want a man to take a place as 
 driver in a wagon train which starts for the 
 Rockies to-morrow; pay, eight dollars per 
 month, and found where can I find him?" 
 "I am the man," said I. "Be at the barracks 
 in an hour. The address is on my card." 
 And he whirled on his heel, gave a jerking 
 military salute and was gone. 
 
 It seems too good to be true. Here I have
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 67 
 
 been fretting about what I should do was 
 afraid I could not get a place as passenger, 
 even by paying high for the privilege and, on 
 my first day in St. Louis, the mountain comes 
 to Mahomet. "Eight dollars a month, and 
 found." Now, I propose to save my money, 
 and when I have a hundred thousand dollars 
 Let s see! _ "Eight dollars per month, and 
 found." But what is to be "found," and where 
 do we find it ? I suppose I will find out 
 to-morrow. 
 
 Well, mother, dear, I went down to the bar 
 racks ; which is only a big warehouse on the 
 river front, all piled full of cotton, rope, tents, 
 and what not. A flag was flying in front, and 
 two cannons were planted for hitching posts at 
 the door. 
 
 I found Col. Balcom in an office partitioned 
 off in one corner, about the busiest man in St. 
 Louis. He was signing orders, and giving 
 directions about the wagons. Goods were 
 being unloaded, and reported, and we had no 
 time to visit. " No time even to give the col 
 lege yell, have we, Forbes?" said he. Then, 
 looking me over, " You are well dressed. Your
 
 68 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 suit was made in Bromfield Street; and you 
 got your necktie and the linen shirt with the 
 high collar at the store under .the Tremont 
 House. Yes, I have bought stacks of trump 
 ery there, too." 
 
 "Here, Joe," he called, to a smart-looking 
 mulatto; "go over to the Southern, pay Mr. 
 Forbes bill and bring all his baggage here." I 
 endeavored to protest, but he waived me off by 
 saying, "O, yes, I know; he can pack your 
 things all right better than you can 
 yourself." 
 
 The young colored man soon returned with 
 my trunk, and Balcom smiled at the size of it. 
 "You must leave this with me. Now come 
 up-stairs, and we will select you a suit." 
 We went into a room filled with the odor of 
 tar; where, piled all around on the shelves, 
 were stacks of clothing. Balcom picked me 
 out a heavy, coarse flannel shirt, and said, 
 " Lively, now ! There are twelve men waiting 
 for me down-stairs. Get into this, quick! 
 Now, then; try on these trousers! There! 
 They do not look so bad. Now, these boots ! " 
 I put on the boots and they seemed to weigh
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 ten pounds apiece. "With the help of woolen 
 stockings like these, your feet will keep warm," 
 he said. 
 
 "Oh, get out!" answered Balcom, "you 
 don t need any suspenders ! " And he buckled 
 around my waist a leather belt, stuck two 
 pistols through it, and said, "Mind you don t 
 load these for at least a week. I ll bet you 
 never shot one off. Some of the boys will 
 show you how they work. Now, get into this 
 jacket ! " It was too small ; so he hunted 
 around for another, and finally got one with 
 sleeves long enough. "Now, a hat!" And 
 he took down a seven and a quarter white hat, 
 such as you never saw in all your life the 
 brim looks two feet wide, and there is a strap 
 around it for a band. 
 
 " How much money have you ? " said he. 
 "Two hundred dollars? Well, there is a 
 pocket in your shirt ; sew it in to-night. Yes ; 
 take your watch. Tie this big handkerchief 
 around your neck. Put all those clothes in 
 your trunk ; then lock the trunk, and Joe will 
 seal it and give you a receipt." "But," said 
 I, "I must have a change of underclothing."
 
 70 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 "Nonsense," said he; "do you suppose we run 
 this wagon train to carry baggage for you 
 teamsters ? All you want, now, is one of 
 those long oilskin overcoats for bad weather ; 
 a rubber blanket, and a woolen one, which you 
 can pick out for yourself. Come around to 
 the office at six o clock, and we ll get sup 
 per." The colonel jerked me a salute and dis 
 appeared, while Joe and I repacked my trunk. 
 "Can t I take my umbrella?" Tasked of the 
 negro. "No, sah ; I reckon you bettah do as 
 marse de kunnel say, or he chuck you in de 
 gyard house, an make you pack a fence rail 
 all de nex day, You musn t give de kunnel 
 any back slack he won t hab it." 
 
 "But, Joe, " I pleaded; "I must have writ 
 ing material." " Oh, you can git paper and pen, 
 I reckon, from the capt in ob de wagon train." 
 "And how about my stockings and under 
 clothes ? Are there laundry facilities along the 
 route?" The young colored man laughed a 
 little more than I think servants should, and 
 said, "Why, you does you own washin , on 
 Sunday. Dey lays up along some crick, an 
 instid of goin to church, you cleans up you
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 71 
 
 duds ; greases you boots an harness ; bright 
 ens up you pistols, an sits aroun an tells lies. 
 Have you got de ager, boss ? You looks like 
 you hab de chills. You bettah not stay in 
 heah ; but jes git you rubber blanket and de 
 odder git a good heavy one, now! Here, 
 boss ! Don t say nuffin about it ; we ll jes sew 
 two of em double so git you overcoat, an 
 tie it up in a roll. Now, go out an take a 
 nap on a cotton bale, in de sun ; it am de best 
 thing fer chills what am." 
 
 I took his friendly advice ; and, using the 
 rolled-up blanket for a pillow, I picked out a 
 cotton bale that lay at a comfortable angle in 
 the sun, and thought I would take a little 
 nap. I slept two hours ; and just woke up, a 
 little while ago, and am writing this letter with 
 a pencil, as you see, on paper Joe brought me 
 from the office. 
 
 It is much warmer here than in Massa 
 chusetts, at this time of year quite like sum 
 mer. I feel better than at any time since I left 
 you. We say that all life comes from the 
 sun I guess the sunshine and the sleep did 
 me good. I have been saying all day, " God
 
 72 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 is my strength !" For surely all the strength 
 we have does come from Him ; and God is 
 strength, not weakness. 
 
 And then, all along this trip, I have been so 
 fearful and hesitating so afraid things would 
 not come out right. I have made a hundred 
 plans, and then kicked them over. And here I 
 am, sitting on a cotton bale, as warm, com 
 fortable and happy as if I owned this entire 
 levee, with the hundred busy teams I can 
 count, and two hundred "niggers" and the 
 big steamboat ( blowing off steam ) were all 
 mine, too. 
 
 We leave at six o clock in the morning. 
 Just what my duties will be, I do not know ; 
 but Balconi says, " Rest easy, Forbes ! I won t 
 put you in any place where you cannot get 
 along, depend on it." 
 
 If you direct to Sedalia, Mo., I will get it. 
 We are to stop there three days. 
 
 The sun is so warm and pleasant, I think I 
 will just take another nap. 
 
 The tide is coming in. 
 
 Your loving son, 
 
 ARTHUR.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD, 73 
 
 NUMBER XVIII. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 The start. Relay riders. A curious character 
 called " Gooseberry Jake" appears on the hori 
 zon. A financial scheme. Rattlesnake Pete. 
 Is it only women who put the emphatic mes 
 sage in a postscript? 
 
 CAMP, BEAR CREEK, May 2, 1851. 
 DEAR OLD CHUM: 
 
 I was so fortunate, in St. Louis, as to get a 
 situation as driver in a Government wagon 
 train, bound for the Rockies. I get my board 
 and soldier s pay, which is better than going as 
 a passenger and paying fare. There is no rail 
 road through this far, yet ; and no regular stage 
 coaches, either. The mail is carried on horse 
 back by relay riders, who ride night and day, 
 doing ten miles an hour. Two hundred and 
 forty miles a day two thousand four hundred 
 and sixty miles in ten days. One of these 
 riders passed our camp a little while ago. We 
 heard the pattering hoof beats of his horse, 
 several miles away, and the tinkle of the single 
 sleigh-bell attached to his martingale. We gave
 
 74 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 him a cheer as he passed, he answered back 
 without slowing up; and I have been sitting 
 here by the camp fire, listening to the sound 
 of the hurrying hoofs, and the tinkling bell, 
 as they died away in the distance. 
 
 We left St. Louis at six o clock last Wednes 
 day morning. I went around to the yards 
 where the wagons were, and reported to the 
 captain. " Oh ! you are the tenderfoot, are 
 you?" he snorted. I explained that my feet 
 were all right; it was my throat a mere 
 bronchial affection, which I hoped would soon 
 pass away. He stared at me ; then laughed, and 
 shouted, "Well, don t stand around ! You hook 
 on these two mules to that ammunition wagon. 
 It has springs, and won t be so hard for you. 
 You don t look as if you could pull the strings 
 over four, to say nothin of six. When you git 
 hitched on, close up behind the big six-mule 
 wagon with the red tail-gate, and stay there. 
 When the big wagon goes, you go; and mind 
 you keep in your place. That is all you have 
 to do : foller Gooseberry Jake, who drives the 
 big wagon." Off he went, swearing at a fel 
 low who was trying to get a balky horse into
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 75 
 
 its place. I managed to get my two mules 
 hitched up, some way or other. They are old, 
 scarred-up, weather-beaten animals, and very 
 gentle. I have named one Ariadne and the 
 other Bacchus, and a great friendship has 
 sprung up among us three. At first they 
 seemed to expect a kick every time I came 
 near them ; but now Bacchus rubs his nose 
 against my sleeve, to show his good-will. 
 Ariadne, as is meet, is yet a trifle shy, but 
 looks at Bacchus who waves his ears, endeavor 
 ing to reassure her. 
 
 There are forty-eight wagons in the train, 
 some of them covered with canvas which is 
 stretched over hoops, making them look like 
 tents. Mine, which is covered in this way, is 
 loaded with ammunition, and is much lighter 
 than the others, and on rubber "springs" 
 although I don t feel much spring to them. 
 
 Jacob Buckthorn, who drives the wagon 
 ahead of me, told me a story yesterday, 
 about an ammunition wagon that once got run 
 away with, by a "pesky team of jack-rabbits" 
 (as he calls the mules) ; they ran the wagon 
 into a gulch and the whole thing exploded in a
 
 76 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 "holy second." Nothing was ever found of 
 the driver, but a tenpenny nail which he used 
 for a button on his trousers. " One of the 
 mules was white and t other was black," said 
 Mr. Buckthorn, "and somehow the explosion 
 never hurt the mules, cept to singe their tails 
 a little, but it scared them so that the black 
 mule turned all of a sudden white, and the 
 white mule turned black." 
 
 Mr. Buckthorn is a small man, serious, sober, 
 and never smiles. We were sitting on a little 
 bank by the roadside where we had stopped for 
 dinner. After he told the story he paused and 
 expectorated straight at a fly ten feet away. 
 He is the most profane man I ever knew ; but 
 his swearing is so artistic it excites my admi 
 ration. He curses his six mules all together, 
 then one at a time ; then he curses them by 
 parts damning their eyes, ears, tails, etc. 
 He has a whip with a lash eighteen feet long 
 which he swings round and round his head, 
 then snaps it over the ears of the leaders 
 with a report like a pistol shot. He holds 
 his lines all in one hand, and handles the 
 whip with the other, keeping one foot on
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 77 
 
 the brake. As we drive along lazily, I amuse 
 myself by watching him. He does not talk 
 very much, but when he does get started he is 
 very entertaining. He can read and write, 
 which is more than most of the drivers can do. 
 We have become fast friends ; for, in spite of 
 his bad language, he has a tender heart and has 
 told me much about his folks in Arkansas. 
 
 At first I thought he was cruel to his 
 mules, but I soon found that he never let the 
 lash strike them. They call him "Goose 
 berry Jake" on account of a plan he talks 
 of, for planting gooseberry bushes on the 
 plains of Kansas. He explained to me that 
 there are great numbers of large rabbits (called 
 jack-rabbits) on these prairies. They multiply 
 very fast, and eat up all the shrubs planted by 
 the settlers, completely ruining the orchards. 
 But the thorns on the gooseberries protect the 
 plants. He says gooseberries grow wherever 
 cactus will. The bushes require little water, 
 and no cultivation. The alkali of the plains is 
 exactly fitted to their wants alkali being pur 
 chased in vast quantities by gardeners in the 
 East, to put on their gardens.
 
 78 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Pennaworth, you know, in the Divinity 
 School, is greatly interested in horticulture. 
 Now, Jack, you see him, and get all the 
 facts that you can about this gooseberry sub 
 ject, and let me know if it is practicable. 
 The crop is sure, they say no insect destroy 
 ing the fruit, as is often the case with currants. 
 And if Mr. Buckthorn is right, that the four- 
 year-old bushes will produce at the rate of 
 three thousand dollars worth to the acre, there 
 certainly is something in it. His plan is to 
 simply gather the berries and press out the 
 juice and pulp, putting this in barrels and 
 shipping it to St. Louis dealers, who will be 
 glad to buy it for making up into wine, jam, 
 vinegar, preserves, ketchup, etc. I haven t 
 many hopes for the plan, but you know I 
 will never be satisfied with eight dollars a 
 month. No hurry ; better write me at St. 
 Joseph within a week after you get this. 
 
 Another eccentric son of Adam in our train 
 is Rattlesnake Pete, so called on account of a 
 string of rattlesnake tails that serve him for a 
 hat-band. Pete has three notches cut in the 
 butt of his pistol, and is said to be a "bad
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 79 
 
 man." As to his depravity I cannot speak; 
 but last night was quite cool, and, on awaking 
 this morning, I found an extra blanket covering 
 me, with Pete s "brand" on it. It seems that 
 men of this name are given to denial ; for, when 
 I accused him of putting this blanket on 
 my bed, he acknowledged the blanket was 
 "his n," but swore, with several unnecessary 
 oaths, that he did not know how it got there. 
 Jake afterward told me that in the night he saw 
 Rattlesnake Pete tiptoe across and spread the 
 blanket over me, and then quickly go back to 
 his own bunk. Here Jacob paused, and, after a 
 moment s reflection, impressively expectorated 
 and said: "If Rattlesnake Pete says he didn t 
 
 put that er blanket over ye, he is a 
 
 dirty liar that s all I hev to say!." And 
 silence reigned. 
 
 The first day out, I thought I should drop off 
 and die by the roadside. It was foggy and 
 damp, early in the morning, and I got chilled ; 
 but the sun came out about nine o clock, and I 
 then felt better. But the continual jolt of the 
 wagon made my side ache. At night we 
 camped-out beside a stream in the edge of the
 
 80 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 woods. Mr. Buckthorn was very kind, and 
 showed me how to tether my mules. We had 
 supper of hot coffee, potatoes baked in 
 the ashes, and the cook of our mess made 
 corn-bread, baking it on a hot shovel. , We 
 drank the coffee out of tin cups. I was so 
 tired I could hardly stand, but Buckthorn said 
 I had "a great mouth for grub;" and surely 
 I never tasted food that was so acceptable. 
 Buckthorn made my bed under the wagon, by 
 simply laying down the rubber blanket ; and I 
 put the wagon seat under my head for a pil 
 low then the blanket over me. At five 
 o clock the bugle call awoke me. I had slept 
 straight through something I have not done 
 for three months. I felt pretty stiff and sore, 
 but the cook had the coffee hot ; and the excite 
 ment of the camp getting the animals to 
 gether, and loading up, made me forget myself, 
 so I did not think of my usual morning cough 
 ing spell until well toward noon, and of course 
 there was then no time to go back and have it. 
 
 With regards to all the boys, I am, as ever, 
 
 ARTHUR. 
 
 P. S. You seem to be quite favorably
 
 FORBES OF HA R VA RD. 81 
 
 impressed with Miss Harold I understand 
 she is a very worthy person. 
 
 NUMBER XIX. 
 
 HEZEKIAH PENNAWORTH TO ARTHUR RIPLEY 
 FORBES. 
 
 Mr. Pennaworth awake to the financial side. 
 Theories versus Facts. " The Welsh variety 
 of Lepus Cuniculus" 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, May 10, 1851. 
 A. R. FORBES. 
 
 MY DEAR BROTHER : At our regular society 
 meeting, last evening, a letter was read from 
 you, addressed to our mutual friend and 
 brother, J. Holworthy. 
 
 The plan you outline in reference to planting 
 the plains, or what is known on Colton s Atlas 
 as "the Great American Desert," with the 
 Ribes Grossularia, I deem entirely practicable. 
 This plant needs a semi-tropical climate and a 
 soil well charged with alkaline salts. As it 
 sends roots well downward, very little moisture 
 is required. My younger brother has some
 
 82 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 fine specimens of Lepus Cuniculus (commonly 
 known as rabbit); and, to test the matter, I 
 secured from the Harvard Botanical Gardens 
 several large slips of the Ribes Grossularia, 
 and fed to them. The rabbits show a great 
 fondness for it, and I deem the thorns no dis 
 advantage; as they ate the stems, thorns and 
 all. We can safely trust nature in such cases, 
 and I do not hesitate to say that the rabbits 
 will thrive on it. 
 
 I also find your statement to the effect that 
 rabbits multiply very rapidly is correct all 
 authorities supporting you. (See Xenophon, 
 page 261, Wrangham translation ; Audubon, 
 11-2; Wood, 162; Baxter, 199.) I understand 
 you to say that there is a ready market in St. 
 Louis for all the rabbits that can be procured ; 
 and if, for any unknown reason, they should fail 
 to multiply, the fruit from the Ribes Grossula- 
 ria could then be sold at a good profit. The 
 entire scheme looks very hopeful to me ; and, if 
 you organize a stock company to operate the 
 plan, I think I can borrow a few hundred dol 
 lars from my aunt to put in. Of course I will 
 always be very glad to give you the advantage
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 83 
 
 of my technical knowledge (if I may be allowed 
 the expression). 
 
 You were looking very poorly when I saw 
 you last ; but my earnest prayer is that you 
 may, in time, be fully restored to health and 
 usefulness. 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 H. PENNAWORTH. 
 
 P. S. I would suggest the Welsh variety 
 of the Lepus Cunicuhis, as probably being the 
 best known on the market. 
 
 H. P. 
 
 NUMBER XX. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Gooseberry Jake to have a degree for "valuable 
 contributions to science" Typical college 
 scenes. Aunt Marie ill. The mill stock. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, May 13, 1851. 
 DEAR OLD MAN : 
 
 I read your letter at the Phi Beta Ka>pa, 
 and you should have heard the boys shout 
 when I sat down.
 
 84 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Bridges got the eye of the chair and pro 
 posed that the degree of Ph. D. be bestowed 
 on Gooseberry Jake for valuable contributions 
 to science, and that a suitable present be pur 
 chased and forwarded to him in recognition of 
 his great kindness to our Arthur of the Round 
 Table. Before the * motion could be put, 
 someone with strong lungs shouted, "Three 
 cheers for Bacchus ! " I never saw the boys 
 quite so jolly over anything as they were to 
 hear of your returning health, and several 
 speeches were made that must have caused 
 your ears to tingle. I will not tell you what 
 they said ; you might get inflated with your 
 own importance, and make it unpleasant for 
 the camp. When the meeting broke up, it was 
 with a Rah, Rah, Rah, Fifty-two, Staunch and 
 True, Rah, Rah, Rah, F-O-R-B-E-S. Then, as 
 we were filing out, someone started it again : 
 Rah, Rah, Rah, B-U-C-K-T-H-O-R-N. 
 
 To change the subject : Miss Harold plays 
 the violin delightfully. I have some talent in 
 that direction, and believe I will have her give 
 me lessons. 
 
 Was up to Concord, Sunday, on business.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 85 
 
 Called to see your Aunt Marie. She s down 
 flat with rheumatism awful! You know that 
 all the money she has about seven thousand 
 dollars is invested in the Livingston Mill at 
 Lowell. Well, they are tied up some way, 
 through the infringement suit, and failed 
 to pay the dividend which should have been 
 sent out on the ist. The papers say it s only 
 temporary, and that the money will be paid 
 early in June. 
 
 Aunt Marie is such a fidgety old creature, 
 she was fretting and stewing because the 
 money had not come. She gives her money 
 away, and would, no matter how much she 
 had ; but I was afraid the dividend being held 
 back would make her worse. The money is 
 paid through the Concord Bank, you know. 
 I happened to call on your mother and was 
 talking to Miss Harold about it, when the idea 
 struck me that if we could manage to pay the 
 funds over to Aunt Marie now, it would stop 
 her worry. I explained that the dividend will 
 be paid on June ist, anyhow, so whoever 
 furnishes the money to the old lady will only 
 have to wait three weeks ; I can see the bank,
 
 86 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 tell them that I had advanced the money, and 
 when the dividend comes they can pay it to 
 me I know them well. 
 
 She looked at me with her big blue eyes 
 (what eyes they are, old chum !), and said, 
 quietly : " So you are sure the money will be 
 paid by the mill company on June ist, are 
 you, Mr. Holworthy ? " (I would give my last 
 cent, and sheepskin besides, to hear her call me 
 Jack!) "Oh, yes," said I; "I know it posi 
 tively ! " (Of course, old man, I did not know it 
 positively ; but a rich company like that cannot 
 fail !) 
 
 "Well," said she, "Mr. Holworthy, I will 
 supply you the one hundred and eighty dollars, 
 and you can give it to Miss Meredith. Then, 
 when the money comes at the bank, you can 
 get it and repay me, as you propose." 
 
 So she gave me a check on the Hide and 
 Leather, Boston ; and I got the money Monday 
 and went up to Concord on the 10.15. Aunt 
 Marie was worse than ever when I arrived at 
 the little house. "Well, Auntie, " said I, 
 "here s your money at last !" and I tossed the 
 roll of bills on the bed. "The mill has paid
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 8T 
 
 the dividend, and their statement says the next 
 may be a double one, as they are making 
 money hand over fist, and have won in their 
 lawsuit." There is nothing like cheering up 
 sick folks, you know, my boy ; and it did make 
 the old woman feel good. She had subscribed 
 an amount to a fool society down in Boston 
 for teaching colored people to read and write; 
 and because she could not pay her dues, it kind 
 of struck in on her, I guess. 
 
 Honor that is, Miss Harold is quite well 
 fixed. You know she is the only daughter of 
 the commodore who died a year ago. When 
 I got the check cashed I asked the teller how 
 much balance she had. He stared at me and 
 asked if I was her attorney. "Not exactly," 
 said I; "but I am her doctor." I winked at 
 the fellow, and tried to smile, but he just 
 passed out the money and reached for the 
 next man s check. 
 
 Women without religion are like flowers 
 without perfume, I have heard. The Goddess 
 is religious, and it is strange she has never 
 tried to bring me over to her way of thinking ; 
 and in fact I have not yet even been able to
 
 88 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 find out to what church she belongs. Now, 
 when I was converted, two years ago last win 
 ter, at the big revival, I wanted to stop every 
 one I met and bring them over to the Lord s 
 side. But as I have changed my religion three 
 times since you left, and do not exactly know 
 where I stand now, I will not endeavor to 
 proselyte at this writing. 
 
 I am going up to see your mother again 
 Sunday. 
 
 About the gooseberry scheme, Arthur : I 
 have talked with Pennaworth about it rather 
 hurriedly, though ; he will write you soon. 
 
 With great regard for my dear old chum, I 
 am, 
 
 Ever and always, 
 
 JACK. 
 
 P. S. The powwow comes off next week, in 
 the big hall over five hundred seats reserved. 
 I ve got my part of the debate down fine. It s 
 unanswerable, my boy there s consolation in 
 that!
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XXI. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 A great question debated. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASS., May 20, 1851. 
 DEAR OLD MAN : 
 
 The debate came off last night, and to-day 
 my vertebra is hardly strong enough to uphold 
 the torso. 
 
 The question was, " Resolved : Woman s 
 sphere is ministering to man s needs." I was 
 on the negative ; with Mitchell and Sayles, 
 right and left bowers. 
 
 Affirmative : Bond, Ducton, and Pennaworth. 
 Bond shied his castor in the ring first, and 
 struck right and left. My pores began to open, 
 and you would have thought I had taken a dia 
 phoretic. The sweat just rolled down my 
 collar, and I gasped : " God help us, we are 
 undone ! Where is my hat ! " 
 
 Mitchell followed ; cool, clear and logical 
 not in the least rattled. He is always charm 
 ingly good-natured and clear-headed. He
 
 90 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 mopped the floor with Bond, and when he sat 
 down I felt as good as if I had just had 
 three cocktails. (Lemon and a little sugar, 
 please !) 
 
 Ducton, who is a son of old Mr. and Mrs. 
 Ducton, then bored the audience for thirty min 
 utes, and they all nodded assent. (They were 
 asleep, old man.) 
 
 I had practiced on my speech for weeks, and 
 thought I had it by the tail ; but gracious 
 jingo! as the chairman said, "We will 
 now have the pleasure of hearing from Mr. 
 Holworthy," my knees grew awful weak, and 
 when I walked on the platform the boys said I 
 acted as if I were walking through tall grass. I 
 thought the floor was going to fly up and hit me. 
 I glanced over the audience, and it looked like 
 a thousand-legged worm, with all the legs clap 
 ping together ; and the creature had rows upon 
 rows of eyes, all staring at your Jack. 
 
 I started in, but my voice squeaked in high 
 C, and I tried it again. 
 
 " Louder ! Louder ! " someone yelled. " Give 
 it to em, Jack ! " I got my wind by this 
 time, and made a home run, without a skip,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 91 
 
 from one end of the speech to the other ; was 
 afraid to stop for breath, pause or inflection for 
 fear I would forget the words. So I put in all 
 the gestures in a bunch, at the last, which 
 brought down the house. 
 
 The boys applauded with unction. But I 
 am almost afraid it was left-handed. They 
 sent up a basket of flowers and I thought at 
 first it was from the Iris ; but they were only 
 artificial, dead stock from some milliner s. 
 
 Then Sayles sailed in, to tie up all the loose 
 ends we had left flying. Sayles is a sailor from 
 Saylesville the brightest little man that ever 
 thawed out an Upernavik audience. He was 
 funny, persuasive, then logical; and I said: 
 " Yes ; we have them now ! There is nothing left 
 for em to say ! In fact, the judges might as well 
 call the debate closed and give the decision in 
 our favor, as Pennaworth is only a drone, any 
 way." But Lord help us, Arthur! Pennaworth 
 began slow, and talked ten minutes without 
 saying anything ; but I saw his voice kept get 
 ting louder and louder, his long arms began to 
 work like a windmill, and he grew red in the face. 
 He flung his manuscript on the carpet and
 
 92 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 waded into that audience as I never heard a 
 speaker before. He rushed from one side of 
 the platform to the other, kicked, stamped, 
 foamed at the mouth, snorted, roared and 
 shouted ; he quoted from everything and every 
 body; poetry, history, statistics all paid trib 
 ute and pathos, bathos, sarcasm and ridicule 
 played their parts. Then he took us up, one 
 after the other : riddled our arguments, scouted 
 our premises, flouted our conclusions and 
 hooted our eloquence. 
 
 I saw we were done for I smiled a sickly, 
 cast-iron smile ; my collar wilted, and I tried 
 to sink down in my chair so no one could 
 see me. 
 
 They called time on Pennaworth, but he 
 would not stop ; and it took four men to force 
 him into a chair, or he would have been shout 
 ing yet. The judges gave decision against us 
 without leaving the stage. They said : "The 
 masterly argument of Mr. Pennaworth makes 
 our duty very plain. Affirmative wins." 
 
 It was a sad defeat for us, old man. If you 
 had been here, you would have taken my place 
 and turned the tide ; but Penny is a good one
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 93 
 
 on his feet. Mitchell took notes on his speech, 
 and I send them herewith hope you can 
 make em out. Worst thing about this is 
 the tall Iris said she knew I would win. I 
 don t care for myself, but she will feel awful 
 bad. 
 
 Yours always, 
 
 J. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 P. S. I am safe on the Latin exam.: 92-. 
 Congratulate me. 
 
 I have written and sent to the Goddess, one 
 sonnet a day for six days fourteen lines in a 
 sonnet, you know. I thought I could keep it 
 up for a month or more, when I started in; but 
 the last one nearly "died a borning," and the 
 next may bring me to bed entirely. 
 
 JACK.
 
 94 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XXII. 
 
 NOTES TAKEN BY MR. MITCHELL ON SPEECH 
 OF MR. PENNAWORTH. 
 
 SUBJECT: " Woman s Sphere" 
 
 Proper sphere of woman is reproduction and 
 ministering to welfare of man. " God com 
 pleted his work in six days and pronounced it 
 good." (Gen. i, 31.) We here see God was 
 satisfied with his work after he had made 
 Adam, and before he had made woman. 
 
 The woman was a mere after-thought a 
 mistake. Has not proven to be what God 
 expected. Disappointment both to God and 
 Adam. No man ever found her what he 
 expected. 
 
 "Man created in image of God," woman not. 
 " But I would have you know that the head of 
 every man is Christ ; and the head of the 
 woman is the man." (i Corinthians i, 12.) 
 Much difference between God and man as 
 between man and woman. 
 
 No sane man calls man equal -to God; 
 therefore conversely. No proof that woman
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 95 
 
 is created in image of God. Animals all 
 caused to pass before Adam ; not primarily so 
 he should name them, but so he could select 
 helpmeet. 
 
 Hard to please, so woman was made for his 
 special benefit. Doll made for child never 
 equal to child. Neither can doll legally 
 assume administration of child s affairs. 
 Woman talks to serpent. No serpent could 
 speak Greek or Hebrew, so woman must know 
 serpent language. Long conversation. Woman 
 not surprised when serpent accosted her 
 used to it. Beast herself, and knows language 
 of beasts. Woman has gradually reached her 
 present state by constant association with 
 man must not be allowed to usurp. " Suf 
 fer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp 
 authority over the man." (i Timothy ii, 12.) 
 
 Commandments only for man; as, "Thou 
 shalt not bear false witness," applied only to 
 man. No woman was allowed to testify in court 
 in Hebrew times, for could not be trusted to tell 
 truth. 
 
 "Thou shall not covet thy neighbor s 
 wife, nor his ojc, nor his ass," No woman
 
 96 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 covets neighbor s wife ; woman always hates 
 neighbor s wife. Hebrews chosen people 
 of God were allowed to sell daughters 
 same as ox or ass. (Exodus xxi, 7.) Hebrew 
 prayer-books say, "Blessed God, Maker of 
 the universe and mighty in wisdom, I thank 
 thee that thou hast not made me a woman." 
 (Hebrew word here for woman can be trans 
 lated either beast or woman.) 
 
 God always masculine; all angels mascu 
 line Gabriel, Malachia, etc. No woman in 
 heaven. Proof disciples asked Jesus whose 
 wife the woman would be in heaven after hav 
 ing seven husbands here. " In heaven there 
 is no marriage or giving in marriage." (Mark 
 xii, 19-25.) When the gods wanted female 
 society they always had to come to earth. If 
 woman were admitted to heaven, would 
 surely force marriage on man. " For cause " : 
 chief business of woman is to get husband 
 habit fixed in nature. 
 
 No place in scripture is she promised 
 everlasting life. Jesus said, "Woman, what 
 have I to do with thee." (John ii, 4.) 
 Jesus came to save only men, as this clearly
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 97 
 
 shows. " I am the God of Abraham and 
 Isaac, and Jacob." Never said he was 
 God of Rebecca, Sarah or Rachel. Man 
 received his commission to be " ruler over 
 the fowls of the air, and the beasts of the field," 
 before woman was created. All lineage in 
 bible given by males, females no account 
 not worth mentioning. "God breathed into 
 his nostrils, and he became a living soul." 
 God never breathed into her nostrils cannot 
 be called a soul. Body different from man ; more 
 albumen in blood, corpuscles different, etc.; 
 original ingredients used in manufacture differ 
 ent. 
 
 No female animals equal males : only male 
 birds sing female tigers lack all beauty. 
 But tiger qualities in all females. Lacks cour 
 age, strength and beauty. "But I find more 
 bitter than death the woman ; whose heart is 
 snares and nets, and her hands as bands." 
 (Ecclesiastes vii, 26.) 
 
 "Let woman learn in silence, with all subjec 
 tion." (i Timothy ii, 4.) 
 
 "If a woman would have knowledge let her 
 ask her husband." (St. Paul.) "Who can find. 
 a virtuous woman ?" (Prov.)
 
 FOKBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Man only has been recognized by Deity. 
 All prophets, men witches, women. In 
 Hebrew, Adam, Enoch, Ish ; Greek, Anthro- 
 pos ; Latin, Homo ; German, Mann ; Slavic, 
 Chlovec ; Hungarian, Ember. All these mean 
 man. .Man and Deity always parsed masculine. 
 
 NUMBER XXIII. 
 
 MRS. PRUDENCE FORBES TO ARTHUR RIPLEY 
 FORBES. 
 
 A news-letter from the good mother. Tells of 
 her doubts, hopes and fears. Gives advice as 
 to care of health and other matters. 
 
 CONCORD, May 13, 1851. 
 MY DEAR SON : 
 
 I was very glad indeed to get your letter. 
 Miss Harold read it over to me when she 
 brought it from the office. For, although the 
 tea was waiting, I wanted to hear how you are. 
 Then, when supper was nearly over, I thought 
 I would like to hear it again. 
 
 Miss Harold passed her cup bach twice, and 
 said of course she would read it again, and we
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 99 
 
 waxed quite merry over your account of the 
 colored young gentleman. Is he a slave, 
 Arthur, and do you think they treat him well ? 
 And does he really belong to Mr. Balcom ? 
 or did he only borrow him ! I knew Harry 
 Balcom s mother in Sudbury, before she was 
 married ; she was one of the Davises. She is 
 gone now. It is better that she should, 
 than to live to see her fourth son by her first 
 husband, a slaveholder. I pray I may never 
 come to this. 
 
 Miss Harold says you mean by "the tide 
 coming in," that you are better and that your 
 health is coming back. I am very glad to hear 
 it, but it would have been just as well for you 
 to have said so in plain English. You did not 
 say how your throat was or whether you cough 
 much nights. 
 
 I hope your new friends wi)l not make you 
 forget your duty to your old mother. The 
 other letters you wrote had much more love in 
 them than this one. 
 
 You surely must be out of medicine before 
 this, and I hope you have had the prescriptions 
 the doctor sent filled,
 
 100 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Be very careful, Arthur, about breathing the 
 night air or sitting down on the ground. Your 
 poor pa s trouble began from just a cold got by 
 going around the house in his stocking-feet, 
 after I told him not to. I think you should 
 continue soaking your feet in hot mustard 
 water just before you go to bed. Be careful 
 to wear the flannel night gown I made you, 
 until June, when you can wear the cotton if 
 you wish. 
 
 Do you drink any coffee, Arthur? It is bad 
 for the nerves. I would not eat much meat, 
 either. I think it was that, that made you 
 have the feverish spells. 
 
 Miss Harold helped me rake the front yard 
 and we have had the man spade the garden. 
 He dug right into the asparagus before I 
 could stop him. I gave him a piece of my 
 mind. We will make the beds to-morrow ; that 
 is, the peas and beets. Will plant the potatoes 
 with two eyes in a hill. Your pa always put 
 irrmore, but it is awful wasteful, and I used to 
 tell him so, but it did no good. 
 
 Miss Harold says we should always talk of 
 pleasant things, and let the bad alone. For
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 101 
 
 my part, I always have done so. Then she 
 began naming over the good things I have. 
 And it is a blessing, Arthur, to have a nice 
 little house all paid for, with six apple-trees, 
 two plums, and an asparagus bed, even if that 
 stupid man did dig in it. And, with the money 
 you gave me the day you left, there is nearly 
 two hundred dollars in the bank. Miss Harold 
 says you will soon be well and making money, 
 and that a woman with such a son should sing 
 praises all day. She pays her -board very reg 
 ular. I think she is pretty near as smart and 
 good as your sister Martha would have been if 
 she had lived. About the same age, too ; for 
 you were only fourteen months three weeks 
 and two days apart. 
 
 That same pair of robins is back making a 
 nest in the porch. They make an awful litter, 
 but I guess I will let them stay. I don t see 
 how I could hardly get along without Miss 
 Harold. 
 
 I forgot to say she reads your letters to me 
 in such a sweet, gentle voice, and knows what 
 you mean. You can always tell when a person 
 understands and appreciates what he reads.
 
 102 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 The last frost killed all the fruit around 
 here, and it is just as well, for the apple-trees 
 are full of caterpillars. I never saw the like ! 
 Miss Harold has tied some straw on my 
 clothes-pole, and we are going to burn them 
 out when she gets back from Boston, to-night. 
 Yours truly, 
 
 P. FORBES. 
 
 NUMBER XXIV. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES. 
 
 "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of 
 those who bring glad tidings." Optimism 
 applied to life. 
 
 CONCORD, May 14, 1851. 
 DEAR MR. FORBES: 
 
 The cheerful letter sent to your mother was 
 a great benefit to her and your other friends 
 here. 
 
 When the son of Esculapius does not know 
 what to do next, he sends the patient away on 
 a trip, with a letter of recommendation to 
 Chance. This is what Dr. Peabody did for 
 you ; but Dr. Chance has treated you well.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 103 
 
 Mr. Emerson told us, you remember, " We 
 will talk of all subjects save one namely, our 
 maladies." 
 
 When we send messages, let them be mes 
 sages of life and good cheer. " How beautiful 
 on the mountains are the feet of those who 
 bring glad tidings." And if we would but just 
 distribute the glad tidings, which we all receive 
 in such abundance, and forget the bad, it would 
 fade away and the messages of joy would grow 
 like the big snowballs the boys roll. 
 
 We are bathed in an ocean of health, and 
 where the soul is in right relation to its envi 
 ronment there is wholeness of body. Health is 
 but adaptation to environment. When the mind 
 of man adapts itself to the great mind of God, 
 of which it is a part, the body does its perfect 
 work, without friction, and the exercise of 
 every function is a pleasure. 
 
 This is what is called life in abundance. "I 
 come that ye might have life." 
 
 I am glad that you are getting so much 
 pleasure out of your journey ings, by adapting 
 yourself to environment and entering heartily 
 and cheerfully into whatever you undertake.
 
 104 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 This is putting yourself in line with the powers 
 of Nature, and you are strong as you partake 
 of her strength. "Nature never yet forsook 
 the heart that loved her." 
 
 As I write these lines I hear your mother s 
 voice, singing, as she plants the bed of beets in 
 the garden, "Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to 
 thy bosom fly." What satisfaction the good 
 woman gets from her song ! 
 
 It is a beautiful spring day. The hawthorn 
 bushes are all white down the road-side, and 
 the air is balmy and full of perfume. I sit near 
 the window of what your mother calls "my 
 Arthur s room," and have been watching two 
 busy robins bringing twigs, straws and strings 
 to make a nest in the porch, just under the 
 window. I am glad the tide is coming in ; it 
 will not ebb, this time. 
 
 Very sincerely, 
 
 H. HAROLD.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 105 
 
 NUMBER XXV. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES. 
 
 Forbes 1 old roofa-mate loses his free and easy 
 good-humor,* "I myself am hell." The 
 money advanced by Miss Harold cannot be 
 returned to her. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, June 10, 1851. 
 DEAR ARTHUR: 
 
 I am in deep trouble. If you were here, you 
 could help me. Not a soul knows of it, in any 
 way, but you. It is an awful tangle, and now I 
 know she hates me and I have lost her; and 
 lost my own soul at the same time. "I myself 
 am hell," said Milton. Now I understand it. 
 
 Honor advanced the money, you know, on 
 my advice, to Aunt Marie for the May dividend. 
 The papers all said, most positively, that the 
 payment was only deferred until June 1st; 
 but yesterday another announcement came out, 
 saying a receiver had been appointed and it 
 had been decided to pass the dividend entirely. 
 It seems that crooked-eyed young shyster, But-
 
 106 FORBES OF^ HARVARD. 
 
 ler, up at Lowell, attached their water-wheel, 
 and they were beaten in the infringement suit, 
 after all. 
 
 The stock is all right, qf course, and the next 
 dividend will come sure, for this is the first one 
 they have missed in thirteen-*ftars. But God 
 help me ! Arthur, how can I explain the mat 
 ter to her? If I could manage to get the 
 money to pay her back but you know I am in 
 debt now. 
 
 I have found the commodore only left Honor 
 a few thousand dollars ; and that one hundred 
 and eighty she gave me is nearly a year s inter 
 est on all she has. Her father left her all of his 
 property, but the old gentleman must have 
 been a high-flyer or he would have left more. 
 And then she pays her brother s . way at 
 Exeter. 
 
 I have robbed her of one hundred and 
 eighty dollars ; I can never look her in the 
 face again. Curses on me ! When you get 
 this I may be at the bottom of Charles 
 River. I never dare go back to Concord. Do 
 you think you could get me a place as driver in 
 your wagon train ? I have robbed a woman J
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 107 
 
 I mean an angel. If it ever gets out, the 
 very air will poison me. 
 
 Disconsolately, 
 
 JACK. 
 
 NUMBER XXVI. 
 
 Forbes comes to rescue ; sends money to &e 
 returned to Miss Harold. Cross-purposes. A 
 story about the good old doctor. Evidently 
 more iron in / the blood of our hero. " No 
 night sweats, but occasionally one in daytime." 
 
 ON THE MARCH, FIFTY MILES WEST OF ST. 
 
 JOSEPH, June 19, 1851. 
 
 MY DEAR JACK : 
 
 Your letter of tenth instant has just reached 
 me, and I send you by the Wells-Fargo 
 Express, one hundred and eighty dollars. You 
 will get a draft with it over in Boston and mail 
 it to Miss Harold at once. I do not need the 
 money anyway no chance to spend money 
 out here, excepting for whiskey and tobacco, and 
 I have no use for either. If I should get laid up 
 somewhere along the way, I guess someone
 
 108 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 will take care of me ; and as for paying express 
 charges back on the long box, I have given up 
 the idea. It will not be necessary to send it, 
 old chum. I have torn up the paper that was 
 in my pocket-book with directions about send 
 ing the cadaver back. 
 
 By the way, did I ever tell you of how I 
 called on good old Dr. Peabody, the week before 
 I left ? Well, I had decided I would get the 
 truth from him about my condition. If it was 
 time for me to beckon to Charon, I wanted to 
 know it, and I told him so. "Well, well! jes 
 so, jes so ! " said he. He really is a very kind- 
 hearted old man, you know very consider 
 ate sympathetic ; but about as absent minded 
 as my Bacchus. He walked around me with his 
 tape line, testing the expansion and contraction 
 of my chest. Then he tapped all round and list 
 ened to the respiration and heart-beat. Counted 
 my pulse ; took temperature ; and, writing out 
 a prescription, handed it to me and tried to slide 
 me out the office door by saying, " It looks like 
 rain you had better hasten." I was not to 
 be put off, and I said : " Doctor, you have not 
 answered my question. Are my lungs affected ?
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 109 
 
 I am not afraid to know the truth." His 
 man Friday was just bringing the gig around, 
 and the old gentleman was getting a little out of 
 patience, because I kept standing there. He 
 was evidently thinking of the call he was about 
 to make, and he answered me back: "Jes so, 
 jes so ! Well, can t you wait ? If your lungs 
 are affected post mortem will show it, won t 
 it ? " 
 
 Well, chum, I do not feel quite so strong 
 yet, as of old ; but I tell you this you need not 
 sharpen your scalpel for the autopsy just yet. 
 Let others take delight in the thought of hav 
 ing loved ones deck their graves with flowers 
 and water them with their tears but life 
 to me is sweet ; and the world so delight 
 fully confusing, and things so uncertain, 
 that I want to stay as long as I can, to see how 
 it "pans out." Appetite? Well, I should 
 say so ! I have not slept in a house for three 
 weeks and the hoarseness has all gone away. 
 I surprised the camp with the college yell, 
 to-day. " Blackfeet, be gosh ! " shouted Goose 
 berry Jake, as he reached for his gun. I for 
 got to tell you that each driver has been given
 
 110 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 a rifle, now, and houses and civilization are left 
 behind. At night we picket our animals, or 
 enclose them in a square by running a rope 
 from one wagon to another. In a week, says 
 Buckthorn, all the wagons will be backed in the 
 form of a circle at night, with the horses and 
 mules in the center, and we will have to do guard 
 duty. I have nothing in way of baggage, but 
 a comb and tooth-brush. Gray flannel shirt, 
 blue trousers, top boots, belt and two pistols, 
 with a sweet smile and a fine crop of No. 9 
 whiskers, make up my afternoon suit which is 
 also my morning attire. 
 
 No night sweats, but one occasionally in the 
 daytime, if a wagon happens to get stuck in a 
 quicksand as Jake s did, to-day. I put Ari 
 adne and Bacchus on ahead of his six mules ; 
 and, with the help of a lever, and with a long 
 pull and a strong pull, and many mighty oaths 
 from Jake, we did the act in graceful style. 
 
 Good-by for this time, old chum. Send the 
 draft at once to Miss Harold, and write me that 
 you have done so, directing care of Captain 
 Hunter, United States wagon train, Number 
 Thirty-one on trail to Pike s Peak. 
 
 Sincerely yours, A. R. FORBES.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. Ill 
 
 NUMBER XXVII. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Holworthy gets the money and goes to Concord. 
 Rather florid description of the yoiing lady 
 and her attire. Miss Harold thinking the 
 money is from the pocket of Holworthy 
 refuses to accept more than half. Mr. Hol 
 worthy does not enlighten her. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, June 29. 
 MY DEAR ARTHUR: 
 
 How can I possibly thank you you are 
 my savior. I got the express package, and 
 walked straight to Concord, thirteen miles, 
 without a skip. Found Honor at your mother s, 
 working in the flower-beds. I took hold and 
 gave her a big lift, putting the whole garden in 
 apple-pie order. She wore a big sun-bon 
 net tied under the chin with blue ribbon, and I 
 never knew before that a sun-bonnet could be 
 so pretty. She wore gloves, which I was sorry 
 for, as I wanted to touch her tapering fingers 
 they are so sensitive and alive. She did not 
 offer to shake hands, but was very pleasant, 
 and talked about the weather, and the flowers.
 
 112 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 I saw she was not going to ask me in, 
 so I just handed out the one hundred and 
 eighty dollars and remarked off-hand : " It 
 was rather slow coming, but hope you have 
 not been inconvenienced." I started to go, 
 never thinking for a moment that she knew 
 about the receiver being appointed : not one 
 woman in a hundred ever reads the papers, you 
 know. She took the money, and called me 
 back as I started to go. She looked surprised 
 and laid down the little hoe. "But, Mr. 
 Holworthy," said she, as she opened her big 
 eyes, "this is your money!" I saw it was all 
 up she knew I could not lie to her. You 
 know I tell the truth, anyway ; but, where it is 
 positively necessary, I might hold back things 
 a little. 
 
 But, Heaven help me ! Arthur, I must tell her 
 everything. She kept looking at me and I 
 knew I must speak, so I said : " Of course you 
 know they did not pay the dividend. I just 
 borrowed a little of a friend to make up the 
 amount ; I hadn t quite enough by me. What 
 kind of flower is that in the corner?" But 
 she was not to be turned off. She kept looking
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 113 
 
 at me, and then said, after an instant, " But, Mr. 
 Holwortby, we were partners in this matter, 
 and you must take back half of the money." 
 She put it in my hand and I stammered, " I 
 wish we were partners in everything." If she 
 heard it she gave no sign ; but she walked with 
 me to the gate, and the first thing I knew I 
 was on the outside and she had smiled and 
 said, "Good-day, Mr. Holworthy." 
 
 That bonnet, old man, and the ribbon under 
 her chin, as I am a sinner ! Why are we not 
 partners in everything? Never mind, old 
 chum ; perhaps we will be, yet ! 
 
 What shall I do with the ninety dollars ? 
 
 As ever and always, yours, . 
 
 JACK.
 
 114 FORBES OF HARVARb. 
 
 NUMBER XXVIII. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 The pendulum swings from this side to that. 
 Misery again the portion of Holworthy. Miss 
 Meredith thinking the Mill Company Jias paid 
 dividends informs her neighbor, Mrs. Peepson, 
 to that effect. Trouble ahead. "Does the 
 wagon train need another driver. " 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASS., June 30, 1851. 
 DEAR ARTHUR : 
 
 I wrote you yesterday in good spirits, and 
 to-day would to heaven I had never been born ! 
 It is worse than ever ; but, no matter what hap 
 pens, I will tell you all. With you I must be 
 absolutely frank and truthful. If I ever depart 
 from the literal fact, it is that good may ensue ; 
 but with you I vary not even in the estimation 
 of a hair. 
 
 V 
 
 I went to Concord on the 5.30 last evening 
 stopped in at your house. Your mother is 
 feeling very cheerful ; but the goddess Minerva 
 was in the city, which disappointed me a little. 
 Your mother told me an awful tale. Aunt 
 Marie, we well know, is of the neurotic tempera-
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 115 
 
 ment, and she is so crippled she cannot get out 
 of the house. Suffers severe pain, constantly, 
 through the sciatic region. 
 
 She fears her garden is not being looked 
 after ; and, in fact, worries a good deal. She 
 has always been so active and energetic, it 
 seems impossible for her to give up, at all. I 
 did not go to see her. Your mother told me 
 what I write, as I dare not go and look our 
 old aunt in the face. 
 
 It seems that Deacon Peepson has some 
 Livingston stock, too, and Mrs. Peepson was 
 over, sympathizing with Aunt Marie : " La, 
 Sister Meredith, troubles never come singly. 
 It never rains but it pours. The hand of the 
 Lord falls heavily at times on those he loves ; 
 but it is all for the best." And Mrs. Peepson 
 covered her face with a black-bordered hand 
 kerchief, and rocked backward and forward in 
 the splint-bottomed chair. I am giving it to 
 you straight, old man; just as your mother told 
 it to me. I want you to know the case exactly, 
 so as to make a correct diagnosis. 
 
 "Well, if you want to tell it so bad, why not 
 out with it!" blurted out your aunt. Mrs,
 
 116 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Peepson put on her shawl, very coldly and very 
 calmly, and said: "Well, Sister Meredith, if 
 this is the way you are going to treat your old 
 neighbor who has lived nigh you for thirty 
 year, and been a true friend to you, I guess I 
 will go home. Excuse me for troubling you, 
 Miss Meredith." Of course Aunt Marie called 
 her back, and told her the pain was so bad she 
 didn t know what she said, and asked Mrs. 
 Peepson to make a cup of tea for her, and one 
 for herself at the same time. 
 
 Aunt Marie propped herself up in bed, 
 the hyson thawed Mrs. Peepson out and 
 over the tea-cups she told all about the Liv 
 ingston receivership, and more too, evidently. 
 She must have buzzed away for nearly an hour 
 when stopping suddenly she said, " But you know 
 Sister Meredith, I never meddle in my neigh 
 bors affairs !" 
 
 " You needn t sympathize with me, Mrs. 
 Peepson," said Aunt Marie; "I got my dividend 
 all in crisp green notes a day or so late, 
 perhaps; but they were so busy they hadn t 
 time to send it earlier. The next one may be 
 double they are making money, right along,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 117 
 
 You get your information from the news 
 papers ; when you see a thing in the papers it 
 is a sure sign it isn t so. I never read the 
 horrid things ; I get my information from 
 friends who can tell the truth." 
 
 "What!" shrieked Mrs. Peepson, as she 
 bounced out of the splint-bottomed chair, upset 
 ting the blue tea-pot. "You got your dividend, 
 did you, and my husband did not get his ? He 
 promised me the money when it came over a 
 hundred dollars and here I have been skimp 
 ing along for months and months, expecting it. 
 Now, why should they pay you, and send out to 
 the papers that lying statement about having 
 no funds ? Just answer me that, Miss Mere 
 dith ! " 
 
 She seemed to imagine, in her wrath, that it 
 was Aunt Marie who had wronged her. Aunt 
 Marie saw the spout was broken off her blue 
 china tea-pot, and she can use very tart lan 
 guage anyway, so she just said, "Well, Sister 
 Peepson" (she never calls any one sister except 
 when mixing in tincture of iron) ; " Well, Sister 
 Peepson, since you demand that I shall tell, 
 allow me to say first that I am a poor, crippled-
 
 118 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 up old maid, with no income except my mill 
 stock. They know this, and, having some pity 
 in their hearts, they send me my interest money 
 and let you rich folks go. Secondly (as the 
 preachers say), your man, as you call him, has 
 likely got the dividend all right, and has just 
 lied to you about it. No man yet ever kept 
 his promise. Just pour me another cup, Sister 
 Peepson, if you please, while you are all wet. " 
 
 The tea-pot lay on its side on the floor, its 
 nose four feet away ; Mrs. Peepson bounced 
 out of the house with a slam, saying, "And is 
 this what one gets for manifesting a neighborly 
 spirit ? I ll show him ! " 
 
 What have I done! What have I done! 
 Mrs. Peepson may get a divorce from her hus 
 band... Friendship broken between Aunt Marie 
 and the Peepsons. But worse, a thousand 
 times : Honor may yet know it all, and she 
 will know I am a liar. I am a L-I-A-R, 
 and she will know it. Tell me what to 
 do, Arthur ! Do they need an extra driver in 
 your train ? God help me ! I can t myself. 
 
 JACK. 
 
 P. S. I got my degree last week. Do you
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 119 
 
 think I could start a good practice out in 
 
 Kansas ? Are the Indians homoeopath or old- 
 school ? 
 
 NUMBER XXIX. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Dr. Holworthys disinterestedness raises him 
 several degrees in the estimation of Miss Har 
 old. The doctor tries his hand at gardening. 
 Concord Philosophy. A modern Portia. 
 
 CONCORD, June 30, 1851. 
 DEAR MR. FORBES: 
 
 Your former room-mate, Dr. Hoi worthy of 
 Cambridge, was here yesterday and told us 
 that he had just received a long letter from 
 you wherein you stated that you enjoyed your 
 work greatly was prosperous, and that your 
 health had fully returned. This is most joy 
 ous news to us all, and I cannot refrain from 
 expressing the deep pleasure that this news 
 has brought. 
 
 I must say that my admiration for young 
 Dr. Holworthy has never been very ex 
 alted, for he is what he is ; but his sincere
 
 120 .FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 satisfaction in your happiness raised him sev 
 eral degrees in my estimation. Besides the 
 good news from you, he brought the dividend 
 for Miss Meredith on her stock in the Living 
 ston Mill. The payment has been deferred fpr 
 a few weeks, for some reason in fact, has not 
 been paid yet but Dr. Holworthy advanced it 
 out of his own pocket. When we think how 
 scanty his means are, this disinterested action 
 on his part, to help the dear old lady, is most 
 touching. 
 
 I was weeding in the flowers when the doc 
 tor came, and he wished to assist me; so he 
 took the hoe, as he said he "was thirsty." 
 (This he intended as a joke "Ho ! every one 
 that thirsteth." You will observe that this is 
 a fine type of Holworthy wit.) Well, he hoed 
 with greater unction than discrimination, and in 
 five minutes managed not only to kill all the 
 weeds in the bed, but several fine dahlias as 
 well. His efforts to "set" the broken stalks 
 so they would "heal by the first intention" 
 and principally so your good mother would not 
 discover his bad work were most laughable. 
 
 When we think of the tender sympathies of
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 121 
 
 Dr. Holworthy, the short-comings of his intel 
 lect are blotted from our minds. It is the old 
 question of Heart vs. Intellect ; and, of the 
 two, we will join sides with the former will 
 we not, my friend ? 
 
 Mr. Thoreau came last week and worked all 
 day in the garden. We had dinner under the 
 little arbor in the yard, and a most charming 
 time it was ! Mr. Thoreau is an excellent 
 talker positive and to the point but talk is 
 not conversation. Conversation requires two, 
 and no more: it is a mutuality of exalted 
 thought and feeling. 
 
 Thoreau needs only a good listener, who 
 will, by a single word, assent or differ at the 
 right time, supplying a seed-thought now and 
 then, and then his talk is charming. 
 
 The subject was the use of Nature. Mr. 
 Thoreau claims that behind every physical fact 
 is a spiritual truth that the universe is the 
 expression of Mind, and that Nature is for 
 symbol. She gives a hint, and it is for us to 
 ascertain the truth ; and this is all we need, for 
 thus are we led on and on, and by exercise of 
 our faculties we grow. We do not want things
 
 122 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 fully explained ; we are displeased with tautol 
 ogy. Truism and platitude pall on us and all 
 exaggeration of parts and "completion" of 
 things in art we turn away from. 
 
 The art that suggests is what we crave, and 
 so Nature wins the love of all great souls by 
 beckoning them onward and upward. Yet she 
 never fully satisfies, for in the material world 
 there can never be complete gratification. 
 The essence of things is spiritual and eludes 
 our complete grasp. You know full well the 
 idea I would convey : doubtless you have dis 
 cussed the same theme with Mr. Thoreau, and 
 who knows possibly he obtained his seed- 
 corn from your granary ! 
 With regards, I am 
 
 Your friend, 
 
 HONOR HAROLD.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 123 
 
 NUMBER XXX. 
 
 THANKFUL PEEPSON TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Mr. Peep son, having stock in Livingston Mill 
 and receiving no dividends, demands that Dr. 
 Holworthy, who has paid others, shall also 
 pay him. 
 
 [Perhaps we should not blame Mr. Peepson 
 for making this request. He was an elderly 
 gentleman of ample means, but yet of such 
 a nature that he could not imagine anyone 
 " doing good by stealth" paying money 
 out of his own pocket for the benefit of a 
 friend and he supposed, of course, there 
 was some under-handed work in the mill man 
 agement, to which Holworthy was party ; and 
 if he could only induce Holworthy to secure his 
 money, the same as Holworthy had done for 
 Miss Meredith, it was all he desired. Such 
 men always pride themselves on their sense of 
 "justice."] 
 
 CONCORD, July 10. 
 J. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : I have three thousand seven 
 hundred dollars stock in Livingston Mill Co., 
 Lowell, Mass. Said company have recently 
 become involved. I have information to effect 
 that you have drawn certain dividends from
 
 124 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 said company, for certain of your friends. If 
 you have power to do this for one person, you 
 have for another. 
 
 The paying of dividend to favored persons 
 forbidden by law all must be served alike. 
 Your interference in matter shows you to 
 be only tool of others and constitutes you 
 party to the crime. 
 
 To avoid arrest, mail me draft $89.50, 
 amount of my dividend due, and I give you my 
 promise never to mention your name in any 
 way to any living person. Immediate answer 
 required all action deferred until I3th inst. 
 Yours for truth and justice, 
 
 T. PEEPSON.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 125 
 
 NUMBER XXXI. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO THANKFUL PEEPSON. 
 
 Dr. Holworthy evidently alarmed, but expresses 
 himself with fierce invective and sends the 
 money. 
 
 [Some folks take life very seriously (forget 
 ting that none get out alive anyway). Holworthy 
 was one of these. Instead of carrying the bur 
 den on his shoulder, jauntily, he dragged it after 
 him by a rope, and made a heavy and complex 
 job of what should have been a simple matter. 
 A wise man would have made no reply to Peep- 
 son, or at best only politely refused him. 
 But our friend worried through several sleep 
 less nights over the matter, and probably wrote 
 this letter with much sweat and lamp-smoke, 
 expecting the epistle would sting the rhinoceros 
 hide of Mr. Peepson.] 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, July n, 1851. 
 THANKLESS PEEPSON. 
 
 THING : Your vile blackmailing attempt has 
 been safely received, and has served to light 
 my pipe. 
 
 Horny-handed, villainous tiller of the soil ! 
 Black-hearted, blinking toad ! I do now spit 
 upon you thus !
 
 126 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Where gottest thou that goose look ? Am 
 I to be frightened by such as you illiterate 
 baboon ? Return thou to thy profession 
 to which thou art called. Go haul manure 
 and strew over the fair acres which thy putrid 
 breath pollutes. Better still : use thy foul car 
 cass for guano to raise chuckle-burrs, which I 
 will sow over thy grave ! Go sell thyself 
 for a subject, and I will dissect thee for a mon 
 strosity, thou accursed phantom! thou vam 
 pire ! thou incubus ! child of death ! Ass ! 
 You cannot frighten me ! But you ask only for 
 money. It is naught ! I am well provided 
 for thank heaven! As to a leprous wretch 
 by the roadside, I fling you now this draft, for 
 $89.50, to stop the vile wagging of your poison 
 ous tongue. May Pluto gather you to himself ! 
 Scornfully, 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY. M. D.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 127 
 
 NUMBER XXXII. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Forbes loses temper when he finds that the money 
 he sent was not given to Miss Harold as 
 requested. 
 
 SALT SPRINGS, KANSAS TERRITORY, 
 
 July 10, 1851. 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY, ESQ. : 
 
 You wrote asking my advice in a certain 
 matter, and I sent you a certain sum of money, 
 telling you how I desired you should use it. 
 Instead of following my wishes, you do some 
 thing entirely different, and then trouble me 
 with long, rambling letters on irrelevant themes, 
 instead of simply advising me that you had 
 performed your duty. 
 
 I asked you to take my money (not yours) and 
 buy a draft with it, and mail it to a certain per 
 son. Did you do it ? No ! You still have 
 half of that money in your possession, if by 
 this time you have not lost it. Oh, yes ! You 
 will pay me back, of course. But, sir, I do not 
 want you to pay it back. I want you at once
 
 128 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 to purchase a draft for ninety dollars, at the 
 Hide and Leather Bank in Boston, and mail it, 
 without a letter, to Miss Honor Harold, at Con 
 cord, Mass. On the outside of the envelope 
 simply write these words : From John Hoi- 
 worthy, Fool. 
 
 I see no necessity for you calling at my 
 mother s residence so often ; she is well looked 
 after without your assistance. 
 
 I am, sir, most respectfully, 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES. 
 
 NUMBER XXXIII. 
 
 J. HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Holworthy very brave at long distance. Wrath- 
 fully resents tJic imptttdtion that Miss Harold 
 may lose; for has he not given her his 
 note? Former friends now foes. Woman 
 the cause -, as has happened before. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, July 12, 1851. 
 A. R. FORBES, MULETEER. 
 
 SIR : I have this day mailed an envelope to 
 Miss Honor as requested. On the outside of 

 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 129 
 
 the envelope I wrote nothing, but on the inside 
 I sent a cordial letter. I also sent my note at 
 sixty days, for ninety dollars with interest say 
 ing the amount was due her, and therefore 
 enclosed. I sent my compliments and best 
 wishes, and hoped she was well and happy. 
 I am going up to Concord to see her, Sunday, 
 and will call at your mother s home. Mrs. 
 Prudence Forbes is a perfect lady ; but I much 
 regret that her son reminds me of the Venus de 
 Milo neither is a gentleman. 
 Sir, believe me, I am ever 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY, M. D. 
 
 P. S. Was obliged to use the money for a 
 friend, but of course will meet the note when 
 due. Just before you left you made me prom 
 ise I would go to see your mother once a week; 
 now, when out of the kindness of my heart I 
 go twice a week instead of once, you insult 
 me ! 
 
 P. S. No. 2. I lit my pipe with your last let 
 ter as soon as I read it.
 
 130 FORBES OP HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XXXIV. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Forbes too sensible to mirse wrath. The strong 
 can always afford to apologise. Tries to phi 
 losophize on the question of affinities. 
 
 ON THE TRAIL, 
 KANSAS TERRITORY, July 23. 
 MY DEAR JACK: 
 
 You wrote me a very pointed epistle. It was 
 excellent, and knowing you enjoy good things I 
 mail it back in this. You see I have marked 
 it 98, and would have given you a hundred had 
 you dotted your Fs. 
 
 We write sharp letters, old chum, and they 
 reach their destination days after, when all par 
 ties have likely forgotten the circumstances. 
 The offensive letter comes like a kicking mule 
 in a corral. It is an excellent plan to write 
 caustic letters, dipping the pen in aqua fortis 
 (if seventy-four per cent, caustic alkali cannot 
 be had); then take a letter-press copy, and throw 
 the original in the waste basket. Read the let 
 ter-press copy next day, and you will thank
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 131 
 
 heaven for having blessed you with a waste 
 basket. Let us try this plan hereafter. But, 
 come to think, just at present my office is neither 
 supplied with waste basket nor letter press so 
 I will have to forego the aqua fortis. 
 
 We pull up stakes in ten minutes, so I will 
 not write you a long letter. I wish you could 
 see the acres and acres of sunflowers on these 
 prairies. They follow the sun around from 
 the extreme east to the west, and then face about 
 in the night to greet old Sol in the morning. 
 He comes up now right straight over Harvard 
 Square. 
 
 About Miss Harold : She is a fine soul, my 
 mother says ; but don t you think, dear chum, 
 she is so different from you that it would be 
 impossible for her to reciprocate your feelings? 
 You are a fine character, too you have a 
 future, I am sure but then you are different ! 
 You will not misunderstand me! Of course 
 my mother is always glad to see you, and I 
 want you to go to see her often, and it is per 
 fectly right and proper you should enjoy a lit 
 tle visit with Miss Harold at the same time. 
 But, Jack, please do not annoy the lady by try-
 
 132 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 ing to make love to her. You cannot " make 
 love" anyway. Love is a spark of the Divine, 
 and all emotions of true love are reciprocal. 
 It is a reflex action of Feeling (you see I use 
 the capital) ; an echoing back from heart to 
 heart, with this difference in the simile an 
 echo dies away, but love increases by action 
 and reaction. If your regard for her has the 
 ring of true metal, she must also experience a 
 like emotion, and needs must express it. 
 
 Expression is necessary to life. In fact, all 
 life is expression of Mind. Now, if Miss Harold 
 does not echo back your feelings, as a matter of 
 course you will only pain her by forcing the ten 
 der sentiment on her attention ; and I know, if 
 you respect her, you will endeavor to make 
 things agreeable for her not otherwise. My 
 old chum is too sensible to take exceptions to 
 what I write him, but will always believe me to 
 be 
 
 His sincere friend, 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 133 
 
 NUMBER XXXV. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 The doctor is melted by the kindness of his 
 friend. Coals of fire. More about affinities 
 from another point of view. " Women do 
 not know their own minds. Faint heart" etc. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, Aug. 15, 1852. 
 MY DEAR OLD CHUM: 
 
 I got your letter ; in it was enclosed another. 
 The writing looked like mine but I never 
 penned it. Some scoundrel with heart as black 
 as Erebus forged it. None but a villain could 
 have written it. Who says I wrote it ? He 
 is a liar! Would I write to my manly Arthur 
 an insulting epistle ? How could I, except I 
 were drunk or mad. My Arthur of the Round 
 Table is the only friend I have. Without him, 
 to whom could I turn ? He it was who whipped 
 two Irishmen when they waylaid us on 
 the bridge, and had me down. Who but he 
 made me cram for " Zam," and thus got me 97 
 when I deserved to be plucked. The smart 
 est, bravest, tallest and best man who ever
 
 134 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 kicked a football. He knows all things save 
 the art of love ; in this he is at sea, for he has not 
 experienced and what care I for the smooth 
 logic of even his cool head, when talking of 
 that which he has not felt ! 
 
 Speaking of the different methods of expres 
 sion, you may not believe it, but I once act 
 ually proposed to a girl with my feet. I was 
 dead in love with her, and we were playing 
 euchre. I was wondering how I would tell her 
 of my passion, when all at once I proposed by 
 touching her feet with mine under the table. 
 She understood and answered back, begging 
 for time to consider it was so sudden. I 
 insisted on an immediate answer, and she said 
 she would be a sister to me. I telegraphed: 
 "Never! You must be mine." And she then 
 accepted, and the day was set. All the while 
 we were raking in the tricks : we beat her 
 father and mother in the game, two to five. A 
 few weeks after, I was over to the house again, 
 having a little game ; and, as before, was tele 
 graphing with my feet. All at once the old 
 lady gave a scream, kicked over the table, and 
 swore I was treading with my whole weight on
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 135 
 
 her favorite corn. I denied it ; and, to change 
 the subject, charged her and the old man with 
 cheating. The old gent grew furious and 
 called me an insolent puppy. I called him a 
 dough-faced old codger, and hinted at his fam 
 ily record in a way that was more than he 
 could stand : he collared me then and there, 
 and bounced me bodily down the front steps 
 the girl all the time crying and clinging to my 
 neck, trying to save me. It was no use the 
 old man was too mad to reason with, and my 
 overcoat, hat and cane were flung into the 
 street after me. I was rather glad the thing 
 turned out as it did, for the engagement was 
 getting a trifle monotonous anyway; so I just 
 wrote the young lady the next day, and told 
 her the family temper in her tribe was just a 
 little more than I could stand that I had a 
 good deal of "beezum" myself, and for the 
 sake of posterity we must call the engagement 
 off and live but to forget. 
 
 The latter part of this true story is perhaps 
 irrelevant to the question in hand ; but I tell it 
 to show you there are other modes of commun-
 
 136 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 icating thought besides words, hand-clasps and 
 glance of eyes. 
 
 Yes, Arthur; we are not alike that is why I 
 love her ! It is right and proper that a man 
 should select for a wife a woman who will 
 round out the weak points in his own charac 
 ter. She is away above and beyond me, every 
 way ; but would you have me choose a woman 
 beneath me? You, yourself, have said that 
 when a man and woman who are unequal in 
 mental and spiritual make-up, marry, there 
 is a compromise a meeting half-way. Thus 
 you admit that, if I marry her, there will be a 
 great growth in my intellectual stature. Then, 
 again, you are wrong about the reciprocity. 
 Among all animals the male seeks his mate 
 this is nature. Do you think a modest 
 woman would give herself away by letting a 
 man know she thought anything of him ? Not 
 much ! You only show your ignorance. It is 
 a part of woman s plan ; they want to be 
 wooed, and wooed, and after a long siege they 
 are won. A woman delights in being courted ; 
 and half the time a girl never knows her own 
 mind, and it is the business of the lover to edu-
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 137 
 
 cate her in matters of love. What a delightful 
 occupation ! Old man, I have a notion of 
 adopting it as a profession, instead of medi 
 cine ! No, Arthur ; it is the persistent lover 
 who wins. " Faint heart never won fair lady." 
 
 When the Lord feels dissatisfied with his 
 work (as I am sure he often does, when he 
 thinks of some of the men he has made), he 
 simply opens one of the windows of heaven 
 and takes a look at my tall Iris. 
 
 I saw her Thursday. She is rather hard to 
 get thoroughly awake on any subject a little 
 absent minded. I think she broods over her 
 father s death, and to cheer her up I read her 
 one of your letters. Not the last, bless you ! 
 hardly. It was the one in which you told of 
 Gooseberry Jake. After I read it she smiled 
 and I never saw her look so handsome. " Let 
 me see it," she said. She took it in her 
 beautiful hands and read part of it to herself, 
 and then she sighed. 
 
 I guess this sigh was at some of your pa 
 thetic strokes. You will get in something that 
 almost brings the tears right along with your 
 jokes, you old rascal !
 
 138 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 I am filling in vacation at the drug store in 
 Cambridgeport, and grinding away at the books, 
 with clinic over in Boston every Saturday. 
 
 JACK. 
 
 NUMBER XXXVI. 
 
 MRS. FORBES TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Dr. Peabody is sure the medicine cured. Mrs. 
 Forbes has another opinion. The cat may be 
 sent from home. A funeral at the little house 
 by the railroad. 
 
 FRIDAY NIGHT. 
 MY DEAR BOY : 
 
 I am rejoiced to know that you are so much 
 better. I met Dr. Peabody to-day and told him 
 how well you are. He said he knew the medi 
 cine would cure you. For my own part, Arthur, 
 I cannot help believing it was in answer to our 
 prayers. I did not tell the doctor so. He is 
 a nice man. 
 
 He was with me, you remember, when you 
 were born. After a woman has had a doctor 
 at such a time he always seems like one of her 
 own folks ever after. Perhaps it was the earn-
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 139 
 
 est prayers and the medicine too. Dr. Peabody 
 does not believe much in praying for the sick. 
 He said to me once, if a man needed an emetic, 
 a half ounce of ipecac was worth a ton of 
 prayer. I fear he has been corrupted by the 
 unbelief of this place. It s no use arguing 
 with men, though ; they have no sense. If Dr. 
 Peabody gets sick himself, he will send for a 
 preacher the first thing. Such men always do. 
 
 Our cat caught two of the young robins. 
 He may get to killing the chickens next. If 
 he does I will surely give him away, although 
 you brought him here yourself six years ago. 
 I cannot afford to have my chickens caught. 
 What is more, I will not stand it, either. 
 
 Honor has helped me make over my black 
 dress. We left the skirt just the same, but 
 added a plain flounce at the bottom, of some 
 stuff she had in her trunk. But the waist 
 why, I hardly think you would know it at all. 
 
 If I see the cat prowling around after the 
 chickens, I have decided we will put him in a 
 bag, and Honor and I will carry him off, clear 
 over the hill, some night, by Peepson s, and turn
 
 140 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 him loose; and of course, if he goes to Peep- 
 son s house, it will not be our fault. 
 
 The bonnet I got when your father died 
 looked pretty bad, but Honor fixed it over for 
 me so it looks like new. We are going down 
 to Boston to church next Sunday. She is the 
 handiest person I ever saw. Do you think I 
 ought to charge her $2.50 a week? It seems 
 too much, when she helps me so, all the time. 
 
 For our chapter last night, Honor read to 
 me from Epistle of John, iv, 1-20. Read it, 
 Arthur, from the little Bible I put in your 
 trunk. One verse I remember is "He that 
 loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love." 
 I think Honor reads better than our preacher 
 not so loud,, but with more feeling. Another 
 verse was "There is no fear in love, for per 
 fect love casteth out fear." 
 
 Did I tell you how we . borrowed Smith s 
 wheelbarrow and cut sod ourselves for little 
 Martha s grave ? Another verse Honor read 
 was "God sent his only begotten son." She 
 said she thought it was because God loved me 
 that he sent me such a son. Yes ; I believe it 
 must be so. You have not told me, but I
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 141 
 
 believe you have really given your heart to 
 Jesus. Your letters are not so trifling as they 
 used to be when you were at college. 
 
 There has been lots of sickness here lately. 
 The family that moved into one of Murphy s 
 houses, down by the railroad, had three chil 
 dren die of diphtheria, all in one week. They 
 are very poor people. The neighbors were all 
 afraid to go near, as it is so awful catching. 
 They buried two of the children in the night. 
 Honor heard about it, and went at once to see 
 them, the day the last one died. She was the 
 first woman who had been in the house for 
 three weeks. The mother begged her to read 
 a chapter and pray. They did not bury this 
 one in the night. No preacher dare go to the 
 funeral, so Honor preached a little sermon, 
 about ten minutes, and read and prayed. She 
 was the only woman besides the mother at the 
 funeral. 
 
 I have four pair of new stockings for you. 
 Tell me how soon you will be home. 
 Yours truly, 
 
 PRUDENCE FORBES.
 
 142 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XXXVII. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Holworthy goes to Concord for botanical speci 
 mens. Enlists the assistance of Honor 
 Harold and Miss Hosmer. A triangular 
 picnic. Murphy s misJiap. Botany vs. 
 Geology. Dr. Holworthy records his success, 
 but forgets the botanical specimen, which will 
 necessitate another visit. 
 
 [The patience shown by Mr. Forbes in 
 receiving and answering such letters as this 
 several of which I have not thought it worth 
 while to publish can only be accounted for, 
 by presuming that his faith in Miss Harold was 
 invincible and the letters from Holworthy were 
 merely diverting.] 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Tuesday Evening. 
 DEAR OLD CHUM : 
 
 A hazy, lazy autumn day leaves turning 
 yellow ; they fall fluttering to the ground like 
 wounded birds. And such an indefinite, 
 dreamy look to the landscape like the sweet 
 face of a bride, as you catch sight of it through 
 her veil ; you do not know whether she is crying 
 (just a wee bit ) or smiling. We do not want to
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 143 
 
 see things too plainly, old man. (I never did 
 see my lessons very clearly the best truth is 
 always a trifle misty.) 
 
 I believe the charm of these Indian-summer 
 days is the fact that our senses are kind of 
 dulled and lulled, as by a two-grain opium pill; 
 a sort of somniferous effect, so that one goes 
 straight to heaven without the formality of 
 Gabriel s bugle and the Judgment-day racket. 
 
 They say the wicked shall not enter the 
 kingdom ; but by the great Paracelsus ! I had 
 a clear look inside the portals to-day and, 
 confidentially, old chum, it s as good as settled. 
 
 I am greatly interested in botany or the 
 Goddess thinks I am, which is just as well. I 
 went up to Concord early this morning ; walked 
 straight to your mother s, and asked the tall 
 Minerva if she could tell me where I could find 
 a good specimen of Aralia Ntidicauhis for our 
 herbarium at Cambridge. It worked, old man ; 
 and she brightened up and said ; "Why, yes; I 
 will show you ! Miss Hosmer and I are going 
 that way ; we will be glad to have your com 
 pany." Pulse jumped to 98 by my watch, as 
 she put on her hat and a funny little jacket.
 
 144 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 You are right, Arthur ; a woman will express 
 her feelings, if you only give her time they 
 can t hold back always. She seemed so pleased 
 to see me ; asked me to go, too, mind you ! 
 asked me to go, and said she would be thankful 
 for my company. And it would have been 
 heaven complete, if it had not been for this 
 friend who was with her ! This Miss Daisy 
 Hosmer is just a young thing, awfully sweet, 
 and sort of come-and-catch-me appearance, 
 but talks in riddles and parables. I couldn t 
 exactly make her out. She walked ahead, and 
 left Honor and me alone part of the time. I 
 guess Honor told her to ; and I took the oppor 
 tunity to say, " I wish life were one long 
 picnic like this." She was very jolly and said, 
 "Why, it was just what I was going to say 
 we three on an eternal picnic. Yes; how 
 sublime." 
 
 "Or just you and me," I added. "Why, 
 truly, how subHme or you alone ! " And she 
 called to Daisy, who hoodooed the interview, 
 and came back to dig up a flower. 
 
 Each of the girls had a trowel, and I carried 
 two baskets, a bag, a spade, and an ax. I was
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 145 
 
 loaded to the gunwales, and they kept digging 
 stuff and putting in the baskets. By and by, 
 Miss Hosmer got a geological fit, and began to 
 gather specimens. "Oh! the trilobite the 
 lovely trilobite ! What a nice piece of gneiss ! 
 Oh ! look at the feldspar ! " And the stones 
 began rattling down into that bag. 
 
 " It does not make you tired, does it ? " said 
 Miss Hosmer; "you are so strong!" and she 
 dropped in a young bowlder from the miocene 
 period. "Oh, no," said I; "I only wish you 
 had brought along a bed-tick. We would have 
 filled it full." 
 
 Finally we came to a ploughed field, and 
 they wanted to look for Indian arrows ; so they 
 tramped me over the fields about seven miles, 
 and I sank to my knees, nearly, at every step. 
 We finally got over to Walden Lake and put 
 our things in Henry s cabin. He was not at 
 home. You know he never locks the door 
 nothing but a latch anyone can lift it and 
 walk in. His boat was there, and I put one of 
 the girls in each end, with Honor facing me, 
 and what a row we had ! I never saw her so 
 pleasant, She laughed at all my jokes, and,
 
 146 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 when I told them about how you swam out into 
 Charles River, to rescue old Murphy, whose 
 boat had upset, she asked me to tell it over 
 again all about how you sat the old man 
 astride of the upturned boat, and swam 
 behind and pushed him ashore; how the 
 people on the bank thought it was old Neptune 
 on a dolphin s back, coming in state, and they 
 cheered and asked him what he had done with 
 his trident. How they did laugh ! Then we 
 went back and had supper on the bank. 
 
 Henry and Daisy got into quite an argu 
 ment, for which I was very thankful ; for I 
 improved the time by telling the tall Iris of 
 how I intended to go in with Dr. Peabody, who 
 is certainly not immortal, and some day I 
 would have his whole practice. I said, "You 
 know, Miss Harold, a physician in a village like 
 Concord, cannot hope to get a large family 
 practice unless he has a wife!" "Why, just 
 what I was going to say ! " said she, and she 
 began skimming our geological specimens 
 across the water. She is very absent minded, 
 and must have thrown away half, without once 
 thinking what she was doing. I just kept quiet
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 147 
 
 and let her throw, although it did break in on 
 our conversation. When we got back to your 
 mother s, the girls both thanked me and shook 
 hands so gratefully, and asked me to come again. 
 
 I m solid there, old chum make no mistake ! 
 These things require time to work up. The 
 world wasn t made in a day. I went away 
 without my specimen of Aralia forgot all 
 about it. Absent minded, you see it must be 
 catching. Well, anything I can catch from her 
 I will be thankful for, even to eczema. 
 
 Your letters are wonderfully interesting. 
 Tell me more about your experience it is all 
 so new and strange to us here. 
 
 I will have to go back after my Aralia Nud- 
 icaulus, next Saturday, I suppose. 
 
 JACK. 
 
 P. S. For myself, I do not take much stock 
 in womankind ; for who can tell whether what 
 tulle suggests be real, or that which padded silk 
 parades be false ?
 
 148 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XXXVIII. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO MISS HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 "Read between the lines" The first view of 
 the Rockies. Poetic prose. 
 
 CAMP UNREST, KANSAS TERRITORY, 
 
 Aug. 1 6, 1851. 
 MY FRIEND : 
 
 Once upon a time, a thousand years ago (or 
 was it yesterday?), you told me not to write to 
 you, for you would read the letters I sent to 
 our mother. In these letters to her, you have 
 read between the lines, receiving the messages 
 I meant for you. In each letter you have seen 
 a growing tendency to write beyond what the 
 good woman could comprehend. Knowing 
 that you would read the letter, I must needs 
 restrain myself ; for before my inward eye arose 
 your image, and so I gave you the message, not 
 her. There is a necessity in our natures which 
 demands that we shall express that which is 
 within ; and so, my gentle lady, I offer no 
 excuse for writing this my first letter to you, 
 trusting wholly that your strong good-sense
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 149 
 
 will show you how, loving my mother as I do, 
 when I write to her I must have before me her 
 image : listening intently, as we know she does 
 knitting, perhaps keeping time with mov 
 ing lips and nod of head. 
 
 Do you think the love for our parents can 
 ever be replaced by another ? Should not love 
 give the capacity for love ? All other faculties 
 grow by exercise, why not this ? And so, you 
 see, I am writing you this letter that I may be 
 free free to write to her and to write to you. 
 Equally important is it that I may express to 
 you what my heart prompts. With you I can 
 think aloud and you will not misconstrue. You 
 will put the best construction on my thought, 
 and echo it back to me in a clearer and sweeter 
 tone. Since I received your first letter the 
 tide has been coming in, and I have, to-day, life 
 in abundance. It is a joy to be alive ; and it 
 seemed that if I did not write you this message, 
 just to thank you for what you have done for 
 me, the day s duties would not be done. 
 
 We are encamped in a beautiful valley, on 
 the banks of a running stream. There are 
 only a few trees near; but the boundless prairie
 
 150 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 fills me with a sense of sublimity. The waving 
 grass stretches off miles upon miles, and, as the 
 summer winds play over it, it seems to rise and 
 fall like the waves of the sea. To the west is 
 a mass of low white clouds. There they stay 
 sublime, clear as marble in outline. They have 
 not changed since yesterday. I called the 
 attention of a companion to them "Why, 
 those are the Rocky Mountains," said he. 
 
 If your heart prompts, write to me at Fort 
 Denver. 
 
 With sincere respect and high regard I am, 
 Yours, 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES.
 
 PART TWO. 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 C VIDENTLY there are letters missing which 
 should go in here, for this full, frank con 
 fession of the heart must have been preceded 
 by something more formal ; but as the epistles 
 are lost I must beg the reader to bridge the 
 gap with his imagination. 
 
 In the letters of Mr. Forbes, prior to this cor 
 respondence with Miss Harold, few traces of 
 spirituality are to be found. This love seemed 
 to add cubits to his stature, and to have aroused 
 a poetic side of his nature, which none knew 
 he possessed : not the first man, perhaps, who 
 has been nudged out of sleep by Cupid, and 
 been led on to better things by the light of the 
 little god s torch. 
 
 A large number of these love letters are in 
 my possession, but I give only a few, merely to 
 151
 
 152 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 show the quality of mind which this man and 
 woman possessed. 
 
 Many of these epistles seem to open very 
 abruptly, but lovers evidently have some occult 
 way of knowing what will be deemed proper 
 and what not. I leave this to the experienced, 
 and will say that, of all written words, the let 
 ters of wise men and women are best. They 
 are more natural than oratory, more advised 
 than conversation, and show the heart of the 
 writer as love and friendship only can call it 
 forth. It is the tendency of all strong feeling 
 to dwell constantly on the same thought to 
 be monotonous and the oft-repeated vows and 
 verbal endearments which generally fill love 
 letters, make them unsuited for any save the 
 one to whom they are directed. But in these 
 letters of Mr. Forbes to Miss Harold, and Miss 
 Harold to Mr. Forbes, I find much that is of 
 poetic and philosophic value, and the tenderness 
 often shown I am sure will strike a sympathetic 
 chord in the hearts of all "who love a lover." 
 
 I should judge that no attempt was made, on 
 the part of this peculiar pair, to "answer" let 
 ters ; they wrote when they felt inclined every
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 153 
 
 day, or once a week, as the spirit moved. Any 
 theme which was in the heart of the writer 
 found expression. In most of these epistles 
 all formality of place, date or name is omitted ; 
 the addition of signature being found only a 
 few times in the several hundred letters from 
 which these are selected.
 
 154 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XXXIX. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 With the man of dull susceptibility and 
 strong animal nature there may be much force 
 at times, but with the force so excited dies the 
 result. There is no reaction. But the man who 
 is full of soul-life who has the poetic nature 
 the force exerted may be slight, but the reaction 
 is great. We are cursed or blessed by reaction. 
 Our lives to-day are what they are on account 
 of what has gone before. Dull men may meet 
 and part, but to us the meeting of an individ 
 ual who is our peer is an event of great impor 
 tance. How the acts of our lives now stand 
 out before us and make or mar. The value of 
 the act is not in the act, but in the reaction. 
 It is not what you say, but how the saying 
 reacts upon yourself and upon the hearer : all 
 this in the fraction of a second. 
 
 We grow by reaction ; mind on body, body 
 on mind. With the slow mind there is little 
 reaction, with the brute none : but to the per 
 son of fine poetic sensibilities, the trees, flowers.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 155 
 
 sky, water speak to him with a thousand 
 tongues. You see with the physical eye : that 
 is the action, the impression made on your 
 mind is the reaction. 
 
 " A primrose by the river s brink 
 A yellow primrose was to him, 
 And it was nothing more." 
 
 No reaction. 
 
 Love is an alternating current, action and 
 reaction : my love acts on you, yours on me. 
 Yours reacts upon yourself, mine the same ; and 
 the result is a quicker sensibility for good, a 
 more hearty appreciation of beauty, a broader 
 outlook, a quicker insight, an increased 
 sympathy. 
 
 Let us so live that the reaction from our 
 lives will be a benediction on ourselves a 
 blessing to others.
 
 156 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XL. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 One may harangue, several may talk ; but con 
 versation requires two and no more. Between 
 these there must be such a mutual understand 
 ing that all explanation may be waived. 
 
 Only those who know the delight of conver 
 sation can be silent in the presence of each 
 other and be at ease. Silence, under these 
 conditions, is music asleep. 
 
 Where conversation is possible, each is wiser, 
 holier, purer in heart than when alone. Soul 
 acts on soul and brings out only the good in 
 each. The reaction from conversation is 
 insight into Divine things. 
 
 And do you know, dear, there is a burden of 
 joy as well as a burden of heaviness ; and so 
 this love gives such a burden of joy that we 
 cannot rest until we share the joy with each 
 other. 
 
 We must use our joy (as well as all other 
 good things), and so we give our joy away, and 
 still keep it. 
 
 With you I use my faculties, with you the 
 circuit is complete.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 157 
 
 NUMBER XLI. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 MY LADY : 
 
 There is a loneliness here in the desert, yet 
 there is a freedom. 
 
 You remember the man who wrote from his 
 prison cell, "At six o clock, the world is shut 
 out and we are free from intrusion." Well, I 
 am free from intrusion the livelong day. 
 
 In connection with every palace of kings there 
 has been a prison. The ruling priesthood has 
 always had its dungeons for unbelievers ; and 
 political and ecclesiastical prisons have held the 
 greatest and rarest souls who have ever blest 
 this earth poets, patriots, thinkers, inventors, 
 reformers. We know them, so why need I 
 write their names ! We have been with them 
 in their glory and their gloom, in their grand 
 eur and their grief. Think of all the books 
 written behind prison bars. Of John Bunyan s 
 Pilgrim s Progress, Walter Raleigh s History; 
 and De Foe, with ears cut off, begging for ink 
 to write Robinson Crusoe ! Isolation is free-
 
 158 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 dom. Solitude may be communion with the 
 Infinite, and on the pathless plains I often feel 
 that I am face to face with my Maker. 
 
 NUMBER XLII. 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 MY DEAR LADY: 
 
 I now believe that this withdrawal from the 
 rush and friction of the world living near to 
 Nature s heart, with no roof but the blue dome 
 of heaven surrendering myself into the arms 
 of rest, silence and Infinity is doing me 
 untold good. Yet there are lonely pinings of 
 the heart, and my arms reach out to you across 
 the miles, as I pray with my face toward the 
 east. 
 
 The misfortunes of men often proceed from 
 their inability to be alone. They go in search 
 of companionship, to the saloon and the gaming 
 table, to riot and extravagance, dissipation and 
 excess ; and thus they try to forget themselves, 
 and alas ! they often succeed. 
 
 Strong drink, opium, and other drugs that 
 lull to drowsy nothingness, are only the
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 159 
 
 attempts of men to dismiss self. Happy is he 
 who can live alone with God ; and yet, dear, in 
 all this wilderness, could I could I be happy 
 without you ? " Give me solitude, sweet soli 
 tude; but in my solitude, give me still one 
 friend to whom I may murmur, solitude is 
 sweet." 
 
 NUMBER XLIII. 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 MY LOVER: 
 
 What a charming bit of Scotch folk lore is 
 that of the protected boatman ! 
 
 The night was dark and cold, the wind blew 
 in fitful gusts, the waves rose high, as there 
 came to the wharf a woman in tattered gar 
 ments, bearing in her arms a babe held close 
 to her breast. "I must cross the river I 
 must cross to-night ! " she cried. The ferryman 
 replied: "Stay thy noise, woman! Knowest 
 thou not the hour is late and the boat is tied 
 fast ? Get thee gone ! " But still she cried : 
 "Is there none to speed me on my way? Oh, I 
 must cross to-night ! " And the ferryman
 
 160 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 answered, " Woman, as thou importunest so, tell 
 me why thy haste and how much money hast 
 thou to tempt me to defy the wave for thy fool 
 ish whim ! " And she only answered : " I have 
 no money, but I must cross to-night I must 
 cross to-night ! Oh, I must be on my way ! " 
 And he answered, wroth : " Get thee gone with 
 thy whelp ! Away ! " 
 
 And then a youth, who stood near, approached 
 and said, "Woman, I know not whom thou art, 
 and it matters not ; but T have a boat at hand, 
 and if thou wilt allow me, / will speed thee on 
 thy way." 
 
 And he helped the woman to a seat in the 
 end of his boat. The waves tossed the craft 
 about, but the boat reached in safety the far 
 ther bank ; and behold, when the youth reached 
 out his hand to help the woman on shore, there 
 arose and stood before the simple boatman, not 
 the woman in rags but a beauteous creature 
 clothed in white, and about her shone a won 
 drous light. " Fear not !" she said. "They call 
 me the Blessed Virgin ; and, ever after, thy 
 boat shalt ride in safety, where er thou choos- 
 est to go. For thy soul hast pity, and thou heardst
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 161 
 
 my cry for help, and didst not seek to question 
 nor quibble and wrangle with the needs of the 
 heart, but didst speed me on my way; and now 
 I decree that no harm shall befall thee ! " 
 
 And, ever after, the boatman was free from 
 the peril of the wave; and when he had lived 
 out many long and useful days and came to die, 
 there appeared at his bedside the Blessed Virgin. 
 And all who stood near heard her voice as she 
 said, "Fear not, for I have come to row thy 
 soul safely over the river called Death! " and as 
 the form vanished the people looked and saw a 
 smile on the face of the boatman, but his spirit 
 had floated away across the Unknown Deep. 
 
 NUMBER XLIV. 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 MY DEAR ARTHUR : 
 
 How all this love-relation has come to us ! 
 Sympathy led ; then spirit followed, and refused 
 to come away and all so perfectly natural, 
 gentle, spontaneous. You did not say, Come 
 this way ; now, please do come ! nor I to you.
 
 162 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 We were moving together, in lines coming 
 nearer and nearer, until at last we simply 
 reached out hands and thus we journey. And, 
 dear, can one journey alone and be alive to all 
 beauty, so that the faculties are ever receptive 
 and alert ? No, not alone, I hear you say. 
 
 It is artificial life that kills. A striving to 
 make harmonious adjustments to please this 
 one or avoid displeasing that ; but love brings 
 such a stillness, smoothness, lightness into our 
 lives, that, being in right relation to the one 
 soul, we can easily be in right relation to all. 
 
 Have you noticed, dear, what charity, what 
 patience, has come to your spirit ? Nothing 
 worries we are not disturbed. 
 
 This is life. 
 
 NUMBER XLV. 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 MY GENTLE LADY : 
 
 You have faith plus, my dear, and hope to 
 spare, otherwise I would be down in the depths ; 
 for verily I have drawn from your supply, and 
 it is your fountain that nourishes and sustains
 
 FORBES OF HAKVAKD. 163 
 
 me. I am unworthy of your great love ; but the 
 only way I can become worthy, is to live in 
 this love-atmosphere, and, under its benign influ 
 ence, open out my sleeping soul-forces as the 
 acorn bursts its shell under the influence 
 of the gentle summer rain and sunshine. I 
 feel that the rays reach me only through you, 
 you are the prism that concentrates and gives 
 to me. Unless you focused truth for me, how 
 could I ever perceive it ? The actinic ray, you 
 know, is the one that vitalizes ; it is the growth 
 principle. 
 
 Love is the actinic ray. 
 
 NUMBER XLVI. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 Nothing can make us truly live, but using 
 what we have. If there is a royal road to 
 geometry we do not know it? There is an 
 expression used by some good old ladies to 
 show their surprise ; they look at you, adjust 
 their specs, and say, " La me ! I want to 
 know." 
 
 Well, what greater ambition is there than
 
 164 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 this "I want to know?" It is wonderful 
 to know ; not to know seems the only sin. 
 Dearest, let us know. 
 
 I am glad I am alive. Glad am I, and grate 
 ful to God for this great love which gives abil 
 ity to know. I am glad there is so little car 
 bonic acid in the atmosphere, and glad there 
 are so few mean people in the world. There 
 are not near as many as there were before this 
 love began. Do you not agree with me, 
 lover ? And do you not think the world is fast 
 growing better? Why! never before have 
 people treated me so courteously ; they smile, 
 bow, and make room for me, and I have not 
 heard a cross word for days and days. This 
 love-atmosphere in which I live, gives youth, 
 smoothness, rest, peace, joy, happiness. Its 
 increasing activity of intellect brings good 
 results quickly ; cures heartache, moodiness, 
 soul-hurt, and in fact all disease^ that man can 
 acquire we will not say " that flesh is heir to, 
 because we are heirs to the kingdom, not 
 dyspepsia. This love brings to us all of the 
 joys that children know, and their sweet con 
 tent as well.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 165 
 
 There, my lover, laugh if you wish ; it sounds 
 like a patent-medicine bill, but it is just a love 
 letter to you. Smile here. 
 
 NUMBER XLVII. 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 MY SWEETHEART : - 
 
 There is no great art without philosophy, and 
 yet reflection is the worst enemy of art. Our 
 first thought is the best ; and when we begin to 
 reflect, to shape, to arrange verily it is like 
 the handling of a butterfly by heavy fingers. 
 
 We have been told that certain of our 
 inclinations are base and allied to the animal, 
 but all of our powers have their earthly and 
 their spiritual expression. Where one begins 
 and the other ends, I will not attempt to say ; 
 but it is very true that it is needful a man 
 should be a good animal, so I take it that all is 
 good and that we have no capacity which is 
 unworthy of immortal development. 
 
 Whatever we possess is God-given ; and we 
 will not attempt to trample it out, nor insult 
 His work by calling it a snare. For His
 
 166 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 creation is not to deceive, but to build up ; 
 and nothing that is made, is without purpose. 
 
 Every impulse of life to reach out to life, is 
 God-given and holy. 
 
 NUMBER XLVIII. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 Youth is not merely a charming phase of the 
 fleeting years ; it is a pervading quality of 
 character, a joyous freshness of spirit, that 
 springs from the soul. 
 
 Infinite hope is the essence of youth ; and 
 he who really believes that God is good, has no 
 fears that steal away his heritage. Gray hair is 
 naught ; and what boots it though his form is 
 bent when his heart is young? 
 
 "He goes bravely through the world, who 
 carries with him the perfume of the morning 
 and the lavish heart of youth."
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD, 167 
 
 NUMBER XLIX. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 Yes, you are right. Happiness is from 
 within and not dependent on outward circum 
 stances. Man should be sufficient unto him 
 self, and not lean upon an outward environment. 
 
 By the way, did you say that your box in the 
 post-office looked lonesome when no letter 
 came from the Rockies, and that the lonesome- 
 ness of the box imparted its vacuity and noth 
 ingness to the entire village as you walked 
 homeward ? Why, my dear, I thought that 
 happiness was from within ! 
 
 The one thing which Pandora did not let 
 escape, you should hold very closely. Of 
 course my creed says, " Happiness is not 
 dependent on outward events," but bless you, 
 child, my creed is not the thing I believe! 
 I only hold it theoretically. My happiness 
 cometh from Concord, dear no matter what 
 the theory says.
 
 168 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER L. 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 MY DEAR LOVER : 
 
 You should see this wide expanse of water 
 as it flows so placidly unvexed to the sea. 
 
 It quivers and shimmers in the sunlight. 
 Shut your eyes and see it now, and those blue 
 hills beyond ; and the trees waving poising 
 back and forth in the lazy summer breeze, as it 
 rises, falls, dies away, and then comes with 
 swelling force. 
 
 The lake, trees, hills, clouds and sunshine all 
 seem to lift up their voices in one harmonious 
 chorus : " Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of 
 Hosts, Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory : 
 Glory be to Thee, O Lord Most High." 
 
 So say our hearts and lives, in one con 
 tinuous prayer of love and praise. 
 
 Stronger and more fervid grows the chorus 
 for love, like all good things, is cumulative; 
 and all the days of by-gone love, work their 
 sweetness into this.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 169 
 
 NUMBER LI. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 MY DEAR : - 
 
 After the hot sun of the long day, with the 
 never-ending barrenness of the sand hills, and 
 the knowledge that in this company of a hun 
 dred men, I cannot converse with one, the love- 
 atmosphere at thought of you, comes stealing 
 over me. I am in an oasis, with a clear, bub 
 bling stream murmuring through. Spreading 
 palms, geraniums, and rose bushes are all 
 about ; the floor is carpeted with crocus, auric 
 ula, and violets ; a gentle breeze stirs the cool 
 leaves, and their soft sighing keeps time with 
 the song of the brook. 
 
 We are descended from the wandering, wild 
 horsemen of the Arab desert, and the ancestral 
 tendencies yet linger in our veins. Where is 
 
 the man whose heart does not leap at the 
 
 
 
 suggestion of camping out ? Show me such, 
 
 and I will point you one whose soul is ripe for 
 treason, conspiracy and spoils. 
 
 Many women have a peculiar fatal power not 
 given to men namely, an ability to concen-
 
 170 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 trate in one short effort an amount of vital 
 force which should carry them through a long 
 life; but, having once brought this force to 
 bear, they are undone, and the poise of health 
 is, forever after, a thing to them unknown. 
 Beware, my proud and thoughtful Minerva, of 
 this over-intensity. Dullness saves me, and 
 most souls, from the danger I have named ; not 
 so, you. 
 
 NUMBER LIT. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 Mr. Emerson read to us, last night, from an 
 essay he has recently written. Among other 
 things, he spoke of the necessity of cultivating 
 the receptive and positive mood, as opposed to 
 negation. 
 
 We discussed this thought after the reading^: 
 of how men dispute and wrangle ; but nature is 
 calm, and in her presence man takes on the 
 spirit of childhood. 
 
 The child is a seer, and has the clear intui 
 tion of purity. The child does not weigh and
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 171 
 
 consider set down the debits and credits and 
 strike a balance but his mind works spontan 
 eously, is all alert and receptive. No thought is 
 "dangerous" to him; he is the perfect prism, 
 which reflects all the beauties of light with its 
 various tints. From this, Mr. Emerson deduces 
 that we should avoid all controversy; for he 
 who argues, gets into a mental habit of form 
 ing a rebuttal whenever he hears another speak. 
 Sympathy is put aside; and, instead of getting 
 the good the speaker has to offer, the contro 
 versialist is only the while sinking deeper into 
 his own whims and prejudices. 
 
 Now, look you, my dear lover, we can put 
 this thought to the test. When we find a man 
 given to argument, we will take his latitude 
 and longitude, and then ascertain which way he 
 is traveling. My opinion is, that he is anch 
 ored fast in the mud of his own conceit. 
 
 Let us sit quietly and cultivate the receptive 
 mood, putting jealousy and prejudice behind. 
 We must not be afraid of receiving what is 
 harmful. Does the wild deer fear being pois 
 oned by the green leaves it feeds upon ? 
 
 To refute, or attempt to deny, mentally or
 
 172 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 verbally, is to close the intellect against truth ; 
 it is to acquire the habit of sophistry, or the 
 use of any argument that is at hand truth or 
 error to convince the jury that we are right. 
 Controversy does not convince. 
 
 We always impart to others a like feeling to 
 that which we hold, and our mental attitude is 
 shaping itself in their minds ; and, if we wran 
 gle, they, too, are forming a rebuttal. Thus 
 each side has taken a vow not to give in the 
 width of a hair; and from this convention, Mr. 
 Emerson says, " We go to the woods ; and 
 they say, why so hot, my little man ? How 
 we did smile when he read this sentence; and 
 he stopped and looked at us, surprised that we 
 should laugh. His gentle earnestness and sin 
 cerity is most inspiring. He has humor, too; 
 but it is of an inward sort, and does not give way 
 to laughter. Loud ha ! ha ! ha s ! become some 
 men. Let them grow purple in the face, and 
 lean against the house and roar, peal on peal, 
 as the tears run down their cheeks, their knees 
 weaken and they hold their sides ; but you can 
 imagine Mr. Emerson turning trickster, as eas 
 ily as to think of his giving way to boisterous 
 mirth.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 173 
 
 NUMBER LIII. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 Every pulse of my heart says, Onward 
 onward, ever and eternally onward and 
 upward ! Tarry not by the way ; but on and 
 on and on ! 
 
 NUMBER LIV. 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 DEAR LOVER MINE: 
 
 There is no plan upon which a mortal 
 can enter, but what a higher insight can trans 
 cend. We must be loyal to what we now see 
 is right, unmindful of all the vows taken in 
 days gone by. Thus a religion, which once to 
 us was truth, might now be a dead weight ; 
 and, as such, let us cast it into the deep, and 
 go on our way to higher things. 
 
 Mr. Emerson told us, Saturday, that reading 
 his lectures in public gave him little satisfac 
 tion, but what he printed he believed would
 
 174 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 last; and he often read with relish from his 
 own books. 
 
 It was such a charming bit of frankness that 
 all smiled. Mr. Hawthorne expressed surprise 
 that any author could bear the sight of his own 
 words in print ; and for himself, he said, he 
 would just as lief want to see his dinner after 
 he had eaten it, as a book that he had written. 
 He wrote because he had to, for his own good. 
 
 Then the talk ran to comparing oratory with 
 literature. Thoreau said oratory has its excuse 
 in that a quick work must be done ; occasion 
 demands a forcible presentation of truth it is 
 now or never. Oratory dies with the effort, 
 but literature lives on. If literature is mis 
 understood or rejected, the author always finds 
 balm by lodging his appeal with posterity. Mr. 
 Emerson said he thought the desire for immor 
 tality was often what prompted men to write. 
 We long for a lasting result to our work we 
 wish to live. Men want their names to be per 
 petuated. They wish to leave fortunes, and to 
 have high monuments erected to their memory. 
 And if this is true of men living largely in the 
 sensuous, how much truer of those who live in 
 thought and spirit !
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 175 
 
 "And why this pleasing hope, this fond 
 desire, this reaching out for immortality?" 
 
 In this desire lies the proof that, somewhere 
 and somehow, it must find satisfaction. 
 
 NUMBER LV. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 Out of the herd, I have picked a pure white 
 mare that I call my own. She is the most 
 knowing horse I ever saw ; and although I like 
 solitude, yet without a horse I fear the still 
 ness would oppress. This little white horse 
 comes at my call, and never leaves me if I dis 
 mount on the march. I guide her by the swaying 
 of my body, and she always reflects my mood. 
 Am I lonely and long for you, she knows it ; is 
 sympathetic, and sober in her paces. If I am 
 joyous, she joins in the caper, and shakes her 
 mane in glee. Do you believe in metempsy 
 chosis ? 
 
 Animals are happy ! They have only one occu 
 pation ; that is, the seeking of nourishment for 
 their bodies. Man s true work is seeking nour-
 
 176 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 ishment for his soul ; and when he makes this 
 the chief end of his existence, I am sure that 
 sweet peace will be his portion. Does not our 
 joy come from this, my dear that we seek the 
 good ? 
 
 I wish the harassed and hurrying crowds in 
 cities knew the joys of solitude. The silence 
 of the mountains can cure the care-worn soul 
 of the ills that eat away its life. 
 
 Solitude is the home of the Almighty, which 
 no thoughtful man can enter without awe. 
 
 From letters received from Dr. Holworthy, 
 I fear he has falkn in love with you, my sweet. 
 Several times, in years past, he has had similar 
 attacks. I am sure, however, he never before 
 met a lady so lovable as "the tall Iris " as he 
 calls you. 
 
 I think I know why you are tall. It is 
 because the gravitation from above calls, 
 "Come up higher!" So, out of the miasma, 
 and above your associates, you lift your sunlit 
 head, and gain a view, out into the Beyond, 
 which is impossible to others. Yes; figura- 
 tivelyand literally, you stand above them. 
 
 But about Dr. Holworthy. It makes me
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 177 
 
 smile to think he imagines that you could pos 
 sibly be his mate. Are you, who have no use 
 for powders and potions, to turn proxy M. D. 
 and manipulate a pestle for your liege? 
 Avaunt, Holworthy ! thou Jack of Pills! 
 with thy "heroic treatment," and harass not 
 my gentle lady with thy allopath attentions. 
 
 NUMBER LVI. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 I saw, to-day, reproductions of the grand 
 carvings of Thorwaldsen. Have you seen them ? 
 His "Night" and "Morning" touched me to 
 tears. 
 
 One critic is in error, in speaking of the 
 swift-flying angel in " Night " as the mother of 
 the babes. Look again, dear, at that tall, 
 graceful form ; how the drapery sweeps out 
 behind, showing her rapid flight ! She is poised 
 forward, and her head is bowed in stern silence. 
 The strong soul is only strong by the contrast 
 of opposite elements. Here we get strength, 
 rapid motion, and absolute rest and relaxation.
 
 178 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 She holds in either arm a sleeping baby, and 
 they pillow their heads on her neck and shoulder 
 in rest complete rest. Her form is that of a 
 woman who has never borne a child. 
 
 She is far more ! She is the protecting spirit 
 of the night. We travel when we sleep. Yes ; 
 in the sweet sleep of babyhood which we can 
 all enjoy under right conditions the angel 
 bears us on, and on, and on. We pillow our tired 
 heads on her bosom in perfect baby faith ; and 
 swiftly, surely, out into the great silence of 
 Infinity she bears us. When you lie down to 
 rest, to-night, dear, think of this ; and straight 
 you will hear the rustle of a wing, and across 
 the miles the angel will bear you to me. 
 
 Yes ; the critic was right. She is not only 
 the mother of these babes, but of all others ; 
 and she says, " Come unto me all ye that labor 
 and I will give you rest." And yet, Mr. Critic, 
 it is poetry ; and have I not said that poetry 
 means all that you can get from it ? She is a 
 mother to you and to me, and more. 
 
 The owl, dear, was the sacred bird of 
 Minerva. Minerva was the protector of the 
 young. We say the owl is the bird of wisdom,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD, 179 
 
 because he looks wise ; but we got the thought, 
 long ago, from the Greek idea that the owl 
 followed Minerva, who represents wisdom. 
 
 Again, the owl represents the night ; the 
 owl also means silence. This is the poet s 
 thought, not the ornithologist s. Milton says 
 "Then silent night with this her solemn bird, 
 and this fair morn, and these glittering gems of 
 Heaven, her starry train." 
 
 Yes, dear ; well do you say, " The soul rests 
 not in feeling." Thorwaldsen wrought the 
 " Night " and " Morning " in a single day of 
 deep grief. What is grief, dear ? It cannot be 
 so very bad, when it brings such results. " By 
 their fruits ye shall know them." Think of all 
 the poems written in tears. Think of Cowper, 
 Dante, Milton, Shelley, and all the others. 
 Well have you spoken, "The soul rests not in 
 feeling." Thorwaldsen carved with mallet, 
 chisel and grief. Who ever/*?// like Michael 
 Angelo, save his countryman, Dante ? 
 
 The "Morning" is a different angel. She 
 holds her face upward in gladness ; her flight 
 is leisurely, and her drapery falls in graceful 
 curves. She scatters flowers as she flies, and
 
 180 fOKBES OF HA RVARD. 
 
 on her shoulder perches Love. Love holds aloft 
 a torch, and is it not meet ? Who lights the 
 way like Love ? How can we see truth, or 
 how can we ever find heaven, except Love lead 
 the way and beckon us on ? He goes bravely 
 through the world who bears with him the spirit 
 of the morning. 
 
 The spirit of the morning, I said, my dear! 
 She it is, and Love, who lead the way. 
 
 Thorwaldsen began on the "Night." He 
 carved the owl first ; last the sleeping babes. 
 His heart was brimming, he stopped not, 
 straightway he carved the joyous " Morning." 
 How the chips flew; and lo ! his grief was 
 gone! We have, instead, his "Night" and 
 "Morning." 
 
 NUMBER LVII. 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 MY LADY : 
 
 Thank you for telling me of the evening 
 spent at Mr. Emerson s. I would like to have 
 taken part in the discussion on the Church of 
 Rome. A certain grade of intellect demands a
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 181 
 
 religion of symbol ; and the growth of Cath 
 olicism in America is not a source of fear to 
 so clear a vision as that of your dear friend 
 R. W. E. 
 
 Spanish Catholicism is one thing, American 
 Catholicism is another. The spirit of freedom, 
 here, dilutes the power of priesthood the 
 question of climate enters, and the rocks and 
 snow of New England do not encourage think 
 ing by proxy. It s a long road from paganism 
 to the clear faith of Emerson, and Rome is 
 only a station on the road but don t let the 
 stop be too long. 
 
 Ma Donna, Madonna; My Lady or Our 
 Lady. Simply a Spanish word ; but stands, in 
 Romish parlance, as the counterpart of Our 
 Lord. When I speak to you of Our Lord, you 
 put only one construction on my expression. 
 When we speak of (the) Madonna, it means to 
 us only one thing ; the thought of the devout 
 Catholic. We have borrowed his expression ; 
 and Thoreau says well, that few persons who 
 dare think for themselves believe the dogma of 
 the Madonna meaning the miraculous con 
 ception, etc.
 
 182 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 But of course we hold the allegory. The 
 facts are nothing to us ; principles, everything. 
 It will not be long before we shall turn, 
 adjust our glasses, and stare at the man who 
 takes such pains to deny the "miraculous 
 conception." 
 
 The literature of the East is full of such 
 tales. No man stops me on the street and 
 denies stoutly that the pedigree of Achilles is 
 false as recorded. It is literature and poetry 
 coming from out the misty past ; and the facts 
 these children tell only speak to us as poetry 
 speaks, and I am glad to see that Madonna 
 means so much to you. 
 
 We have sympathy for all religions ; and you 
 have given me a most beautiful thought that 
 she who produces or brings forth that which is 
 great, and strong, and excellent, must be pure. 
 That the mother of Jesus possessed purity, 
 sweetness, gentleness, and love, all plus, I am 
 sure. See how she believed in her Son, and 
 followed him to the very cross ; and once she 
 saw the black cloud rising afar and sought to 
 save him. She wanted to get him out of Jerusa 
 lem, and to take him back to their own safe 
 country home.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 183 
 
 She represents, to us, pleading, intercession 
 desire to save ; and, if you and I travel on 
 foot, hand in hand, up some weary Alpine pass, 
 and by the roadside we see a shrine to Our Lady, 
 we, too, will cross ourselves devoutly and stand 
 in silent prayer a moment, ere we refresh our 
 selves at the spring. 
 
 NUMBER LVIII. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 In society men are often indifferent. An 
 earnest spirit is wounded by the contact of 
 such. In the presence of stupidity the gods 
 are dumb. So I do not wonder that great 
 souls are grateful for the soothing evangel of 
 solitude. 
 
 Indifference smothers, solitude is filled with 
 sympathy : for the beloved, the universal, the 
 Divine, come freely in and make their homes 
 with us. 
 
 Most men live lives of blind drudgery, with 
 out deliberate aims or ends. They work that 
 they may eat, and they eat that they may have
 
 1 84 FORBES OF HA R VARD. 
 
 strength to work. Many live to outstrip their 
 rivals, pursue their enemies, gratify pride or 
 excite envy. Few live to know truth, enjoy 
 beauty, and reach up to the Infinite by loving 
 one, in order that this love of one may 
 increase the capacity to love all. Let us do 
 this, my lady, and we will make this love a 
 stepping-stone to the higher life. 
 
 NUMBER LIX. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 In morals there have been no new discoveries 
 made for two thousand years, nor will there be 
 in the ages to come. We might as well look for 
 anew dimension in space, a new foot-rule which 
 shall be angular instead of straight, or a yard 
 stick with one end instead of two. 
 
 We know all the principles of morals, but 
 there is much to learn concerning their applica 
 tion and development. 
 
 Morals are an outgrowth of the truth that 
 everyone s nerves terminate in his neighbor s 
 flesh. That where one suffers, all suffer;
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 185 
 
 where one enjoys, all enjoy. Not to know this 
 betokens a lack of form, a chaos in the mind, 
 a partial imbecility. 
 
 When we find people with sympathy so that 
 they are moved by the sight of suffering in 
 others, or, better still, when they rejoice with 
 those who are glad how our hearts go out to 
 such ! And this is only our homage to the 
 Divine within them "God manifest in the 
 flesh." 
 
 Did you ever think, dear, what a dull, monot 
 onous place heaven would be, if our loved 
 ones were not there ? What sort of minds 
 have those people who pretend to believe a 
 wife could be happy in heaven while her hus 
 band is in hell ? 
 
 And, by the way, who are the heathen, after 
 all ? What makes heaven ? Right relation 
 ship between one man and one woman makes 
 heaven for each. 
 
 Heaven is relationship between souls ; not a 
 relationship between a soul and a pavement, 
 between a soul and emeralds or rubies, nor 
 between a soul and a harp. And, my sweet 
 heart, what would you want of a white robe if
 
 186 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 I were not there to tell you whether it was a 
 good fit in the back ? And tell me, dear, would 
 you ever play a harp if I were not near to 
 listen ? 
 
 "In heaven there is no marriage nor giving 
 in marriage." Very true, for the questioners 
 looked upon marriage as a matter of contract 
 which became legalized only when priest or 
 officer of the state had given sanction. But in 
 heaven, spirit will reach out to spirit, affinities 
 will meet, lovers will be one; and He spoke 
 but truth when He said that in heaven there 
 will be no "marriage," for God s law will be 
 that supreme and right relationship, which is 
 only love applied, and which will be adjusted 
 so as to govern all. 
 
 With you, my dear one, I claim my inherit 
 ance and come into possession of my Divine 
 birthright. The only shadow that ever saddens 
 me, is the thought that we may be separated. 
 To be with you would make a heaven of hell, 
 and to be in heaven without you would be 
 hell in itself. What boots it though all the 
 other saints were there ! Without you I am 
 lost lost. With you I reach the Over-soul.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 187 
 
 NUMBER LX. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 In the woods or on the prairie we should go 
 down into Nature and mix with her, just as we 
 bathe in the sea when the waves rush to meet 
 us and we are up-borne by them. How we 
 shout for joy and how glad the spirit is ! What 
 freedom there is when we have left our dignity 
 and affectations and fears with our good clothes, 
 and forget all save the sea, the sea, the bound 
 less sea! 
 
 Now, could we meet Nature always in this 
 joyous, happy, childlike mood, and let the free 
 air of heaven and the sunshine be the elements 
 in which we revel, what health, what priceless 
 benefit would be ours ! 
 
 Goethe wrote to Charlotte Von Stein, " I am 
 sure that in some former life you were my friend 
 or else my wife. How otherwise would you so 
 understand me now ? " 
 
 You, my sweet, love the things I love, yotjr 
 friends are mine ; and my most abstruse thought, 
 simply hinted, is at once grasped by you and 
 carried farther.
 
 188 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Last night the cloud effects on the mountains 
 were most beautiful ; the sunset filled my soul 
 with silent joy. I thought you were with me, 
 and I talked to you and called your attention 
 to all this beauty ; and you, too, felt the glory of 
 the scene. We spoke of the Power that 
 brought about these wondrous changes. As 
 we looked the sky changed with what majesty 
 and dignity ! And then, as I thought, such a 
 sense of stillness ineffable peace came 
 over us, as we stood hand in hand ! 
 
 NUMBER LXI. 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 MY DEAR LADY: 
 
 The monotony of the landscape, the stillness 
 of the night, broken only by the hum of insects 
 or the occasional howl of a wolf, and the soli 
 tude of the day, as we wind our way westward, 
 afford me a delicious pleasure which I never 
 before experienced. All rivalry, care, appre 
 hension, and thought of sickness or pain, are 
 lost, and I am lulled to rest and lost in dreams 
 of you, and am happy.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 189 
 
 After all, dear, it is not each other that we 
 love most, but our love is for the good. You 
 love me because I love the things that you love. 
 We simply happen to be moving in the same 
 direction ; and, moving at the same pace, we will 
 go hand in hand. 
 
 NUMBER LXII. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES. 
 
 I look into the future and yield myself to 
 love s perfect whole. 
 
 The thought comes to me most strongly, 
 that we are fast reaching a point that few mor 
 tals ever reach. Dante calls it the state of the 
 "divine passion." We will use this expression, 
 for the word " love " is so general and indefin 
 ite. Men say they love their dogs, their food 
 and their children. What do they mean ? 
 
 Yes, Dante s term defines our affection. It 
 is the divine passion which takes one up into the 
 heaven of heavens, and makes one a seer and 
 a prophet. Evolution, not involution, must be 
 our watchword, and each day we will consecrate
 
 190 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 ourselves anew to this Love Divine ; and so, by 
 God s help, we will become better, purer, 
 nobler, holier, even, as the days do grow. 
 
 NUMBER LXIII. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 My lover is a poet. His thoughts come in 
 rhythmic flow, and suggest inspire rather 
 than explain. His soul materializes itself in 
 lines of beauty; in rainbow tints and gentle 
 harmonies, instead of soulless words and cruel 
 logic. Yes, you are right : Love is the 
 inspirer, and that which softens, ennobles the 
 spirit, and gives it strength to grasp the pure 
 and infinite truth. 
 
 What you told me of the tendency of theo 
 logians and politicians to "argufy" is very true. 
 I notice Mr. Emerson does not talk back ; but 
 states his thought so simply that one might 
 suppose that he never heard of anyone s hold 
 ing an opposite view. 
 
 Another thing, dear : How often we hear 
 sweet and simple truths announced in deep, far-
 
 FORBES OF HAR VA RD. 1 91 
 
 reaching orotund, with awfully solemn, serious 
 visage and great demonstration, as if the truths 
 aforesaid were newly discovered principles. 
 
 Too much emphasis weakens the effect. 
 Let us be natural. 
 
 After all, there is only one Mind one 
 Truth and who shall say what particular man 
 is the Columbus on this great sea of thought, 
 where all may set their sails and catch the 
 breeze coming from out the great Unseen ! 
 
 NUMBER LXIV. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 Outwardly I live in a great, desolate wilder 
 ness, with no one to keep me company. But 
 love makes it possible for us to forego com 
 panionship for a time, so that even in loneli 
 ness there is a compensation. Though love at 
 times prompts painful sadness, would we give 
 up love ? 
 
 Civilization is a manifestation of the same 
 constructive faculty which created the world. 
 Progressive man has wel^nigh changed the
 
 192 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 entire surface of the earth in that narrow belt 
 where he expatiates in the fullest perfection of 
 his power. 
 
 "God created the heavens and the earth;" 
 but creation is only a change of things into 
 useful forms, and the act of creation is going 
 on through the agent which God created in his 
 image, and still instructs from age to age. 
 Man develops by marshaling the forces of 
 nature, and as he organizes them into engines 
 of power he awakens in himself a Godhood 
 which before he wot not of: "God manifest in 
 man." How sublime the thought ! 
 
 Change in the use of my brain has brought 
 me health. My mind, dwelling on books, and 
 ways and means, grew weary and disease, with 
 great, black, flapping wings, hovered near. But 
 life whispered to life, and love came tiptoeing 
 from behind the clouds, and all is made glorious 
 summer; as the cold and the darkness slink 
 away, comprehended by the light and warmth. 
 
 Right thinking is sanative, by causing us to 
 contemplate and idealize the good ; which, in its 
 highest sense, is harmony in every part or 
 health itself. You have told me all this, do 
 you care because I send it back ?
 
 FORBES OF HAR VARD. 193 
 
 NUMBER LXV. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 The Spring was behind time, for she had been 
 delayed somewhere on the road by a big Ice 
 berg, that got right in her way and was so 
 unmannerly he would not let her pass. 
 
 May had come, for the Flowers said so. 
 They knew it, even if the Wind did not ; for he 
 still, stupidly and sullenly, blew chill and cold 
 just out of habit, I suppose. But the Blossoms 
 and the Buds were tired of waiting, so they just 
 began to open ; and everywhere in woods and 
 meadows, on bushes and trees, by old, rotting 
 logs, in hidden nooks where no eye could see, 
 and on the wild crab-apples where the Thorns 
 stood guard. 
 
 There was an apple-tree grew in the 
 corner of the garden that proudly hung its 
 branches over the fence to show the passers-by 
 its flowers and fruit. On this tree grew the 
 daintiest flowers of all ; and one little Twig of 
 this tree was more beautiful than all the others, 
 because it was so closely covered with little 
 pink Buds, that were just emerging into Bios-
 
 194 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 soms. They seemed to huddle together on the 
 Twig, as if to keep warm, and their eyes were 
 only half open. 
 
 One day a grand carriage rolled up to the 
 apple-tree and stopped. A footman sprang 
 down and, drawing down the branch, broke off 
 the Twig and gave it to a lady seated in the 
 carriage. She held the Twig very carefully in 
 her gloved hand ; and, when she got home, she 
 took the Twig, with all the little baby Blossoms, 
 into a splendid room, where there were many 
 beautiful palms, cacti from the tropics, climbing 
 orchids, and roses of all kinds some brought 
 from distant climes. And she put the Twig in a 
 tiny vase, so white that it seemed carved from 
 new-fallen snow and about the top of the vase 
 was a little band of gold. One of the big Palms 
 told the little Twig that there would be a 
 reception in the afternoon ; and the little Twig 
 grew very proud, because she and her baby 
 Blossoms had been invited. 
 
 Soon the guests began to arrive, and they 
 promenaded through the grand parlors and 
 looked at the flowers. Some praised too much, 
 some too little ; and others whispered to their
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 195 
 
 companions in sneering tones, when they 
 would laugh. But in all the company no one 
 noticed the Twig and her baby Blossoms ; and 
 she said : " Poor little things ! No one cares for 
 us here." Then the Blossoms opened their eyes 
 a little ; and all looked sorrowfully out of the 
 windows, across a wide meadow, where the lawn 
 was studded with Dandelions showing every 
 where, as they turned their faces up to see the 
 blue sky and the sun. And the Twig looked 
 sadly at them, and said : " Poor, despised Dande 
 lions ! No one cares for you, either ; you are so 
 common. Why, the people walked right over 
 you when they came here, in this grand parlor, 
 and the same folks went into ecstasies over an 
 orchid, with not near your beauty, and they 
 admired a thorny cactus that squats near me 
 and scared my baby Blossoms." 
 
 Then a Sunbeam sprang in at the window, and 
 he kissed the Twig and all the Blossoms, and 
 exclaimed, "Why, look out on the lawn ! " And 
 the Twig, looking out, saw a whole little army of 
 Sunbeams dancing among the Dandelions, 
 just as the Sunbeam came to visit her. And as 
 she looked a group of children came, and
 
 196 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 among them was one so small she could not 
 walk, and they set her down among the Dande 
 lions; and the little child laughed aloud, and 
 reaching out her chubby hands she picked 
 the flowers in childish glee. And all the chil 
 dren decked themselves with wreaths and gar 
 lands, and made curious chains and curls out 
 of the stems ; and the Sunbeams joining hands 
 with the children, they danced in joy, 
 until the Sunbeams said they must go home. 
 Then the children plucked long stalks of Dan 
 delion with feathery crowns, and tried to blow 
 the seeds all away with one breath, to see if 
 their mothers wanted them. And as the Twig 
 watched the Sunbeams steal away behind the 
 far-off hills, the baby Blossoms began to cry, 
 and wanted to go home to the old apple-tree 
 where the robin-red-breast sang to his mate as 
 the sun went down. 
 
 Just then a young Lady came through 
 the parlors alone, and seeing the Twig 
 she raised her hands and said, in a low, sweet 
 voice : " How beautiful ! How beautiful ! " And 
 she took up the tiny vase and pressed the baby 
 Blossoms to her face, and warmed them by her
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 197 
 
 breath ; and the baby Blossoms opened their 
 mouths, as babies always do when they are 
 kissed. And the Lady said to the Twig : " Why, 
 how beautiful you are ! You are as pretty as the 
 Dandelions, and yet different. I will hide you 
 and the baby Blossoms away in my heart ; and, 
 keeping you still, I will place you on immortal 
 canvas." And then a lost Sunbeam, from over 
 the hill-top, came in at the open window, and, 
 kissing the Lady, flushed the pale pink of the 
 Blossoms a deeper rose, and was gone. 
 
 " Do you not see, children ! " said the Twig. 
 " God sent the Sunbeams and the Lady. She 
 loves the Dandelions and she loves us, and the 
 Sunbeams love us and the Lady beside ; for, 
 look you, although the Sunbeam has gone, we 
 see where he kissed her wavy hair and her 
 cheek, and his shadow lingers lovingly in her 
 eyes. She has hidden us away in her heart ; and 
 from there will she give out our perfume to all 
 whom she meets, and will keep us safe forever."
 
 198 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER LXVI. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 You have often felt that the presence of 
 certain people tired you, while after being with 
 others you are refreshed. Receptive souls 
 give us their sympathy they are not men 
 tally quibbling about our manner or thought. 
 They are willing to take all their intellectual 
 skies will hold, and let the rest go. If we 
 speak well, they are willing to commend ; if ill, 
 they forgive by their silence. There are others 
 whose presence we feel as soon as we enter 
 the room they set their minds in opposition 
 to us, and verbally or mentally refute and try 
 to pull us down or endeavor to cause us to fix 
 Dur eyes on another goal. 
 
 If I make a simple proposition, for instance 
 - " Health is the normal, that is, the natural, 
 condition of man" our bad angel says, "Oh, 
 yes, of course ; but how about cancer, is not 
 that natural, too?" Or if I say, "Nature is 
 planned for benefit," the retort comes, "Well, 
 how about potato bugs," etc. Then to keep 
 from appearing ridiculous or sullenly silent I
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 199 
 
 endeavor to explain. Result is, I am soon in 
 an argument; then perplexed by finding my 
 sacred thought pooh-poohed ; then I am smiled 
 down, and then I make an inward vow ever 
 after to keep my opinions to myself, and I 
 have lost five degrees of power and vitality. 
 
 To listen is a fine art. All listeners should 
 have sympathy, for language is only the ripple 
 that plays across the face of the deep. Beneath 
 the surface of conscious discourse lies the 
 great world of meditation. Here, in its quiet, 
 mysterious depths, where no tide enters, dwells 
 what soul-force there is in us ; and my sweet 
 heart feels a thousand times more than ever 
 leaps to her lips, in language crude compared 
 to promptings within. For vain are words ; and, 
 called upon to prove, we stammer, beat the air, 
 and lose the golden thread of sweet commun 
 ion. My gentle lady does not proof demand, 
 nor sequence logical ; for her great, prayerful 
 soul calls to me across the miles, and thought 
 meets thought in firm embrace deep calls to 
 deep, this is life indeed creation. 
 
 Right expression of thought does not baffle, 
 distress, agitate or perplex ; but brings exalta-
 
 200 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 tion, bright, sublime, serene, composed. No 
 vain unrest, with wild regret or striving reach 
 ing out, or sense of failure and inglorious retreat ; 
 but stealing o er our senses comes the thought 
 of security, peace, and truly do we say that all 
 is well. 
 
 So here alone yet not alone, in all this 
 wealth of nature wild is wondrous rest; for 
 no one asks the reason for each proud -thought 
 that comes prancing by before my inward gaze, 
 as horses, sinewy, strong, their rich coats glow 
 ing in the sunshine, eager for the race, alert, 
 alive. 
 
 The healthy intellect is not the one given to 
 logic, controversy and syllogistic wordy warfare. 
 It is the intuitive soul which listens close, 
 inclines the heart and wastes not its force in 
 wind mill duels. It speaks only to those who 
 have ears to hear; to those who speak again 
 and answer back in kind, not asking why or 
 how or who told you so. What matters it who 
 voiced it first, so long as tis truth ? 
 
 Better, by far, that to the mount should man 
 ascend, and commune there only with the spir 
 its dear, afar, apart, or gone before into the
 
 FORBES OF HA R VA RD. 201 
 
 Great Beyond, than spend his days in baffling 
 bickerings. ~ 
 
 Let him speak his thoughts, but answer no 
 vain quibble. Let him write his message on 
 the wall of time in legend bold, where all may 
 read ; but tarry he shall not, to explain or apol 
 ogize to those who will not, or cannot 
 understand. 
 
 When we speak only for the heart that loves, 
 we never lose our faith, nor with fierce strug 
 gle try to read the mysteries of Infinity. 
 These things harass us not ; but ever do we 
 pray, "Thy will be done." No hot importun- 
 ings of High Heaven ; but gently do we say, 
 and say again : Thy will be done. Time is our 
 fair seed-field of time we re heir. 
 
 NUMBER LXVII. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 Wise men recognize and admit the fact that 
 communism as a theory is invulnerable. The 
 society it offers is regular, systematic, symmet 
 rical and right. It has only one fault and that
 
 202 FORBES OF HA R VA RD. 
 
 is, it is impossible. It takes no account of 
 the fact that humanity is made out of very 
 peculiar clay is full of whims, foibles and 
 inconsistencies. 
 
 Love between man and woman implies a 
 community of two : absolute sharing of not 
 only every thing but of every feeling, be it 
 joy or sorrow ; and this sharing doubles the 
 joy and halves the sorrow, for have we not 
 tried it ? 
 
 This communism of two is invulnerable as a 
 theory, and is adamant as a fact. It differs 
 from a communism of society in this that 
 the man and woman have a oneness of ambi 
 tion. The very few communities that have 
 been partially successful have had a permeat 
 ing oneness of thought and aim among their 
 members, and not the complex diversity which 
 is to be found among mankind. 
 
 But in the divine passion we each love that 
 which the other loves ; and thus our commun 
 ity is ideal perfect in theory, perfect in 
 practice.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 203 
 
 NUMBER LXVIII. 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 MY DEAR LADY : 
 
 One thing only I lack a soul with whom 
 to share my joy. The grandeur of these moun 
 tains cannot be expressed : twere vain to 
 attempt it. They must be seen, and this sub 
 limity must be felt but not alone. In all 
 life there must be action and reaction between 
 two human hearts, or emotion stifles and we 
 are drowned in our own element, as bees are 
 sometimes intoxicated by the sweets which 
 they would carry away. 
 
 The mountain air buoys one up; and on first 
 coming here, I am told, all feel this splendid 
 exhilaration. Why, I feel like shouting for 
 joy ! and would if you were here. 
 
 The wagon train is working its way slowly, 
 and following a mountain gorge that sends a 
 sparkling stream of melted snow dashing past. 
 Snow-capped peaks lift their heads to the skies. 
 If you were here, together we would lift up 
 our eyes to "the hills from whence cometh
 
 204 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 our strength." If I bad the faith that could 
 remove mountains, I would exercise it now 
 and transport these towering cliffs to you. 
 
 Plants and trees, here, are all new and strange 
 to me. I will send you to-day some flowers I 
 have just picked: many kinds of cacti one 
 very plentiful, with great clusters of pink 
 flowers ; another kind, creeping and modest, 
 with a flat leaf and yellow flower. Then great 
 masses of verdure ; no large trees, no forests 
 but only stunted pine on the mountain side, 
 disappearing entirely as we go upward. Then 
 there is a little pink flower that blooms in the 
 gorges almost beneath the snow, and in the 
 valleys are cottonwood and many sunflowers. 
 The first sight that greeted my gaze, this morn 
 ing, was acres and acres of these wild sunflowers, 
 all with their faces turned to the east, awaiting 
 the rising sun, whose rays were just seen 
 across the prairie. 
 
 Do you wonder that men worship the rising 
 sun it is only following the example of the 
 flowers! Are we sun worshipers, too, dear? 
 These sublime manifestations seem to bring 
 one face to face with the Maker of all. Once
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 205 
 
 in Boston I saw a watch that did not believe in 
 a watch-maker, but it was a miserable little 
 timepiece would scarcely run an hour, and 
 could never be depended on ; besides, the case 
 was brass, silver plated so poorly and thinly 
 that the base metal was evident to all. 
 
 NUMBER LXIX. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 The Infinite has whispered to us and we 
 have harkened to the voice. If God has 
 spoken through men in days agone, why not 
 now? "He changeth not," and are we not 
 His children ? 
 
 Love inspires, and my insight at times I feel 
 is transcendent; and you, too, have spoken 
 to me in accents beyond man s knowledge. 
 We have felt this Divine impulse on the street 
 or in the woods ; but, most of all, in the darkness 
 and the stillness of the night. Then have I 
 breathed your name so gently, so softly and 
 how quickly, how surely you respond. Per 
 fumes are the silent voices of the flowers ; and 
 as the heart feels more keenly in the night-
 
 206 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 time, so do the flowers then shed their 
 perfumes. 
 
 Many of the most delicate flowers only blos 
 som at their best when the garish light has 
 fled ; the violet gives off its sweetness only 
 when moistened by the kiss of the dew. And 
 love s exquisite perfume and love s whisper, 
 are sisters to the stars, and only manifest them 
 selves at their best when the sable curtains of 
 the night are drawn. 
 
 With the blind, all of the other senses are 
 much more acute. At night, when sight is 
 folded away, the sense of smell and the sense of 
 touch, how exquisite ! If love enhances the 
 faculties of the soul, how, too, does it magnify 
 and refine the imagination ! Only lovers know 
 the sense of touch. What consciousness in 
 love s caress ! How it speaks how it trans 
 ports ! 
 
 Then we speak of the obscurity of the future 
 as darkness ; and blessed darkness it is. If 
 man had a headlight to his faculties, I fear he 
 would see only the rocks and obscurities which 
 threaten his path. He would see, as boys do, 
 while going through the woods by moonlight,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 207 
 
 every stump a crouching bear; every tree a 
 giant waving its wrathful arms in warning; 
 every note of night-birds, the screech of 
 demons ; and the sighing of the wind, the 
 breath of the damned, come back " to walk the 
 earth by night." 
 
 But the future is blank darkness ; and love s 
 fervid imagination only pictures it with love s 
 delights. Onward we go, we know not whither; 
 but we fear not, for it is the Infinite leading us. 
 And this darkness only brings us closer 
 together; so why should we not welcome it, 
 when in reality it is brightest light for love s 
 torch leads and illumines the way. 
 
 NUMBER LXX. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES. 
 
 The popular meaning attached to the word 
 " state " is very different from the sense in 
 which the Greeks used it. 
 
 In Greece of old, all works of art or beauty 
 belonged to the state. It was regarded as out 
 of place for a man to appropriate, to himself
 
 208 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 that which could not be destroyed by once 
 using. Art was for all ; and the American plan 
 of filling palaces with works of virtu only to be 
 seen by a chosen few, and of fencing in beauti 
 ful gardens and parks putting up threatening 
 signs of warning to intruders -would have 
 brought down the wrath of men, and the dis 
 pleasure of the gods. 
 
 When men worked for selfish pleasure or 
 personal gain they were considered enemies of 
 the state that is, of the people. "I am the 
 state," said Louis XIV, and he was not much 
 out of the way ; for as a single drop of water 
 mirrors the globe, so each individual is a repre 
 sentative of the state. 
 
 The word state also means a condition of 
 mind. I would preserve a state of being so 
 pure, so holy, so gentle, so tender, that I 
 should be worthy to think, to touch and to call 
 you. While on earth, I would live in the 
 highest heaven, that I may be worthy of you ; 
 so that my state may be holiness, purity, good 
 ness and love, and my every mood a reflection 
 of God s will. 
 
 This were ideal that I might be worthy
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 209 
 
 to call you mine ; that I might be worthy to be 
 yours, day and night, now and through all eter 
 nity. Then then we will both be one in 
 truth, and in being one a part of God him 
 self. Take my hand, dearest, and together 
 let us dwell in the heaven of heavens, and 
 that shall be our State. 
 
 We find in life just what we are looking for: 
 the qualities we possess attract the like qualities 
 in others. If affection leads, affection is our 
 portion. 
 
 Is it jealousy and revenge, we arouse these 
 instincts in others. "With whatsoever meas 
 ure ye mete it shall be measured to you again." 
 
 We receive from others the treatment we 
 deserve, for the action of men toward us is the 
 reflex action which we ourselves have put 
 forth. If we have faith in others, they will 
 put faith in us ; and a right mental attitude on 
 our part increases the value of life for all.
 
 210 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER LXXI. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 You wrote me wisely about how the soul 
 should preserve a certain state of being and 
 not give way to moods ; but mood in spirit 
 seems to me but the action of the law of 
 periodicity. 
 
 The tide ebbs and flows, the sun rises and 
 goes his daily round, stars march in solemn 
 procession across our range of vision, to 
 disappear and reappear again ; work and sleep, 
 rest and action. After the long kiss, the pulses 
 flag and stillness follows ; then sleep sinks us 
 lower than the tide of dreams, and our dreams 
 watch us sink and slide away. So my lady 
 knows full well that this wondrous law of peri 
 odicity runs through the whole animate world, 
 from the life of the tiniest insect or flower, 
 whose "day of probation" may be a single 
 hour, to the march of the seasons, and to the 
 birth and death of worlds. 
 
 "Leaves have their time to fall, and flowers 
 to wither at the north wind s breath, and stars 
 to set,"
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 211 
 
 If in the material world we find periodicity, 
 must we not, too, expect it in the soul of man ? 
 And, at the last, we shall find that this life 
 here, is only one of many only a day- and 
 that to-morrow s life will come, with sunrise, 
 grand, sublime. 
 
 Looking from my tent to the towering 
 mountains snow-capped, proud, majestic I 
 see a scene beautiful beyond the power of pen to 
 picture. At the base of the foothills is a 
 plain covered with green verdure on which our 
 horses feed; a little beyond are small oval pine 
 trees ; then a rippling brook makes melancholy 
 plaint, as it goes hurrying on its way to the 
 sea. Beyond the stream rise tall trees ; then 
 rocks, jagged, broken hurled in wrath by the 
 gods from the mountain s summit. From these 
 rocks upward, the trees grow smaller, stunted, 
 dwarfed, twisted as if in pain ; and above, only 
 lichens the pioneers of vegetation, who trace 
 their ancestry back to the morning of creation. 
 
 Beautiful is the scene ! Plain, stream, woods, 
 rocks and mountain sky, always in the same 
 relation ; but the scene, to me, is never twice 
 alike, the view is never just the same,
 
 212 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Perhaps I do not bring to it the same mental 
 attitude ; but granting this, the reflection of 
 light and shade, sunshine and shadow, which 
 play hide and seek across the picture, are never 
 alike and these are the moods ; the grand 
 background of it all, is the state. 
 
 NUMBER LXXII. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES. 
 
 Yes, my dear, I think I understand what you 
 mean about change being necessary, and a fixed 
 state of the soul not being desirable. I, too, 
 have watched the changes of nature and had 
 them fill my spirit with sublimity. And I am 
 prone to believe it is the variety, that gives us 
 such delight. 
 
 Could I but describe to you what I saw last 
 night as the sun was going down that com 
 bination of the soft, gentle light of love and the 
 grandeur of Infinite Power, all intermixed. 
 The coloring that no hand can imitate the 
 patches of sunshine here and there, like smiles 
 playing over the features of a great face. 
 "Build thee more stately mansions, my
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 213 
 
 soul ! " and these mansions, my dear, were so 
 near, as I stood high upon the hillside, that as 
 I looked I felt myself almost free, so near was 
 I to heaven. I have no words to tell of the 
 clouds piled up billows on billows of grandest 
 glory, all tinged by the crimson of the setting 
 sun. But this morning the sky is wholly unlike 
 it was yesterday ; yet it fills my soul so full of 
 its beauty that I can only softly whisper it to 
 you, as I am now doing. 
 
 Now, my lover, I will tell you what state is : 
 When anything fills your soul so full of joy and 
 happiness that you live live LIVE in a 
 state of joy always changing yet ever the same 
 this is a state. 
 
 NUMBER LXXIII. 
 
 MR. FORBES TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 There is nothing that more resembles Divine 
 power than the operation by which the poet, 
 with the aid of the imagination, depicts person 
 ages who have never existed, and causes them 
 to take a place in our affection, in our mem 
 ories, and to live forever as truly as do the
 
 214 FORBES OF HA R VA RD. 
 
 characters of history, or those who have been 
 formed by the hand of the Most High. 
 
 Eloquence is the vehicle of personal emotion 
 a transference of the speaker s feelings to 
 the audience. Poetry is infinitely more varied 
 in its application. It is a making manifest, by 
 words, the beauty that is in all things. As dis 
 interestedness is greater than egotism, so is 
 poetry beyond eloquence. Poetry may be elo 
 quent, but it is more. 
 
 NUMBER LXXIV. 
 MISS HAROLD TO MR. FORBES. 
 
 MY LOVER : 
 
 When you and I have a little cottage down 
 by the sea, or in the mountains, we will not 
 only enthrone Love and make him absolute 
 monarch ; but, carefully, dear, I am going to 
 drop we will have a blackboard on the wall. 
 No house is complete without a blackboard. 
 Alcotts have one in their dining-room ; and the 
 dining-room is also their parlor, sitting-room, 
 library, and reception hall; the blackboard is
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 215 
 
 always in sight. Each morning one of the 
 girls writes on the board some beautiful motto, 
 a verse of poetry, or draws a picture illustrat 
 ing some truth ; and there is always quite a 
 curiosity manifested as to what will come next. 
 Then, at breakfast, the whole family discuss 
 the theme suggested. 
 
 NUMBER LXXV. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 Plant trees on a barren plain and manage to 
 moisten their roots for a few years, and lo ! the 
 clouds will come and water them for you. You 
 have really changed the face of nature and the 
 climate. So kind is the Infinite Mother, that 
 she assists us when we try to work out our own 
 salvation with joy and gladness. This is the 
 same law that gives strength to those who 
 work. Use a muscle Nature assumes it is 
 necessary, and gives increased power in the 
 part. "To him that hath shall be given." 
 
 The men who will get the most satisfaction 
 out of this Western country, will be the bona- 
 fide settlers, not the mere speculators. When
 
 2 16 FORBES OF If A R VARD. 
 
 we see system come from confusion, beauty 
 from ugliness, form from chaos, we get a genu 
 ine satisfaction from our work ; and is not this 
 an attribute of God himself? He develops, 
 from the stagnant pond, the garden of the 
 lotus ; from the dust of the earth, each delicate 
 perfume ; and from the soil, the daintiest tint 
 that paints the petals of each flower. 
 
 So we, to be like Him, find joy in beautifying 
 and producing that which shall have form ; and 
 this is what the mind first looks for, on seeing 
 any object: first, form next, beauty and 
 our pleasure comes from having made the 
 discovery. 
 
 NUMBER LXXVI. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 You have doubtless noticed what delicate 
 and variegated tints and shades in colors are 
 produced, in the cultivation of flowers, by com 
 mingling the pollen from different plants. 
 
 The. meeting of different minds in thought, 
 produces like rainbow tints ; and beauty comes 
 to light, which is a surprise to all.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 217 
 
 NUMBER LXXVII. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 The present seems always arid profitless; 
 but if enriched with the treasures of the past, 
 and animated by great hope for the future, 
 heaven can indeed be here and now. 
 
 It requires the scope of genius to appreciate 
 the blessings of the present. 
 
 NUMBER LXXVIII. 
 
 ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 Stinging harshness is the only mood of many 
 who pride themselves on belonging to the lit 
 erati. In criticism they know only one system 
 of tactics : the fixed bayonet. In social life 
 they take no prisoners for they give no quarter; 
 their pathway is strewn with carnage. Never 
 adding anything to the world s literature, they 
 have an endless pique against those who do. 
 They will take up a book that has cost years 
 of study and work, and shelve it by a wave of
 
 218 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 the hand and the single exclamation, " Rub 
 bish ! " One might suppose that some Herod 
 had sent them forth to slaughter all the inno 
 cents of two years old and under. 
 
 Green lives, only because he denounced 
 Shakespeare as a plagiarist. Corneille had 
 nothing but bitter denunciation for Moliere. 
 Cowley thought Chaucer a fool, and worse. 
 Pope flew at the throat of Colley Gibber. 
 Fielding would never have written a line were 
 it not for Richardson, whom he calls a mouse- 
 colored ass. Johnson said he "would hang a 
 dog that read Lycidas twice." Jeffrey read 
 Wordsworth s simple, touching verse and 
 shouted, " This will never do ! " and the same 
 critic hanged on one tree Fennimore Cooper, 
 Walter Scott, and Washington Irving. Mon 
 tesquieu died from the stab of a critic s pen. 
 Lowell has only unkindness for Thoreau. 
 Berkley, Reid, Goldsmith, Shelley, Keats, and 
 Byron, in life were always close pursued by 
 hounds, and felt their hot, rabid breath upon 
 them. But, after all, I believe there is a slowly 
 growing disposition to withhold off-hand decis 
 ions an appreciation of the fact that a writer
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 219 
 
 on a certain theme may possibly have given it 
 greater thought than he who has just read it. 
 In criticism, there are many who read to 
 find the good ; and, finding it, commend. If 
 they point out errors, they do it in a way which 
 gives the opposition an opportunity to retreat in 
 good order, without loss of honor as Socrates 
 once walked off from the field of battle when 
 his companions scampered or, in case of a 
 complete surrender, they are willing to grant 
 the offender amnesty.
 
 PART THREE. 
 NUMBER LXXIX. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R, FORBES. 
 
 Holworthy in deep trouble. The Mill Comp- 
 pany do not pay dividends. Yet he assures 
 Miss Meredith her stock will pay returns as 
 usual. If he cannot borrow money to keep 
 his promise, he ^vill suicide, and leave his 
 body to the Medical Department of Harvard 
 College. 
 
 [On reading this letter the first time, I could 
 not persuade myself that it was not a joke ; but 
 since I have come to know the character of Dr. 
 Holworthy, I see that he was very much in 
 earnest. The thought that he might lose Miss 
 Harold, if she should find that he had made 
 false statements, seems to have frenzied him 
 and he swung over an abyss. Yet it was 
 the kindness of his heart which first prompted 
 him to assure Miss Meredith of her dividends. 
 The first impulse of every heart is good; and, 
 
 220
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 221 
 
 if wrong enters, it is an after-thought. Like 
 many another, he lacked the moral courage to 
 be truthful ; not because he was base, but on 
 account of his weakness. He was young and 
 inexperienced, then ; but, stronger now, by far, 
 the doctor will recognize the justice of my 
 remarks as he reads these lines. E. H.] 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, Oct. 30, 1851. 
 DEAR ARTHUR : 
 
 It s all up. When you get this, all will be 
 over. The best I can do is to make my will, 
 leaving the cadaver to the college ; a good sub 
 ject is worth full forty dollars, and this will 
 help repay what they have advanced me. 
 Have not yet decided what route I will take, 
 but chloroform is easy and sure ; morphine is 
 uncertain. Perhaps if I should take it in small 
 doses, gradually increasing the quantity, record 
 ing sensations and symptoms to the very last, 
 it might be of value to the profesh, and would 
 attract much attention when published in the 
 Review. Keep your eye on the Review, 
 Arthur. 
 
 The Livingston Mill is in awful bad shape, 
 they now say, and there is no hope for a divi 
 dend on Nov. i st. If I had the money, I
 
 222 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 would just fork it over to Aunt Marie and say 
 nothing; it s only a hundred and eighty! 
 
 The old woman is still awfully twisted up ; 
 can t get out of bed, scarcely. Peabody has 
 been giving tincture of Strychnos Ignatia, but 
 no go. 
 
 The doctor asked me to go over with him, 
 as it was an interesting case ; and, first thing, 
 says the old woman, " Dr. Holworthy, is the 
 Livingston Mill Company going to pay divi 
 dends on Nov. ist?" I smiled and said, 
 "Oh, yes; just got a letter from em. Friend 
 of mine in the office, you know. It may be a 
 few days late just as it was before. Let me 
 see your tongue, please." 
 
 Dr. Holmes always talked to us about bring 
 ing a cheerful, helpful atmosphere into the 
 sick-room, as a physician s presence cures more 
 than his medicine. I always bear this in 
 mind ; and once, when I forgot my medicine- 
 case, I fixed em up four powders of flour 
 which I always carry with me. This, taken in 
 aqua pura every four hours, cured in two days. 
 It was my personal magnetism, you see, that 
 did the biz; so, wherever I go, I am always
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 223 
 
 heavy on the mag. Aunt Marie was much 
 better the night after I was there. 
 
 But surely the Livingston will pay the divi 
 dend. They have skipped two ; this will put 
 them in good shape. I would go to Honor ; 
 but God help me, old chum! she thinks 
 the Mill Company paid the other, and I will 
 have to lie to her. I can lie to anyone else on 
 earth and not twitch a muscle ; but I can t lie 
 to the tall Iris. She looks right at me, so 
 quiet and calm, and believes all I say. Then 
 I was a little short when the note was due, and 
 she let me renew. 
 
 No ; don t tell me to borrow of the Goddess ! 
 Can t do it. I ll try to work some of the boys, 
 and if the medicine does not operate I ll just 
 make my will (have the rough draft now) and 
 prescribe Nux Vomica for 
 
 Yours distractedly, 
 
 JACK.
 
 224 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER LXXX. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Forbes sends the $ 1 80 to Holworthy to give to 
 Miss Meredith. All the money he has, and 
 more. Has prospect of great increase in pay. 
 
 CAMP CHEYENNE, NEAR PIKE S PEAK, 
 Nov. 25, 1851. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 DEAR FRIEND : Your letter of 3Oth ult. just 
 received. I send you by Wells-Fargo Over 
 land Express, one hundred eighty dollars, 
 which, of course, you will turn over to M.iss 
 Meredith at once. 
 
 This takes all my pay since I left St. Louis 
 and a few dollars over, which I borrowed from 
 Mr. Buckthorn. I have in my trousers pocket 
 just sixty-seven cents, but that is fully sixty 
 cents more than I need ; as I have no use for 
 tobacco or whisky, and Uncle Sam supplies 
 board and clothing. Besides this, I have a 
 prospect of better pay one hundred dollars a 
 week or more. The position is open for me,
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 225 
 
 and they await my acceptance. Would you 
 take it ? 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 NUMBER LXXX. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Holworthy gives to Miss Meredith tJie money 
 Forbes Jtas sent. She thinks of course tJie 
 money came from the Mill Company. Hoi- 
 worthy, astounded at the prospect of Forbes 
 getting one hundred dollars a week, begs him 
 to a secure like position for himself. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, Dec, i. 
 MY OWN DEAR CHUM : 
 
 Brave, manly Arthur of the Round Table 
 my Arthur has sent the 8180, and I have 
 received the money and given it to an old, help 
 less woman, who has struggled a life-time 
 through many trials and tribulations, working 
 always for others. Even now she is planning 
 ways to supply colored women, who have run 
 away from slavery, with clothing.
 
 226 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 She brightened up great when I gave her 
 the crisp notes. Honor was there, and I waited 
 until she was in the room. When she saw me 
 give over the money she looked as suprised and 
 pleased as if it was she who got the money, 
 and they both thanked me, and shook hands 
 all round. 
 
 Honor was putting the house to rights, and 
 I never knew a broom could be so becoming to 
 a woman before. I watched her as she swept, 
 and if the old woman had not been there I 
 would have tumbled on my knees right on the 
 rag carpet. She was so gentle and kind to 
 the old lady, I wished to the Lord I had 
 the sciatica, too, and told her so. She did not 
 hear me, I guess. She is so tall, so stately, so 
 gentle, and yet so proud. She speaks in such 
 a low, sweet voice, and is so well poised I am 
 almost afraid of her. 
 
 But the $100 a week! Why, it turns my 
 head. I am in the drug store and get consider 
 able practice, and my work in the Dispensary 
 and Hospital besides, only brought me in $68.- 
 50 since I graduated in June. I always knew 
 you were smart. They must have known your
 
 . FORBES OF HARVARD. 227 
 
 average was 95, or they never would have 
 offered you any such place. If you do not take 
 it, keep it for me. I will come on call. The 
 Iris will feel very bad, I know ; but if I .can 
 get a little start in the world, I will come back 
 for her. Couldn t you get a place for us both 
 at one hundred a week ? Why ! it s as much as 
 the President of Harvard gets. 
 
 Write just the moment you get this and tell 
 all about it. 
 
 Yours for business, 
 
 JACK. 
 
 NUMBER LXXXII. 
 
 THANKFUL PEEPSON TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Mr. Pcepson demands that Dr. Holworthy 
 shall see that the draft of $89. 50 is sent him 
 at once. 
 
 CONCORD, MASS., Dec. i, 1851. 
 
 DR. J. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 DEAR SIR : By registered mail I send this. 
 
 Please have your friends in Livingston Mill at
 
 228 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Lowell mail me draft $89.50, amount due me, 
 being usual dividend on stock in said Co. 
 
 I will waive interest on same since date due, 
 Nov. ist, if paid at once. I advise you to act 
 promptly. 
 
 Yours for truth and right, 
 
 J. PEEPSON. 
 
 NUMBER LXXXIII. 
 
 DR. J. HOLWORTHY TO THANKFUL PEEPSON. 
 
 Dr. Holworthy refuses to pay Mr. Peepson 
 any further sum, and defies him in a slightly 
 sarcastic note. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASS., Dec. 2, 1851. 
 DEACON PEEPSON. 
 
 POLYP : You once wrote me promising that if 
 I sent you a certain sum of money, I would 
 not hear from you again. The temptation was 
 too great and I succumbed ; but alas ! fool that I 
 was to believe in the promises of a microbe. 
 Hath a pismire honor, and can a tape-worm 
 keep a promise ? Hades yawns for thee, thou 
 worse than beast.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 229 
 
 Once I flung you my purse ; now, I defy you, 
 scorn you ! Bologna, do your worst ! My 
 address is 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY, M. D., 
 
 CENTRAL SQUARE DRUG STORE, 
 
 CAMBRIDGEPORT, MASS. 
 
 NUMBER LXXXIV. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES. 
 
 Dr. Holworthy once for all decides to commit 
 suicide and so informs Mr. Forbes. Immediate 
 cause being the result of an interview with 
 Miss Harold. Full details related in this 
 last message to his friend. 
 
 [There are two classes of men who seriously 
 contemplate suicide, the weak and the strong. 
 The remark is often made that only a coward 
 is afraid to live, thus all suicides are cowards; 
 but the facts do not bear out the charge. The 
 retort might be made that all who live are cow 
 ards and afraid to die, and the remark might 
 not come far from truth. When outward 
 environment is adverse circumstances baf 
 fle the weak man thinks of suicide as a 
 relief, but the strong man rises to the emer-
 
 230 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 gency and is made stronger by difficulty. Yet, 
 having conquered outward circumstance, this 
 strong man, for lack of an inward consciousness 
 of right, may feel such a dissatisfaction with 
 self and with what the future has in store, that 
 he coolly surveys the prospects, provides for 
 those dependent on him, and departs hence. 
 Such a typical case occurred in Boston a few 
 weeks before this writing. 
 
 Suicide, however, in nineteen cases out of 
 twenty, occurs when reason is unseated : thus 
 the question of strength of intellect, or of 
 cowardice, does not enter. Such men as 
 Holworthy very seldom become insane and 
 never commit suicide. Forbes knew this, and 
 probably these despondent letters troubled him 
 but little. E. H.] 
 
 NUMBER LXXXV. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 4, 1851. 
 To A. R. FORBES. 
 
 DEAR ARTHUR : This will be the last letter 
 you will ever receive from John Holworthy, 
 M. D. Up to a certain point one can bear the 
 ills and stings of outrageous fortune ; but 
 beyond this, life becomes a mockery. Thank
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 231 
 
 Heaven, I know a precipice over which disgrace 
 cannot follow ! 
 
 You have said you do not believe in 
 a personal devil ; but this was because you 
 forgot, at the moment, Mr. Thankful Peep- 
 son of Concord. This monster went all over 
 the village telling that I was in league with the 
 Livingston Mill Company to defeat the stock 
 holders and swindle the public. He told this to 
 Aunt Marie, to your mother, to the whole town ; 
 and worse ten thousand times worse! he 
 told it to the Goddess. But she is the smartest 
 woman on earth ; she knew better, and told him 
 so to his pious dough face and County Galway 
 whiskers. 
 
 I saw her this morning, and she said she 
 wanted to walk with me. Think of it, old man ! 
 with me! Then, when we got out of earshot 
 of your mother, she said, "Dr. Hoi worthy, I am 
 your friend, and we can be frank together, can t 
 we?" I thought she was going to propose; 
 although it ain t leap-year. I stammered, " Most 
 certainly!" and asked her to take my arm. 
 "Dr. Holworthy," said she, "the Livingston 
 Mill Company have paid no dividends for a year.
 
 232 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 You paid those last two dividends out of your 
 own hard-earned savings laying by dollar by 
 dollar, depriving yourself of many things you 
 needed that the helpless woman might not suffer. 
 Am I right ? " She looked at me with her big, 
 open eyes, and her voice came so low and sweet. 
 I was just drinking it in, not paying much 
 attention to her words, when she paused and 
 looked at me. I said, "Yes ma am." "I knew it! 
 I knew it ! " she exclaimed. " I always knew you 
 had a great and generous heart." 
 
 I was going to speak right out, then I 
 clenched my hands and said to myself, "Now or 
 never!" but she kept right on talking and I 
 got no show. " I told Aunt Marie it was so ; for 
 that man Peepson had been to her and told her 
 that the Mill Company had paid no dividends to 
 him, and that he was going to arrest you and 
 much more foolishness. I divined how matters 
 stood, and went and told him that you had 
 doubtless paid the money out of your own 
 pocket." 
 
 Well, old man, I saw her heart was touched. 
 No one on earth knows that the money was not 
 mine but you, and I can trust my Arthur. He
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 233 
 
 will never desert me, and it is only for you to 
 keep quiet and I will win her. All is fair in 
 love and war ! 
 
 "I do not blame you," she said, "for not 
 explaining it all. You are too modest to tell 
 the truth at all times." (God help us, old man, 
 did you hear that ?) "But now that Miss Mer 
 edith knows of your great kindness, you had 
 better go to her at once and confess your fault ; 
 she will forgive you. When the truth dawned 
 upon her that you had paid the money out of 
 your own pocket she almost cried, your good 
 ness touched her so." 
 
 I thought she was melted, and out I spoke, 
 "I love you, Honor I worship and adore 
 you will you be mine ? " I gasped for breath, 
 the earth seemed to sweep from under my feet ; 
 I could go no farther, although I had written 
 out and committed a beautiful speech, which 
 took ten minutes to repeat in the rehearsing. 
 
 She made no reply for a full minute ; then 
 she said, " Dr. Holworthy, you are clutching 
 my arm so that it is numb." And, sure enough, 
 my fingers were digging right down to the 
 humerus. I tried to apologize, but my tongue
 
 234 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 was paralyzed. She then spoke, in a tone now 
 gentle and sweeter than ever before : " Dr. Hoi- 
 worthy, I respect you and am your friend, as I 
 am the friend of all other good men and women 
 everywhere ; beyond this we can be nothing to 
 each other. Now we will forget the words you 
 have just spoken. You will never pain me by 
 repeating them. You must come to see me, just 
 as before, and we will be friends." Then she 
 reached out her dear hand, with the long, taper 
 fingers all alive. I held the hand just an 
 instant, and she looked at me ; but I saw there 
 was no love there for me. 
 
 God forgive me for my sins, and for what I 
 am about to do ! There is nothing left but to go 
 back to chaos and try it over. If there is a 
 hell there, it can be no worse than this. If it 
 is oblivion, I am glad. To-morrow I will know. 
 Farewell, farewell. Remember me only to 
 forget. 
 
 Farewell, 
 
 JACK.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 235 
 
 NUMBER LXXXVI. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR RIPLEY FORBES. 
 
 When about to take the fatal plunge the hand 
 of Dr. Holworthy is stayed by what he con 
 siders providential intervention. A brilliant 
 idea comes to him ; he puts it into execution 
 with melodramatic swiftness. 
 
 [It seems at first view almost astounding in 
 what chimerical schemes men will embark, con 
 vincing themselves by sophistical reasoning 
 that their plans are safe. No doubt we all 
 have a decided bias in favor of self, and when 
 this is badly warped to "t other side" by the 
 feverish hope of a man in love, it treads the 
 border-land of insanity. Yet I find Dr. Hoi- 
 worthy s record at Harvard most excellent his 
 average for three years being ninety-four and 
 three-quarters which only proves that a good 
 standing in college does not necessarily imply 
 a goodly stock of that uncommon article com 
 mon-sense. 
 
 Not every man who owns a gun can hit 
 the bull s-eye. And they say it sometimes hap 
 pens that when men tarry too long at the 
 books, intellectual strabismus follows, so that 
 accurate marksmanship in worldly affairs is 
 well-nigh impossible. Learning sometimes is 
 only sterility. E. H.]
 
 236 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, Dec. 6, 1851. 
 HELLO OLD MAN : 
 
 I wrote you in the dumps yesterday, but 
 hasten to mail this to relieve you of anxiety. 
 If you get the letters at the same time, burn 
 the other before you read it. 
 
 I fully intended to depart hence, and you 
 know when I decide on a thing it is mighty apt 
 to be a go. But, like Abraham, my hand was 
 stayed. (I was doing both parts I was Abe and 
 Ike both. Ha, ha! pretty good don t you 
 think so?) I had measured out the dose in a 
 graduate glass one and one-half ounce double 
 Tinct. Belladonna when, by the great Josiah 
 Quincy ! the thought struck me athwart the 
 diaphragm, and I took two fingers Spirits Fru- 
 menti instead of the Belladonna, and sat down 
 to think it over. 
 
 Yes ; she said I had a g-r-e-a-t and g-e-n-e-r- 
 o-u-s heart the exact words. Now, if I could 
 only prove to her that I had a g-r-e-a-t and 
 g-i-g-a-n-t-i-c intellect, she would see at once 
 that I was her heaven-appointed mate. 
 
 Yes, old man, I did it ! Straight to Concord, 
 and into old Smith s drug store, I went ; told
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 237 
 
 him I was a trifle off in my lumbar region, and 
 wanted to prescribe for myself. " All right ; 
 help yourself, Jack !" said he. (He is always 
 too lazy to get up.) 
 
 Two oz. Spin Frumenti. Aqua pura three 
 drops. Mix. Take at one dose. Then I went 
 straight over to the bank across the street, and 
 said, "Morning, Mr. Becket ! I just ran in to 
 get those Mill Certifs that Miss Meredith left 
 here. I am looking after her affairs ; she s all , 
 crippled up, you know. How are the folks ? 
 How s the old lady ? How are the girls ? and 
 how s the baby ? " 
 
 It worked. He went back to the vault, and 
 handed out a big brown envelope with Aunt 
 Marie s name on it, and said the baby had the 
 mumps but was getting over them. 
 
 "You are looking well, Mr. Becket," says I ; 
 "good day ! " and out I walked, first buttoning 
 that big envelope very tight inside my coat. 
 Went straight to Aunt Marie s, for Honor is 
 taking care of her. 
 
 Your aunt began to thank me, first thing, 
 for all I had done. Said she could never repay 
 me and all such gush, just as a woman will
 
 238 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 for the mill stock could not be sold, and would 
 never pay a dividend ; she was going to the 
 poor-house, etc. 
 
 Finally I shut her off by saying : " Here, now, 
 I have come to pay you a professional visit. 
 Let me see. your tongue, not hear it." Then I 
 felt her pulse, took out my watch as if to count 
 it, and said, off-hand like : " Oh, your money is 
 all right ! Now, will you both agree to trust 
 me and ask no question if I tell you something 
 very important ? " They agreed. 
 
 " Well, I saw the crash coming, got a 
 pointer from a friend in the Hide and Leather, 
 and I went ahead and sold your stock over 
 six months ago and invested the money in Old 
 Colony. They were coupon certifs, so you 
 didn t have to sign em. A little cheeky, I ll 
 admit ; but you were down abed, and there was 
 no time to consult. I did not want to confess 
 it, yesterday, to Miss Honor ; but the last money 
 I gave you was the divy on Old Colony the 
 first, I paid out of my own pocket. You are so 
 much better, to-day, I am not afraid to tell you 
 the truth. Let s tell the truth and shame the 
 devil. Now, then, that s all there is about it ;
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 239 
 
 and twice a year I will see that you get the divy 
 on O. C." 
 
 Both women raised their hands, and screamed 
 with surprise. They started to ask questions. 
 "There!" said I ; "what did you promise?" 
 Then they subsided, and I said, as I started 
 away : "Oh, we men can look after the financial 
 side all right ! We are out among em and 
 know what s going on." 
 
 Aunt Marie wrung my hand and kissed me 
 (probably the first man she has kissed in forty 
 years). I wiped off the kiss, and waited for the 
 other to follow suit ; but she passed, and shook 
 my hand instead. Her look was not the same 
 disinterested one she gave before not much. 
 
 Well, you ask, as you put your feet on the 
 table, What are you going to do next? and, 
 old man, if you will wait a second, I will tell 
 you. 
 
 They say the mill is in bad shape ; I know 
 better. Butler is receiver, and he is a hum 
 mer. He will make it pay. You see now ? 
 Well, when they pay the next dividend, I will 
 just tell the girls that I sold the Old Colony 
 and bought Livingston, and nobody is hurt, but
 
 240 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 all hands much pleased, and now she believes 
 I have a g-r-e-a-t head. 
 
 I always provide for accidents, old chum ; and 
 if, through any accident, the mill does not pay 
 a divy, I can easily pay the $180 out of my 
 own pocket (I charged on books to-day $7 .50). 
 Can t you see, stupid ? And before a second 
 dividend-day rolls around, it s ten to one, the 
 old woman will be dead. This rheumatism 
 may go to her heart any day ; and then don t 
 you know, dullard! we will be married in less 
 than three months ! 
 
 After the old woman is under the ground she 
 will have no use for money anyway, and I will 
 give her mill certifs over to her executor to sell 
 for waste paper. Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah, Rah, 
 H-A-R-V-A-R-D. Congratulate me, old chum ; 
 and believe me ever to be your own, 
 
 JACK.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 241 
 
 NUMBER LXXXVII. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Mr. Forbes deprecates the hasty, ill-advised 
 course of Dr. Holworthy and begs him to 
 change his plans. 
 
 CAMP CHEYENNE, KANSAS. TERRITORY, 
 
 Dec. 24, 1851. 
 MY DEAR JACK : 
 
 Your letters of the 5th, and 6th inst. were 
 brought in by the courier last night. You 
 have pained me, dear chum ; for you have 
 wronged your own soul by these falsehoods 
 you have told. I know full well that you have 
 done this thing for the benefit of another, and 
 that you yourself do not expect to thrive by 
 this operation ; but yet you are striving to 
 make a favorable impression on Miss Harold. 
 Do you not know that all striving for effect is 
 fruitless ? We deceive nobody but ourselves. 
 Now, supposing you could convince Miss 
 Harold that you are a great and far-seeing 
 man, and you should marry her : surely she 
 would find out, some day, that you are only 
 Jack Holworthy and then !
 
 242 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 And how would this unmasking affect you 
 and her? Would it give peace and happiness ? 
 My old, hot-headed, impulsive, affectionate 
 chum should pass for just what he is. He is 
 a fine fellow and needs no whitewash. Quit 
 the dissembling, my boy ; get back at all cost. 
 These falsehoods will surely unhorse you, if 
 persisted in. 
 
 I cannot advise you just how ; but get back to 
 truth, my boy, for your Arthur s sake. You 
 and I have had our little fling together ; but 
 now we are men, and let us act a brave and 
 manly part. 
 
 You speak of what you are pleased to call 
 " Spir. Frumenti " as a cure for all ills, but it 
 is an enemy that is stealing away your brains. 
 
 I am making more money than ever before. 
 Yes, my salary is more than that of Sparks. 
 If you want to help Aunt Marie, as I know you 
 do, just tell her the whole truth, and assure 
 her you have plenty of money so she will never 
 suffer I will send you what is required. 
 
 Believe me, dear old chum, to be ever 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 243 
 
 NUMBER LXXXVIII. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Mr. Forbes describes what his peculiar work is. 
 Rides by night between the setting and rising 
 sun, eighty miles twice a zveek, as mail carrier 
 or courier. Vivid pictures of the darkness. 
 Accedes to reqiiest of Dr. Holworthy, and 
 will get him similar work. 
 
 [In a former letter Forbes stated that this 
 work would pay $100 per week, a statement I 
 could hardly credit. But the following letter 
 I have just received, throws light on the cause 
 why.. E. H. 
 
 WAR DEPARTMENT. 
 WASHINGTON, D. C, April 2, 1893. 
 To ELBERT HUBBARD, ESQ. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Your letter of March 2/th 
 received, wherein you request, for historical 
 purposes, information as to maximum compen 
 sation paid to individual mail carriers or 
 couriers, during years 1851 and 1852. 
 
 In reply will say the records show the work, 
 where extra hazardous, was done by volunteers, 
 and the payment seemed to follow the law of 
 Supply and Demand. If couriers on certain 
 routes were killed, volunteers were asked for 
 and the compensation increased to a point 
 where someone would step forward.
 
 244 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Thus I find as high as one thousand dollars 
 a month was paid, for a short time on the route 
 between Forts Laramie and Assinaboine. I 
 beg to suggest that the life of Gen. John C. 
 Fremont, also Buell s History of the Plains, will 
 give you facts of interest on this theme. 
 Yours, etc., 
 
 DANIEL M. LAMONT, 
 
 Secy of War.~\ 
 
 BAD MAN S GULCH, ROCKY MTS., 
 
 Dec. 28, 1851. 
 
 MY DEAR JACK : 
 
 I have not written anyone at home just what 
 I am doing, for they might worry about it. 
 But the fact is, there is not much, danger, after 
 all. A countryman going into Boston, is 
 amazed to think that many people are not killed 
 crossing Tremont Street, where the travel is so 
 dense and the teams are clattering up and 
 down the narrow thoroughfare over the stony 
 pavement. But a woman could cross there ten 
 times a day for twenty years, before an accident 
 would befall her. 
 
 Well, you quiet, peaceful people would sup 
 pose I am in a dangerous business, but it is
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 245 
 
 because you fear the unknown. I know the 
 dangers, therefore I am not afraid. 
 
 I carry the mail from this camp to Fort San 
 Jacinto just eighty miles. By the wagon road 
 it is only seventy-two, but I take a trail or path 
 through the mountains instead ; for there are hos 
 tile Indians all about, and to fall into their hands 
 would be sure death. The miners and trappers 
 have made the game scarce, and in fact the 
 Indians have just cause for complaint, for the 
 whites have over-run their country ; and if they 
 utter a protest, the answer is the significant 
 one of simply patting the stock of a rifle. So 
 the Indian looks upon every white as his 
 enemy. They prowl around our camp, and 
 swooped down last week like a cyclone, yelling, 
 pounding on dried skins, and stampeded our 
 horses that were grazing not a quarter of a 
 mile from the fort, killing right before our 
 eyes a soldier who was herding the stock. 
 
 We tried to follow with a posse of soldiers, 
 but our best horses were gone ; and the Indians 
 divided into three parties, and were soon lost 
 among the rocks where we could not follow. 
 
 Now, if I would ride out alone in the day-
 
 246 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 time, the chances are I would be watched and 
 killed by Indians in an hour. At any rate, they 
 would head me off, so I could not get back. 
 My horse might outrun theirs for a time, but 
 my scalp would eventually adorn some dusky 
 warrior s girdle. So I ride by night, leaving 
 this camp any evening I wish. I select a 
 strong young horse or mule, and ride the eighty 
 miles before daylight the next morning. It is 
 hard on the mule, to be sure. And the one I 
 rode three weeks ago, died an hour after I got 
 in but Uncle Sam is rich. 
 
 The darkness is our protector. In the night 
 we are safe. The one thing to fear is daylight. 
 There are six different routes, and I take just 
 which I choose ; never going by the same trail 
 twice, so the Indians are not very apt to way 
 lay me, not knowing which road I will take, or 
 what night to look for me. Another thing, the 
 Indian knows nothing of system, and could not 
 possibly comprehend why a single rider should 
 make the trip at all. He gets no mail, and if 
 you will turn to your Sidney Smith, you will see 
 that Moral Philosophy says we cannot imagine 
 things which we have not seen. So the stupid
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 247 
 
 Blackfeet really do not know that a man rides 
 regularly each week between these forts, and 
 thus he is safe. 
 
 It s a hard ride; ten miles an hour means 
 your horse on a stiff gallop. I usually select a 
 mule, though, as they are surer footed. It s 
 only two nights a week, down and back. The 
 darker the night the better, for I can always 
 see the snow-capped mountain peaks, and I 
 guide my course by these. 
 
 The trails are deep paths made by buffaloes, 
 and you can safely trust the mule to stick to 
 the path in fact, it would be hard to force 
 him off the trail. I carry a rifle, looped over 
 the horn of the saddle, with my right hand on 
 the stock to steady it ; two revolvers and a 
 knife so you see I am always ready to protect 
 myself quickly. Very few of the Indians have 
 fire-arms, and they have a superstitious dread 
 of them ; so you see, after all, the risk is very 
 slight. 
 
 As the mule gallops I lean forward, close 
 my eyes in sleep, and dream of old Hollis, and 
 the boys of 52. There you are six hundred 
 men sleeping within the bounds of Harvard
 
 248 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Yard, all with nightmare for fear of the 
 approaching Exam. and I alone with God 
 on a mountain side at midnight. Not a 
 human being, save savages, within forty miles. 
 Snow-capped spires lift their heads against 
 the blackness of the sky ; and, adown the 
 valleys, stretching off into the night, the 
 shadows make deep gulfs that speak of depths 
 unsounded. Then once more I lift my eyes 
 to the hills from whence cometh my strength 
 and a prayer comes to my lips : " I thank 
 thee, my God, that thou hast made me a 
 man that I can live, enjoy, appreciate, and 
 know somewhat of thy greatness." 
 
 Do not laugh, Jack, because I pray. I never 
 did before, to be sure; but this solitude, and 
 the grandeur of the night, fills me with a sense 
 of sublimity which before I knew not of. 
 
 Believe me, dear Jack, I am 
 
 Ever your old chum, 
 
 ARTHUR. 
 
 P. S. Yes, I can get you a place. The 
 last man on my route was killed, but it was 
 because he was so foolhardy as to take the
 
 FORBES OF HA P V4 KD. 249 
 
 wagon road through the valley. Gooseberry 
 Jake rides the Laramie trail. He will let you 
 take it half the time. When will you be here ? 
 
 NUMBER LXXXIX. 
 
 JOHN HOLWORTHY TO ARTHUR R. FORBES. 
 
 Dr. Holworthy writes a breezy letter in which 
 he makes the subtile suggestion that Mr. 
 Forbes must be in love. Thinks the position 
 of scout is not adapted to his own particular 
 wants. When he enlists proposes to go as a 
 general. Relates the evidences of prosperity. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, Jan. 19, 1852. 
 DEAR ARTHUR : 
 
 Your very entertaining letter received. 
 You seem a trifle broke up, old man. Your 
 liver is not working just right, I guess; try 
 blue pill, with whiskey and quinine. When a 
 sensible man begins to pray and talk poetry, 
 it s one of two things, dead sure diagnosis
 
 250 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 unfailing ; it s his liver, Arthur, or, by the great 
 Epictetus, he is in love. You said there are 
 no women in the West but squaws, so my pro 
 fessional opinion is that it s insufficient flow of 
 bile. 
 
 Do not worry about that little affair of 
 Livingston Mill stock. It is not in the shape I 
 wish it was, and if I had the thing to do over, I 
 would not do what I have done, but I am in 
 for it now. My steps cannot be retraced, so 
 I will just carry it through, and keep you fully 
 informed. 
 
 What a curious streak it is in humanity that 
 we must tell someone all about our joys and 
 sorrows ! All is divided with the friend. I 
 rather think, though, that you never told me as 
 much of your heart as I have told you of mine. 
 Perhaps you do not feel so deeply you are 
 not so sensitive. You are exoteric rather than 
 esoteric, " if I may be allowed the expression," 
 as Pennaworth would say. 
 
 About the place, though, old chum you are 
 very kind, but I do not think the night air 
 would agree with me. I never could ride 
 horseback, anyway and the being alone forty
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 251 
 
 miles from a human soul ! Why, I was 
 never a quarter of a mile from my folks in all 
 my twenty-six years ! Once I got into Boston 
 at two o clock in the morning, on a train, and I 
 felt awful queer walking up the street only a 
 policeman here and there, and it did make me 
 feel a little shaky. Now, how would I look out 
 on a mountain side, with only a mule, and 
 expecting to fall off every minute at that! 
 Why, it makes me creep all up and down my 
 spinal column to think of it ! How, in Heaven s 
 name, can you stand it, Arthur? You are wel 
 come to the hundred dollars a week. It s a lot 
 of money, I know ; but it would not tempt me 
 to ride a mule eighty miles, even here, where 
 there are no Indians day-time, besides. 
 
 I am getting quite a little practice outside of 
 the drug store have three cases of fever, 
 one measles, and expect two obstetrics up in 
 the Smith tenement house some time next 
 month. Collected $4.85 last week. Charged 
 on books $37.50, so you see I am making 
 money. 
 
 Yours for keeps, 
 
 JACK.
 
 252 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 P. S. When I enlist, if I ever do, I will 
 enlist for a general. How s that, old man ! A 
 woman just came in to say that I must stay 
 near home, as I might be called up at the ten- 
 ement house most any time now. 
 
 NUMBER XC. 
 
 ARTHUR R. FORBES TO JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Private Forbes gets into an altercation by refus 
 ing to carry out a brutal order of his captain. 
 Is threatened with dire penalties. Thinks 
 best to tell his own side of the story; 
 thinking, perliaps, word of his dis 
 grace (?} may reach his Cambridge friends. 
 Seems slightly down-hearted, as if he felt afore- 
 boding of coming evil. Tells Holwortliy he 
 does not think Livingston Mill will pay 
 dividends, so sends, $360 to insure payment of 
 interest to Miss Meredith for at least a year. 
 
 FORT SAN JACINTO, Feb. 20. 
 MY DEAR JACK : 
 
 A little circumstance has come up here that
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 253 
 
 may make me trouble. Just how much, I do not 
 know but here goes. You have inflicted me 
 with your troubles, now I will do as much for 
 you. 
 
 The captain of the fort here is one Snyder ; 
 and, being clothed in a little brief authority, he 
 doth cut such fantastic tricks before high 
 Heaven as make angels weep. He is a cox 
 comb of the coxcombs, and never thinks "of 
 speaking to a private under any considerations, 
 no more than if we were hitching posts. Gen 
 erally there is a fine fraternal feeling among 
 the officers and men in these out of the way 
 places, for where danger lurks formality ceases. 
 Just a little letting up on the stern discipline 
 of military system. But this Snyder got the 
 appointment here by some kind of political 
 huckstering, and is fresh from some fort in the 
 East, where they shoot nothing but blank car 
 tridges. He demands a present arms and salute 
 from every man, wherever we happen to meet 
 him. Hitching posts get no recognition, but the 
 aforesaid have to recognize. 
 
 Yesterday the gallant captain was out in his 
 gilt and feathers, admiring his shadow ; and
 
 254 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 when passing a young fellow who sat on a log 
 smoking, our young fellow failed to salute. 
 
 Snyder was furious, and turned back and 
 asked the soldier if he knew who he (Snyder) 
 was. The fellow said he " did not, but would 
 much like an introduction." I was near, clean 
 ing up my saddle, when Snyder roared in my 
 direction and ordered me to take my rifle and 
 arrest the man. I did so, and marched the lad 
 inside the fort ; when two more soldiers were 
 called up, and I was ordered to tie the offender 
 up by the thumbs and give him twenty lashes 
 with the quirt. I had been in an Indian skir 
 mish with the boy and knew he was brave and a 
 good soldier, and the order to lay on the lash 
 was only a burst of passion an arbitrary whim. 
 And I told Snyder as much, putting it in mild 
 and persuasive language but no good. He 
 then ordered three more men to tie me up by 
 the thumbs and give me thirty lashes on the 
 bare back. I took off my coat ready to be 
 thrashed, but not a man of all the hundred 
 would lift his finger against me ; and so the 
 result was that neither the soldier nor I was 
 whipped.
 
 . FORBES OF HARVARD. 255 
 
 Snyder threatened to shoot me ; but casting 
 a look around among the boys, several of whom 
 had their hands on their pistols, he changed his 
 mind. I went to him, after an hour, and tried 
 to apologize ; but he refused to talk with me, 
 merely saying he had " made information 
 against me for mutiny and as soon as a new 
 company of soldiers could be got here he would 
 court-martial me, and a courier had already been 
 sent off with the order for troops." I think the 
 courier did not know what sort of a message he 
 was carrying, or he would not have gone. 
 
 Military regulations are very stiff and arbi 
 trary they have to be, I suppose; but injus 
 tice is sometimes done in these out of the way 
 spots, where authority is vested in the hands of 
 hot-headed, ignorant men. 
 
 Of course I could run away ; but I told Sny 
 der I would stay and see it through. 
 
 I ride the route to the Gulch to-night, and 
 back next week. If Snyder had the power he 
 would put me in irons ; but there is none to do 
 it, so I propose to go right ahead and do my duty, 
 just as if nothing had happened. I understand 
 that the President of the United States alone
 
 256 FOKBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 has power to grant pardon to mutinous soldiers 
 (it is a base mutineer who writes you this), and 
 if Snyder pushes the matter which I hardly 
 think he will do) it may possibly be necessary 
 for my old chum to interest some of the Pro 
 fessors in my case get them to sign a petition 
 in my favor, sending it to the President. 
 Some men never enjoy the honor of having the 
 President of the United States interest him 
 self in their behalf. Well, I will never be 
 president, so the next best thing is to have one 
 pardon me grant me absolution, as it were. 
 
 I have come to the conclusion that the Liv 
 ingston Mill will not pay any dividend in the 
 near future. When a receiver is appointed 
 there is little hope for the stockholders. It 
 will never do to leave Aunt Marie without an 
 income, and it may happen you will not have 
 the money when the dividend-day rolls around, 
 and, as I was paid off last week, I have sent you 
 $360, which will cover a yearns interest on your 
 Old Colony. 
 
 It may interest you to know that I weigh 
 more than ever before in my life, and if I ever 
 was sick I have forgotten it. About my books
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 257 
 
 oh, just divide them up, and let Bridges give 
 them to the new-comers who need them most. 
 Some of the boys are not burdened with wealth, 
 and they always appreciate these little favors. 
 
 Affectionately, 
 
 ARTHUR. 
 
 NUMBER XCI. 
 
 CAPT. J. M. SNYDER TO GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT. 
 
 Captain Snyders -version of the difficulty. 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF THE MISSOURI. 
 FORT SAN JACINTO, Feb. 20, 1852. 
 
 SIR: I beg to report that an insurrection, 
 headed by a brigand named Forbes, has occurred 
 among my troops. 
 
 My orders are totally disregarded, and to-day 
 the men stood about with hands on their small 
 arms and threatened to shoot me. I am pow 
 erless, and practically a prisoner. This Forbes 
 is a mail carrier and scout a desperate charag-
 
 258 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 ter, and seems to have secured a most undue 
 influence among the command. 
 
 There were none who would assist me in 
 placing him in irons. Send a company at once 
 to my rescue. 
 
 SNYDER, Commanding. 
 
 NUMBER XCII. 
 
 CAPT. J. M. SNYDER TO GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT. 
 
 Another letter from Captain Snyder, in which 
 he reports that Forbes has fled, taking with 
 him a large amount of money. Description 
 of the deserter. 
 
 FORT SAN JACINTO, Feb. 27, 1852. 
 GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT, FORT ROCKY FALLS. 
 
 SIR : I beg to report that since advising you 
 of mutiny in my command, leader of insurrec 
 tion has deserted, taking with him mail and 
 package of $788, said money being consigned 
 to paymaster, Fort Alamo. 
 
 With disappearance of mutineer, have been 
 able to regain command and put down insurrec 
 tion, so cancel request for troops. I give
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 259 
 
 description of deserter so you can issue order 
 for arrest. Charges against him would be : ist, 
 Mutiny; 2d, Grand larceny; 3d, Desertion; 
 4th, Inciting insurrection. Right name un 
 known, but calls himself Arthur Ripper Forbes. 
 Sometimes called Raw-Raw ; at others, Fifty-two. 
 (This supposed to have been his number in 
 some prison.) Born at Harvard, Conn., and 
 evidently once employed by firm of Staunch & 
 Trew, as he often refers to them. Height, 
 6 ft. 3 in.; weight, 180; erect carriage, dark 
 complexion, talks little. At first view his 
 habits seem proper, religious reads church 
 service where death occurs in camp same at 
 times on Sunday this evidently to make a 
 good impression ; good horseman, sharp shooter, 
 hard hitter and handy with knife. Makes 
 friends easily, and is apt to deceive all but the 
 most discerning. Is very cool-headed, and 
 great care must be used in making arrest as he 
 shoots quick and to kill. 
 
 J. M. SNYDER, Captain,
 
 260 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XCIII. 
 
 JACOB BUCKTHORN TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 Mr. Buckthorn tells of the disappearance and 
 shows his appreciation of the character of Mr. 
 Forbes. Puts in a good word for himself. 
 
 [In the letters written by Mr. Buckthorn I 
 regret to find expressions bordering on profan 
 ity, and various slang terms. My first impulse 
 was to strike out all such, but I have decided 
 to print the letters verbatim, trusting to the 
 good sense and kind consideration of the reader 
 to pardon the rude expressions of a rough 
 frontiersman, whose heart was evidently capable 
 of tender feeling. Let no one imagine that 
 Buckthorn s love for his "pardner" was not 
 very great because he adds a postscript to this 
 sad epistle, introducing another theme. The 
 true soldier looks on death as an event that 
 may come to himself or companions at any hour, 
 and when the grim messenger arrives, no excess 
 of emotion is shown. Who shall say that his 
 love is often not as great as ours who wring our 
 hands, cry aloud, and wear on our sleeves the 
 outward mark of grief? E. H.]
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 261 
 
 BAD MAN S GULCH, CAMP OF THE 46th, 
 
 COMPANY B, March 2, 1852. 
 Miss 
 
 I takes my pen in hand tu say that me pard, 
 Mister Forbes, has not showed up for nigh two 
 weeks. You see the Envelop in which this yer 
 letter is put is direckted by him tu you. He 
 direckted it quite some time ago and told me 
 if any time he didn t ride the mewl in on time\ 
 tu jest wate a week and rite and tell you of it. 
 an ax were i shall send his traps. His money 
 wot he allus left in his chist is bout two hun 
 dred this I was ter send you fer his ole mammy, 
 I low the Blackfeet have gobbled him. the 
 loss aint on youns miss, it is on weuns who 
 node him. its a bad blow tu this ere camp. 52 
 uster have church on Sunday, and las Sunday 
 afternoon just as the Sun was hidin behin 
 Bald Mounting the bugle called the boys for 
 prayers, an 52 gave em his last talk, it were 
 a better sarmint than I ever heerd from any 
 livin gospel sharp, he teched us up on our 
 cussin an drinkin and gamblin and several of 
 the boys melted. No one can take the place 
 of 52, God help us, i would hav fit fer him in
 
 262 FORBES OF HARVARD, 
 
 a minute and did slap a fellers gob to-day who 
 said that he had gone tu hell, axin yer pardon, 
 were all Yanks ort ter be. i am a Arkansas- 
 sian myself but 52 was white, he was as fine a 
 feller as ever busted a broncho. Were shall i 
 send his Traps ? 4 letters here from you for 52 
 unopened, as they are big and fat I low they are 
 werry important, so I sends em back tu you to 
 wunst. 
 
 Hopin yer will simpathize with us I am, as 
 
 ever, 
 
 J. BUCKTHORN, 
 
 Private, Company B. 
 
 P. S. We called him 52 cause he uster yell 
 Raw, Raw, Raw, fifty two stanch and true, 
 Raw, Raw, Raw. It is a sort of fool injin 
 lingo, I reckon he picked some where. Miss 
 yer don t know it but the planes here can be 
 planted tu gooseberries and a big fortin made 
 if .any of yer friends want to put in a few 
 thousan and git rich my time is out in four 
 months and no more enlisten for 
 
 JACOB BUCKTHORN. 
 
 P. S. agin. 
 Miss i wasted an envelop by bustin this let-
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 263 
 
 ter open tu say that the Jinnie what 52 rode 
 has jes come limpin in an arrer thro her ham. 
 Yer wood hev cried ter see how pitiful she look. 
 i send you in this-letter a little strip of washed 
 out red ribbin wot was on the bridle, so you 
 will no i am not lyin to yer about the mewls 
 commin back. As i told yer its all up with 
 me pard. The captain will kick wen i axes him 
 fer a nother envelop but i low i can talk sweet 
 to him. 
 
 Still Yours, 
 
 JAKE.
 
 264 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XCIV. 
 
 MISS HONOR HAROLD TO JACOB BUCKTHORN. 
 
 Miss Harold, although doubtless much agitated 
 on the receipt of Mr. Buckthorn s letter, ans 
 wers calmly. Holds out hope and begs Mr. 
 Buckthorn to go in search of Forbes. Shows 
 her thoughtfulness for others in trying to 
 keep the sad news to herself. 
 
 CONCORD, MASS., March 18, 1852. 
 MR. JACOB BUCKTHORN. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : Your letter of the I2th inst. 
 is just at hand, and I must thank you for your 
 great kindness in writing me. You tell me 
 that Mr. Forbes has not been seen for two 
 weeks. I understand that he carried mail 
 on horseback from your camp to San Jacinto. 
 It cannot be that the Indians would waylay 
 and kill him. Impossible! He had a most 
 hearty sympathy for the Indians, and, as I 
 know, was interceding through Senator Sum- 
 ner to have a bill passed in their behalf, reim 
 bursing them for loss of territory, etc. He 
 must have simply lost his way as I understand 
 he often rode after dark, or his horse may have
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 265 
 
 thrown him, or fallen, and then ran away, and 
 the Indians shot the arrow into the horse, the 
 next day, trying to catch it. 
 
 I beg that you will organize an expedition at 
 once and go in search of him. Do not write 
 anyone else here of the matter. When you 
 find him, if he is sick or in want in any way, 
 you will of course see that his needs are sup 
 plied, for his many friends here will be only 
 too glad to reimburse you. 
 
 Again thanking you, and hoping for a hope 
 ful letter from you soon, I subcribe myself, 
 Your friend most sincerely, 
 
 HONOR HAROLD.
 
 266 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER XCV. 
 
 JACOB BUCKTHORN TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 Replies in a characteristic letter. Is moved by 
 Miss Harold s deep interest to give a vivid 
 picture of an adventure of his own on the 
 same route where Forbes was lost, to show 
 the danger of the ride, and to convince that 
 there is no use of hoping against hope. As 
 Miss Harold asked for complete details of 
 Mr. Forbes 1 going away, Buckthorn obliges 
 with needless minutta. 
 
 BAD MAN S GULCH, 
 
 CAMP OF THE 46th CAVALRY, COMPANY B, 
 
 April 15, 1852. 
 
 Miss 
 
 I got your letter and was rite glad to hear 
 from you. i sit myself down and takes me pen 
 in hand to let you no that i am well and 
 hopes you air in the same fix. This yer feller 
 52 ran the male once a week to San Jacinto, 
 eighty mile. We rides by trail not the. waggen 
 rode as you no the blackfeet is worse nor 
 wildcats about now, cause the whites hav driv 
 all the buffler south.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 267 
 
 We rides eighty mile at one slap, stoppin 
 half way, fer half an hour at a cache fer grub 
 and ter let the mewl git is wind, dont fule your 
 self by thinkin the injuns wouldent swipe 52 
 they air the peskiest lot of critters yer ever saw 
 and not many of em i low ever heard tell on 
 Senatur Sumner. 
 
 they nearly done fer me on the same trail last 
 week, it was bright moonlight although cloudy 
 wen I left the camp, ere i wouldent have started. 
 The mewl was on a easy lope when he slowed 
 down mighty suddent, which the same he would 
 ent hev done if there wasent danger fer he 
 node i was asleep. A mewl is the noingest 
 thing on airth and is allus awful gentle wen ten 
 miles or more from camp, and no company but 
 the man a straddle. Out shot his ears an I 
 slipped the loop off the horn and cocked the 
 rifle, and felt to see if my revolvers was all 
 right, the mewl now node i was awake and he 
 moved on easy like and i node from his ears it was 
 injuns. When zing, zing went tu arrers over 
 my head an i socked the spurs to that ere mewl 
 and away we went through the sage brush, i kep 
 talkin tu the jack tu keep him from losin his
 
 268 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 bed and tu let him no i hadent lost mine for 
 the mewl can allus tell wen the rider is losin 
 his sand. 
 
 not many injuns here hav horses and as i 
 past thro a openin in the bush i saw there were 
 only two injuns a follerin. i node i could git 
 away but jest out of divilment, and thinkin of 
 52 who was me pard as i was a tell in* of you, i 
 sez sez i you red cusses killed me pard, well, 
 watch me trump yer ace. A mile ahed there 
 was a bunch of willers in a holler like, i had it 
 all planned and wen i got inter the willers i 
 slowed up and pulled off that ere mewl in a 
 holy second, i pulled me belt one hole tighter 
 and heard the injuns come poundin through the 
 bush, i let em pass and i-held the rifle back and 
 popped em with first one iron then tother. down 
 went one Pinto and i saw i dropped the horse 
 and not the injun, but the other red devil was 
 done for sure enuff. his horse ran strate ahed 
 and i dident stop to visit but swung onter that 
 jack rabbit and on i went arter that Pinto, he 
 was a good un, but the jack kep creepin up 
 and creepin up alongside of him an i jes reached 
 out and layed hold of the hay Lariat that was
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 269 
 
 round his neck and give it a couple of twists 
 aroun the horn of my saddle and then yelled 
 Raw, Raw, 52 stanch and true, Raw, Raw, Raw 
 H-A-R-V-A-R-D but wot the devil it means 
 Miss i will not be a tellin of you at this writin. 
 i slowed down then to an easy gallop fer the 
 nex ten mile an lit me stump of a clay pipe and 
 trotted inter the fort jest as the sun was peepin 
 up behind the mountings. 
 
 "Were did yer steal the Pinto" axed the 
 boys as they came roun to help me uncinch the 
 jack rabbit. 
 
 "Never mind" sez i "the owner had no use 
 fer him so i borrowed him fer a spell." 
 
 About organizin of the expedition Miss, 
 praps you forgot i am A private, altho gettin 
 good pay it mostly goes to me old daddy who 
 is paralized, and to Jimy wots my brother who 
 has a sick Wife and leven kids, and the 
 darndest piece of swamp which the same he 
 calls a farm, and all it seems to perduce is 
 ager. i could suggest the expedishun tu the 
 capting but would probly hev me bug juice 
 taken away fer ten days fer puttin in me lip. 
 
 You axed about me pards goin off. Well it
 
 270 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 wuz jes before sunset he picked out the mewl 
 he wanted, they was bunched in the corral 
 behind the fort, he swung the lariat kind of 
 gentle like four times over his head and dropped 
 it round the neck of the nastiest cuss of a jinny 
 there was in the herd. The kernel bought her 
 in a bunch com in thro Mizzoury. she was out 
 of a Kentucky runnin mare by a Spanish jack. 
 I dont want to speak disrespectful Miss of that 
 jinny fer she is the gamiest animile in our 
 bunch, but shes a bucker from way back all us 
 does the act fer about fifteen minutes after you 
 straddle her, then shes all rite. 52 saddled 
 her easy like, fer she stands as quiet as a tabby 
 cat until you get on. He cinched her up 
 tighter than usual an acted a little down in the 
 mouth like he had all day. 
 
 "take a sniff of the old stuff" sez i. "You 
 no i never drink " sez he, and it was as cross a 
 word as he ever spoke to me, not cross ezackly 
 but grieved like. He never smoked or i no he 
 wouldent have had these blew spells Miss, 
 smokin is a cure fer bad feel ins as yer may no, 
 by a tryin of it wen yer liver aint rite. 
 
 he tuk a bit of buckskin outer his inside
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 271 
 
 Pocket an in it wuz wrapped up a little strip of 
 red ribbon, he tide this ribbon onter the bridle 
 as he allus does and two of the boys held the 
 jinny that stood as innocent like and meek as 
 one of the sisters of Charity i seed in St. Louis. 
 52 put on his shaps, then his Spurs and his oil 
 skin jacket, buckled his pops on the outside, 
 felt to see his knife was in place, and the bun 
 dle of letters was all right aroun his neck, then 
 he gave a pull to his sombrero and a hitch to 
 his breeches, as he put his left hand into the 
 check strap of that ere mewl his right hand 
 held the bridle rein and rifle as he put it on 
 the horn of the saddle, he put his left foot in 
 the stirrup and swung over inter place as grace 
 ful as a feather, that dam mewl stood as quiet 
 as death and down she sank as if she was goin 
 to lay down, down, down, 52 smiled (wot a han- 
 sum cuss he was wen he smiled) and like a 
 flash of lightning up went that mewl about ten 
 feet in the air and struck stiff legged a hundred 
 feet away. 
 
 52 gave her the spurs and off they went a 
 boundin Up and down at every jump, he stood 
 in one stirrup and reached the other long leg
 
 272 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 clear up to her ears as the boys yelled, then 
 he Pasted her over the head with his sombrero 
 and twisted her tail which stood out like a paint 
 brush, and down they went across the crick, 
 just as the sunset gun Barked we lost sight of 
 em among the cottonwood, and heard him yell 
 Raw, Raw, 52 Stanch and true H-A-R- 
 V-A-RD, fer that s the way he allus said Good 
 bye. That s all there is about 52, Miss, and i 
 no you feel sorry fer us 
 
 So long 
 
 J. BUCKTHORN. 
 
 P. S. I begun this letter 3 days ago and 
 hev put in most my time since on it wen I 
 wasent on guard. Wot about the gooseberries ? 
 hev yer got any one worked up on it yet ? 
 
 JAKE.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 273 
 
 NUMBER XCVI. 
 
 J. R. JONES, SECRETARY OF GEN. JOHN C. FRE 
 MONT, TO REV. HEZEKIAH PENNAWORTH. 
 
 More about the disappearance of Private Forbes. 
 Captain Snyders version of the affair evi 
 dently accepted. An investigation of Forbes 
 record is begun in anticipation of his arrest. 
 
 FORT DENVER, KANSAS TER., 
 
 March 10, 1852. 
 
 REV. H. PENNAWORTH. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND : It is several years since 
 I wrote you last, but I will not soon forget the 
 days of old when we attended school on the 
 hill in Roxbury. I wish now that I had fol 
 lowed your example and gone to Harvard 
 instead of hiding myself in this barren 
 wilderness. 
 
 My folks send the Weekly Herald occasion 
 ally, and I was much pleased, some time ago, 
 to read your name in the list of graduates at 
 the Divinity School, so I do the proper thing 
 and address you as Rev. 
 
 What prompts me to write you at this time
 
 274 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 is on account of a deserter who has just been 
 reported for arrest. He has taken with him 
 $788 of government money. They say he 
 is from Harvard, and the General, knowing I 
 am from near there, told me to write for his 
 record. Name Arthur Ripley Forbes, Class 
 of 52. I think it s only a guess any way that 
 the fellow ever was at Harvard ; and this name 
 may be assumed ; but I act on order from the 
 General. You can easily look over the records, 
 and, if you can locate the man, tell me briefly 
 what you can about him. I write to you about 
 the matter, instead of the mighty moguls of 
 the Varsity, as I know you will do the "biz," 
 and I also wanted to let you know I was on 
 earth. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 J. R. JONES, 
 Sec. Gen. John C. Fremont.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 275 
 
 NUMBER XCVII. 
 
 REV. H. PENNAWORTH TO CAPT. J. R. JONES, 
 SEC Y. 
 
 Mr. H. Pennaworth replies, giving an account 
 of Forbes character. Relates adventures that 
 do not flatter, and as proof encloses copy of 
 complaint presented to the Facility. Speaks 
 of his own trials, and shows how the life 
 of a young clergyman is not always a flowery 
 bed of ease. . 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, March 29. 
 MY DEAR BROTHER : 
 
 I am much gratified to think you remember 
 me, and will gladly serve you in any way possi 
 ble, as it is my constant prayer that I may ever 
 exercise a true spirit of helpfulness. 
 
 I know the man Forbes, well. He in 
 tended to follow law, I believe. He left 
 here something like two years ago, and sent 
 back an elderly female to excite sympathy in his 
 behalf among the students. She succeeded so 
 well that Forbes and this woman must have 
 divided upwards of $400 between them. Since
 
 276 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 then he has taken good care not to come 
 inside the College yard. 
 
 He was a great favorite with most of the 
 boys, because he was at the front in all 
 athletics and turbulent sports. Was in sev 
 eral riots against citizens of the town, and 
 broke probably a hundred panes of glass with 
 snowballs in the two years he was here. 
 Once he was up before the faculty for break 
 ing in the front door of a shoe store, and 
 attacking the proprietor, who had locked up a 
 student in his kitchen until a policeman could 
 be procured to arrest the said student, who 
 was courting the honest shoemaker s daughter. 
 The said student escaped before a police 
 man could be procured, and a mob was 
 formed, with Forbes as leader, and they attacked 
 the shoemaker. The original complaint is on 
 file at the Secretary s office, and I enclose ver 
 batim copy. 
 
 He was a great hand to go on long tramps 
 through the country. On one such expedition 
 he came to a school-house at a cross-roads. 
 
 Entering, he introduced himself to the school 
 mistress (who, by the way, was exceeding
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 277 
 
 comely), as the State Superintendent of Public 
 Instruction. 
 
 Of course the lady was somewhat agitated 
 on receiving a visit from such a high official ; 
 but Forbes put her at ease by explaining that 
 he happened to be in the neighborhood on bus 
 iness, and, having a few moments to spare, 
 thought he would drop in and greet her in an 
 informal way, making a short address to the 
 scholars, which he accordingly did in a grace 
 ful manner. After the address, he said probably 
 the school had never been visited before by the 
 State Superindent, and never would be again ; 
 and under the circumstances, in honor of the 
 event, he suggested that the teacher give the 
 scholars a half-holiday. This was accordingly 
 done, much to the delight of the youngsters. 
 
 Forbes then gave the young lady some good 
 advice about her work and went on his way. 
 
 It is very plain that a man guilty of such 
 imposition and deception must be a dangerous 
 character in any community. 
 
 Forbes once put fourteen frogs in my desk, 
 and was much given to crowding people off 
 the sidewalk into the gutters, and also of
 
 278 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 pushing and crowding when going in and out of 
 Chapel especially coming out. 
 
 He had no respect for religion, and therefore 
 I am not surprised that he has thus come to a 
 bad end. Yet I do not want to say anything 
 against him, as my desire is to speak only good 
 of all, and I trust that, if he gets out of this 
 difficulty, he will reform and conduct himself 
 as becomes a Christian gentleman (if I may 
 be allowed the expression). 
 
 I am tutoring here, and preaching every 
 Lord s day, candidating. I am in hopes I will 
 not receive any regular call yet. Of course, if 
 a people needed me I would go to minister to 
 them ; but the preparing of two sermons a 
 week I do not feel equal to. I think of taking 
 to myself a wife as soon as a suitable person 
 can be found ; but I regret to observe that the 
 young women of our day are much given to 
 frivolky, and lacking in the qualities which a 
 pastor s wife should possess. 
 
 I have seven excellent sermons, which I use 
 as occasion demands. In England, one can 
 purchase the entire stock of a retiring clergy 
 man, and it is considered all right. But here
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 279 
 
 the masses are not educated to a point where 
 they would accept sermons at second-hand, if 
 they knew it, without scoffing. 
 
 My health is quite good, except for a slight 
 attack of bronchitis. I am, dear brother, 
 Your friend in Truth, 
 
 H. PENNAWORTH. 
 
 NUMBER XCVIII. 
 
 COPY OF COMPLAINT AGAINST ARTHUR R. 
 FORBES. 
 
 [I find this document still on file among the 
 records at Harvard, where any one curious in 
 the matter may see it. The man Williams, 
 whose name is appended (a student in the Law 
 School), was evidently the author of the com 
 plaint. The decision of the Faculty in the 
 matter I have been unable to find. E. H.] 
 
 TO THE HONORABLE THE FELLOWS AND FAC 
 ULTY OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY. 
 
 Nicholas Laste, being duly sworn, deposeth 
 as follows to wit : On the I ith day of Novem 
 ber in the year of Our Lord eighteen hundred 
 and fifty and the year of the Independence of
 
 280 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 the United States the seventy-sixth, at eleven 
 o clock at night or thereabouts, the front door 
 of deponent s domicile was broken open by one 
 Arthur R. Forbes, to deponent known, and by 
 other parties to deponent unknown, and forcibly 
 and against deponent s desire the said parties 
 blacked deponent s face with a shoe brush, and 
 used to deponent and lawful wife much 
 unseemly language, and threw over deponent 
 the following, to wit : One bucket of dirty water. 
 One bucket of kitchen slop. On deponent s 
 remonstrating with said Forbes, and asking him 
 to desist in his nefarious work, said Forbes 
 replied, using the following words, to wit : 
 " Shut up, you old wax-end, or I will blow you 
 to Gehenna!" And deponent verily believes 
 he would have done so, had deponent not 
 precipitately fled. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted, and 
 deponent prays that Your Honorable Body will 
 see that proper punishment is meted out to 
 said defendant. 
 
 (Signed) NICHOLAS LASTE. 
 
 This is to certify that I read over above com 
 plaint to deponent, who makes solemn oath on
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 281 
 
 the Holy Evangely that all the statements 
 therein made are true, except such statements 
 as are made on hearsay and belief, and these 
 he believes to be true. 
 
 JAMES WILLIAMS, 
 
 Commissioner of Deeds for and in the Common 
 wealth of Massachusetts. 
 Cambridge, Nov. 21, 1850. 
 
 NUMBER XCIX. 
 
 REV. H. PENNAWORTH TO JEREMIAH PEEPSON. 
 
 The news of Forbes disgrace reaches Concord via 
 Pennaworth, who feels it a duty to inform 
 Justice Peepson. 
 
 CAMBRIDGE, MASS., April 14, 1852. 
 MY DEAR BROTHER : 
 
 Since I last had the pleasure of holding 
 Divine services in your beautiful town, I have 
 ministered to various other flocks. But I 
 always think of your village with feelings of 
 peculiar gratification, knowing that I have been 
 instrumental to a certain degree in neutralizing
 
 282 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 the pernicious effect of the invidious forms of 
 infidelity that have sprung up in your commu 
 nity if I may be allowed the expression. 
 
 My health is quite good, save for a slight 
 attack of bronchitis, which has incapacitated 
 me for preaching for three weeks. 
 
 I am grieved to hear that a certain townsman 
 of yours, one Forbes, has turned out so badly 
 in spite of all the good influences thrown around 
 him. He has deserted from his post of duty, 
 taking with him $988.50 belonging to the 
 Government, and as you are a Justice of the 
 Peace it may interest you to know that a large 
 reward is offered for his capture. He may 
 come back to Concord in disguise, and I have 
 felt it my duty to give you the plain facts, that 
 you might see that the ends of justice are not 
 defeated. 
 
 I am glad to hear that your entire church 
 debt has been paid off, and that the parish is 
 enjoying such a high state of spirituality. 
 
 My regards to your good wife, and family. 
 Yours most sincerely, 
 
 H. PENNAWORTH.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD, 283 
 
 NUMBER C. 
 
 JACOB BUCKTHORN TO GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT. 
 
 Mr. Buckthorn comes to the rescue of his old 
 partner s good name. Another version of 
 the difficulty. 
 
 FORT SAN JACINTO, March 10, 1852. 
 
 DEAR GINERAL 
 
 In an ofishal way i hev no bizness tu write 
 tu you & praps i haint nohow, but i writes as 
 soldier to soldier. 
 
 on that ere first trip across the mountings 
 you an me fit the injuns together an i slep in 
 yer tent ready to jump in a holy second an 
 carry yer orders, we who have suffered an 
 enjyd together do not hev to allus stand on 
 army regulations, this is wy i writes tu you 
 about me pard whose name was 52, but they 
 used tu call him Forbes fer short, he carried 
 the male on the nite run to Bad Mans Gulch, 
 an a finer man, Gineral, never clapped spurs tu 
 a bronc. he was as brave a man as you Gin 
 eral, and i cant put it no stronger, an his heart 
 was lovin as a babbys.
 
 284 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 The Blackfeet layed fer him one nite an his 
 mewl came inter the fort with an arrer thro 
 her ham. The Capting lowed he had run away 
 cause mong his letters was a package of money, 
 but 52 was no thief he wasent, an i ll let day 
 light thro any galoot except hes a commissioned 
 officer, what says he was. The Cap was down 
 on him, he was, cause he wouldent give a taste 
 of the quirt tu a feller who had forgot tu salute, 
 you Never ordered a soldier whipped, you never 
 had a feller tied up by the thumbs. & then the 
 Cap ordered Three soldiers tu give me pard 
 thirty lashes on the bare Hide fer refusin of 
 tu lash another brave soldier wen all of us had 
 looked death in the i together, but the Cap who 
 i reckon isent much better nor a tenderfoot. 
 52 took off his coat and shirt fer the lash but 
 not a man cum forward & the fellers what was 
 ordered tu do the job stood like stumps. The 
 Cap turned red, then pale an ordered all Hands 
 out fer drill. 
 
 Now the Cap sez that 52 has rund off tu 
 escape court martial & stole the money at the 
 same time, its a lie, gineral, the injuns have 
 got him me pard is dead, his scalp is danglin
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 285 
 
 from some red devil s belt, the kyutes have 
 feasted on his flesh, & his bones air now 
 bleachin down some canyon. You and me is 
 here yet, but our bones may bleach tu, and our 
 scalps may dangle, but by God, gineral, we 
 wont post a brave man fer a deserter, will we 
 Gineral ? 
 
 JACOB BUCKTHORN, 
 
 Private. 
 
 NUMBER CI. 
 
 MRS. FORBES TO DR. JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 The good, simple mother, bowed with grief, 
 writes to Dr. Holworthy, telling of the trouble 
 that has come iipon Jier in her old age. Sorrow 
 always has its alloy. In the darkest moments 
 of the soul, past joys, and hope for the future, 
 sweeten the bitterness of the present. 
 
 CONCORD, MASS., April 15, 1852. 
 
 DEAR JOHN : 
 
 I am in deep trouble. Oh, the shame of
 
 286 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 having children grow up to disgrace their 
 parents ! I always said it would come to this, 
 the reading of those infidel books. 
 
 They say my son has deserted from the 
 army ; but, John, I am sure that if a soldier 
 does not want to work any longer, he has a 
 perfect right to quit, after giving notice. 
 Don t you think so, John ? But my Arthur 
 would never steal. No ! Someone else took 
 the money. 
 
 Squire Peepson said he heard Arthur was 
 hiding in my house. He came here with 
 Jones the constable. He had a long letter which 
 he read to me : he said it was a search warrant. 
 They looked all through the house in the 
 garret and cellar, and under all the beds, and 
 then in the hen-house. 
 
 Of course it is very kind in them to try and 
 find my son for me. Mr. Jones is a very nice 
 man ; he brings up his children in God-fearing 
 manner. He is a good provider. Everyone is 
 very kind to me in my trouble. Rev. Mr. Pen- 
 naworth came first, to tell us about it. He 
 was so kind and good, and broke the news so 
 gently. Mr. Pennaworth said, now that Arthur
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 287 
 
 was out of work, he would likely come right 
 back here, and we must tell Mr. Jones at once, 
 so they could clear him of the charge of taking 
 the money. After all, John, I am glad Arthur 
 will be back to see us ; he never spoke a cross 
 word to me. When I used to scold a little 
 as you know any woman will, when there is so 
 much to do he used to come and kiss me on 
 the ear and say he was glad I wasn t twins, for 
 one like me was all he could manage ; and then 
 I would hit him with the broom, and we would 
 laugh and forget our troubles. 
 
 If he comes to Cambridge first, you must 
 both come up here at once. He did not take 
 the money did he, John ? 
 
 He used to kiss me on the ear and call me 
 his little old sweetheart. He did not take the 
 money, John, did he ? You know he did not. 
 He will soon be back, and he is now so strong 
 and well. He will explain it all when he 
 comes. 
 
 If he did not want to be a soldier why, 
 what difference was it ? He will be here on 
 Sunday; don t you think so, John ? He always 
 came on Saturdays, you know. He used
 
 288 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 to kiss me on the ear, and call me whitey 
 sweetheart. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 P. FORBES. 
 
 NUMBER CII. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT. 
 
 A plea in behalf of Forbes good name. Let 
 the dead rest from their labors in peace. 
 
 CONCORD, MASS., May i, 1852. 
 GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT. 
 
 DEAR SIR: I write you in reference to 
 Arthur Ripley Forbes, Courier, who disap 
 peared from his post of duty between Fort San 
 Jacinto and Bad Man s Gulch, on night of Feb. 
 
 2 I St. 
 
 I understand that the animal which he rode 
 came into the fort with an arrow shot through 
 its leg, which is proof that Forbes was attacked 
 by the Indians and has not deserted. 
 
 The suggestion by Captain Snyder, that 
 Forbes himself would turn the animal loose
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 289 
 
 and shoot it with the arrow, to divert suspicion, 
 is too far-fetched to take the time of sensible 
 people. Only an evil-minded person would 
 ever make such a libelous charge ; for one s 
 opinion of others is generally the reflex of his 
 own heart. 
 
 Forbes bears an excellent reputation here 
 among all good people. At Harvard College 
 he was a general favorite among both professors 
 and students, and the fact that he had a noble 
 and generous spirit cannot be disproved. 
 
 I beg that you will investigate the charge of 
 "mutiny" brought by Captain Snyder; and, 
 knowing nothing of the circumstances, but 
 knowing Mr. Forbes, I venture the assertion 
 that Forbes rebellion was in behalf of some 
 unfortunate individual. I am told that your 
 department has offered a reward for the capture 
 of Private Forbes ; by so doing, you have cast 
 a cloud over the fair name of a brave man. 
 
 I most earnestly pray that you will have the 
 record read, "Killed in action." Withdraw 
 the offer of reward for capture, and thus 
 partially undo the wrong that has been done 
 a soldier as brave and honorable as a Sobieski.
 
 290 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Do not allow his name to be bandied 
 upon the tongue of rumor; for, in addition 
 to the wrong done to the dead, this shameful 
 libel -has deeply pained those to whom he stood 
 as lover, son and friend. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 H. HAROLD. 
 
 NUMBER CIII. 
 
 GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 General Fremont defends Ids position in a 
 plausible and respectful manner. 
 
 FORT ALAMO, CAL., June 10, 1852. 
 H. HAROLD, CONCORD, MASS. 
 
 SIR: Your letter of May ist received. The 
 offer of a reward for the capture of one Forbes 
 was based on the fact that his disappearance 
 occurred immediately after his having First: 
 caused a mutiny, and while an order was out 
 for troops to quell the disturbance he had 
 created. Second : He had with him at the time 
 a large amount of money belonging to the
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 291 
 
 government. Third : The animal he rode did 
 not come into the fort for several days after 
 his disappearance, thus showing that it had 
 evidently been ridden many miles from the 
 route before being turned loose. 
 
 A full investigation of the facts will be 
 made at once, and if a wrong has been done to 
 the name of Forbes, due reparation will follow. 
 No doubt this man was a fairly good soldier, and 
 I do not question the excellence of his charac 
 ter at home, but men who carry themselves up 
 rightly in the East, when surrounded by the 
 safeguards of law and custom, often reveal a 
 different side of their natures here, where law 
 is almost unknown. The failure to obey a 
 superior officer is a charge not easily over 
 looked. The first duty of a soldier is to obey ; 
 and should I look lightly on such an offense, I 
 would consider myself derelict to duty. I am 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 J. C. FREMONT.
 
 292 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER CIV. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO DR. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Dr. Holworthy has evidently been true to his 
 trust and sent the dividend to Miss Meredith. 
 Ignorant of where the money came from, Miss 
 Harold writes her acknowledgments in a 
 well-worded note. 
 
 CONCORD, June 8, 1852. 
 
 DEAR DOCTOR : 
 
 I write you on request of Miss Meredith, to 
 thank you for the $180, which you so kindly 
 sent. 
 
 I am sure that if it was not for your excel 
 lent foresight the good woman would now be 
 without income. Of course she would not 
 suffer in any event, as I am doing fairly well 
 tutoring, and there are many others in Con 
 cord who would deem it a privilege to divide 
 their portion with Miss Meredith who has her 
 self done so much for others. But the idea that 
 she is not dependent on charity, is almost 
 necessary to the life of one so full of the spirit 
 of self-reliance.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 293 
 
 Again thanking you for Miss Meredith, and 
 on my own account for all of your many gener 
 ous acts, I am 
 
 Your friend, 
 
 H. HAROLD. 
 
 NUMBER CV. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO DR. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Miss Meredith seriously ill. A request that 
 the doctor will bring the certificates for Old 
 Colony R. R. stock to their owner or dispose 
 of them for cash and turn in the proceeds. 
 
 CONCORD, Aug. 10, 1852. 
 
 DR. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I am obliged to inform you 
 that Miss Meredith has had another severe 
 attack of inflammatory rheumatism, and Dr. Pea- 
 body thinks her recovery doubtful. 
 
 The good woman s mind is more alert and 
 bright than I ever saw it. The effect of physi 
 cal pain, as I have heard you say, is often to 
 arouse the intellect. Miss Meredith knows the
 
 294 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 end may be near, and she requests me to have 
 you bring the certificates for her Old Colony 
 Railroad stock. Or if you can sell for 1.07 cash, 
 do so. She desires me to deposit the money in 
 the bank here, as she proposes to dispose of the 
 estate herself, rather than make a will, as she 
 has a superstitious dread of lawyers and courts, 
 and fears her wishes will not be properly 
 respected. 
 
 I see by to-day s paper, that Old Colony 
 stock is quoted at $1.05, which is proof of your 
 wisdom in buying at par. I do not know what 
 will be the nature of Miss Meredith s bequests, 
 but I suppose the funds will go to certain edu 
 cational institutions in Boston in which she is 
 interested. 
 
 Kindly act promptly about converting the 
 stock into cash, as Miss Meredith is urgent in 
 this matter. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 HONOR HAROLD.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 295 
 
 NUMBER CVI. 
 
 DR. HOLWORTHY TO MISS HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 On receiving Miss Harold s letter the doctor is 
 taken suddenly ill. Informs his correspond 
 ent that dissolution is near at hand. 
 
 CAMBRIDGEPORT, Aug. 20, 1852. 
 
 DEAR Miss HAROLD : 
 
 Your letter received. I would have fol 
 lowed your wishes, but I am sick beyond recov 
 ery, and now lie on my death-bed. It is acute 
 pericarditis, and the poor wretch who writes 
 you this, may stand before his Maker and 
 hear the words, "Depart ye accursed," etc., 
 before you read these lines. Pray for me. 
 Yours truly, 
 
 J. HOLWORTHY, M. D.
 
 296 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER CVII. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO DR. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Miss Harold evidently not greatly alarmed at 
 the doctor s condition. Expresses sympathy, 
 and asks permission to call on him. 
 
 CONCORD, Aug. 21, 1852. 
 
 MY DEAR DOCTOR : 
 
 I much regret to hear of your serious illness, 
 but trust it is only temporary. If I can do any 
 thing to alleviate your suffering, please com 
 mand me. 
 
 Miss Meredith is quite anxious about selling 
 the stock at the present quotation of 1.08 1-2. 
 And when I call, you can give me the certifi 
 cates, and I can transact the business. At 
 what hour to-morrow may I see you ? 
 
 I am glad to observe that your handwriting 
 does not show great weakness, so I trust you 
 are convalescent ere this. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 HONOR HAROLD.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 297 
 
 NUMBER CVIII. 
 
 DR. HOLWORTHY TO MISS HAROLD. 
 
 The doctor slightly better. Makes a confession 
 that he never sold the Livingston stock. " The 
 man soured on him" Sends the balance of 
 $ 1 80 given him by Forbes to pay dividends. 
 
 CAMBRIDGEPORT, Aug. 23. 
 
 MY DEAR Miss HAROLD: 
 
 The attack was very severe, and I thought 
 the end was near. Fortunately I was able to 
 bring the proper remedies to bear and am to 
 day still in the land of the living. But I am 
 only a wreck, and from now on I walk the 
 earth, if life lingers, only a bruised reed. 
 
 About the certificates, Miss Harold God 
 help me ! At the last moment, I was unable to 
 exchange the Livingston for Q. C. I had it all 
 fixed, but the man soured on me. 
 
 I never had the heart to tell you ; but I cannot 
 die with a lie on my lips, so I tell you the truth, 
 and send the Livingston certificates with this. 
 
 I would be most happy to have you call, but 
 the sight of my haggard face would unnerve
 
 298 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 you. I am so emaciated, and my eyes are so 
 glassy, I scare horses on the street. Pray for 
 me. 
 
 Disconsolately, 
 
 J. HOLWORTHY, M. D. 
 
 P. S. I send draft for $180 to pay div. for 
 Nov. on Liv. certifs. My opinion is that it s 
 better stock now than O. C., if one has nerve 
 to hold it. 
 
 NUMBER CIX. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO DR. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 Miss Harold s generous nature pardons the doc 
 tors weakness. She thanks him for his dis 
 interested kindness. A surprise. Miss Mere 
 dith divides the bulk of her property between 
 Miss Honor and Dr. Hohvorthy. 
 
 CONCORD, Aug. 24, 1852. 
 
 MY DEAR DOCTOR: 
 
 The Livingston Mill certificates received, 
 and also the money to pay the November 
 interest.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 299 
 
 Miss Meredith begs to thank you most cord 
 ially for all of the tender consideration you 
 have shown in this matter. 
 
 Of course you tried to sell the stock and 
 invest the money in a safer way, and that you 
 failed to do so was not your fault. You have 
 advanced the dividends out of your purse to a 
 lone woman, and I cannot find words to express 
 my high regard for the disinterested sympathy 
 which you have shown. 
 
 Now here is something which may interest 
 you. Miss Meredith s desire is to divide 
 this stock between you and me, as she said 
 now that Arthur has gone we are her best 
 friends. She thinks she will not recover and so 
 has made the division now ; but she has been un 
 fair in the matter, giving $4000 to me and only 
 $2000 to you. She wanted to convert the 
 stock into cash ; but I showed her your letter, 
 where you said you considered the mill stock 
 valuable property to those who would hold it for 
 a year or two. So she will have the certificate 
 for $2000 made out in your name, and mail 
 it to you soon. 
 
 Miss Meredith has at last consented to let
 
 800 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 us move her over to Mrs. Forbes . I have 
 rented the cottage ; so here we are, to use the 
 language of Aunt Marie," three fine old ladies." 
 And, really, we are quite merry at times. 
 
 We are all very sorry to hear of your physi 
 cal condition ; but you are a young man, Dr. 
 Holworthy, and surely your health will return. 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 H. HAROLD. 
 
 NUMBER CX. 
 
 DR. HOLWORTHY TO HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 Dr. Holworthy much better. Shows Jiis generos 
 ity by wanting Miss Harold to have all the 
 Livingston stock. Endeavors to console and 
 proposes a buggy ride. 
 
 CAMBRIDGEPORT, Aug. 25, 1852. 
 
 MY D^AR Miss HAROLD : 
 
 Whether in answer to your prayers, or to the 
 operation of the medicine which I have been 
 taking, I do not know, but my condition has 
 much improved. Pulse a trifle fast, but tem 
 perature nearly normal and appetile fait ; so it
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 301 
 
 looks as if I were almost convalescent, and once 
 more on the highway to recovery. 
 
 That Aunt Marie has given me one-third of 
 the Liv. stock, quite upsets me in my weak 
 state. I have done nothing to deserve it. 
 Please have her reconsider and give it all to you, 
 as I do not need it. I feel that I will soon be 
 well, and my practice has increased every month 
 for a year. 
 
 It is all up with Arthur! A fine fellow he was; 
 but why grieve over him ? We must brace up, 
 and remember that all flesh is mortal. We are 
 here to make the best of life, and our duty is to 
 live above all that distresses or troubles. Let 
 the dead rest. I am a transcendentalist, I am. 
 
 You spoke in a former letter of coming down 
 to see me. I would be much pleased to have you 
 do so. Come Sunday, on the morning train 
 never mind going to church, for once. I will 
 get a livery rig and take you back in the afternoon. 
 It will be a glorious ride. Meet me at Harvard 
 Square, Sunday, at 9.45. I am feeling better 
 than for some weeks. 
 
 Yours always, 
 
 J. HOLWORTHY, M. D.
 
 302 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER CX. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO DR. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 After some days Miss Harold ivrites . expressing 
 
 her regrets, etc. Miss Meredith recovering. 
 
 Hope never dies. 
 
 CONCORD, Sept. 5, 1852. 
 DR. HOLWORTHY. 
 
 DEAR SIR : I was unable to accept your kind 
 invitation of some weeks ago, but Miss Mere 
 dith wishes me to write and ask you to come up 
 and see "the three old ladies " when convenient. 
 
 Aunt Marie is better than she has been for 
 years, and to-day walked down to the post- 
 office and back. She works in the garden and 
 about the house, and is the youngest of the 
 three. 
 
 We have received no further word from 
 Arthur, although I have written both to Mr. 
 Buckthorn and General Fremont. I sometimes 
 think he may be alive ; the Indians may have 
 made him a prisoner. 
 
 With my duties here and my pupils in Bos 
 ton, I am kept quite busy. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 H. HAROLD.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 303 
 
 NUMBER CXI. 
 
 MISS HAROLD TO DR. JOHN HOLWORTHY. 
 
 * 
 
 The spirit of Mrs. Forbes passes away. A let 
 ter showing great depths of tender feeling. 
 The last days of the good mother. " Tired of 
 waiting for her boy, she goes to meet him." 
 
 [To some it might seem a trifle queer that 
 Miss Harold should enter into such tender 
 detail in writing to Dr. Hoi worthy, whose sen 
 sibilities we know were not over acute. I 
 think, however, the loving heart of the writer 
 found solace for her sorrow by thus dwelling 
 on the last scenes of her whose- spirit had just 
 passed away. Those who have stood by the 
 open graves of their beloved dead, know some 
 what of this tendency to linger lovingly over 
 the details of the last sad moments. Does the 
 breaking heart find balm in expression ? 
 
 In the Orient there is a proverb used where a 
 man has been guilty of wrong acts. They say, 
 " God has seen fit to tempt him beyond what 
 he could bear." The character of Dr. Hoi- 
 worthy as shown in these letters, was weak 
 and vacillating, but it will be seen that his 
 weakness sprang from his generous heart. 
 The quality of his affection, I admit, was not 
 exalted, but surely a dull and unloving per 
 son would never have been subject to his 
 inconsistencies. When we see people stray
 
 304 FOKBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 from virtue s path, let us think of the Hindoo 
 proverb I have just quoted; for what know we 
 of the "breaking tension " of these souls about 
 us, and what know we even of our own when 
 we sit in the safe chimney corner of our firesides ! 
 Judge not. 
 
 This record of the closing days of Mrs. 
 Forbes, moved me deeply. The simple, earnest 
 faith of this Christian woman overtops tomes 
 of so-called free-thought logic. In days of 
 physical health her life was filled with petty 
 cares and trials, she was apprehensive and often 
 fearful. The established religion of her time 
 was full of these nightmares of the soul, and 
 few escaped their baleful influence. Yet at 
 the last we see glimpses of the "peace that 
 passeth understanding," and perhaps, if the 
 dead could come back, we would hear from 
 their lips that it is ever so. 
 
 "From the voiceless lips of the unreplying 
 dead, there comes no word ; but in the night 
 of death, hope sees a star; and listening love 
 can hear the rustle of a wing. He who sleeps 
 here, said with his latest breath, I am better 
 now. Let us believe in spite of tears and fears 
 and doubts and dogmas, that these dear words 
 are true of all the countless dead." 
 
 The last days of Mrs. Forbes were the most 
 peaceful she had ever known. Was it a fore 
 taste of the life to come ? E. H .]
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 305 
 
 CONCORD, MASS., May 2, 1853. 
 
 DEAR DOCTOR : 
 
 I write to inform you that the spirit of our 
 dear friend Mrs. Forbes passed away yesterday 
 afternoon. 
 
 Wherr the word first came of the disaster to 
 Arthur, I kept it from her, hoping for better 
 news later; but alas, none came. Mr. Penna- 
 worth informed her first that Arthur had 
 deserted, and she then began to look for his 
 return. At night when the evening train 
 would come from Boston, she would hear the 
 whistle and hasten to arrange her hair and 
 adjust her cap before the little mirror in the 
 kitchen, saying softly to herself, "I am his wee 
 white-haired sweetheart, so I must look nice 
 when he comes ; " and then she would go and 
 look down the road until I called her in. 
 
 She would put a plate on the table for him, 
 and consult me about what to cook, as she 
 was always planning delicacies he liked. 
 
 There were some clothes in my closet that 
 belonged to Arthur, and she would come in so 
 quietly and get the garments to look them over
 
 306 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 to see if they needed mending ; a hundred 
 times I saw her do this. She knitted a dozen 
 pair of stockings for him, and each Sunday 
 morning laid out his clean linen, which I 
 would again put away after she had gone down 
 stairs. 
 
 Some years ago she was irritable and* fretful, 
 at times ; but the last year her life was sweet, 
 calm and untroubled as the breath of June. 
 
 When I would go to the post-office she 
 would always ask if I had a letter from Arthur. 
 
 By slow degrees her mind withdrew, and she 
 would sleep at hight as quietly as a baby. No 
 doubts, no fears. " My burden has all been 
 taken away," she would often say to me; and 
 when I tried to keep back the tears, she would 
 say, " Why, my daughter, do you cry, when God 
 is so good ? " She thought I was her child 
 Martha who died years ago. 
 
 She would request me to read over the letters 
 Arthur had written, and as I read she would 
 close her eyes and rock the chair back and 
 forth and say : " How good God is to give me 
 such a son. Is his cough better, Martha ? It is, 
 is it not ? "
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 307 
 
 At last we thought best to tell her he was 
 dead, and I tried to express it so gently. "No, 
 dear child ; I just heard his voice in the garden," 
 she said. " Go, please, and tell him I want him to 
 come and kiss me good-night for I am his wee 
 white-haired sweetheart, you know." 
 
 Gradually she grew weaker and weaker. 
 
 Yesterday morning we propped her in the 
 big chair, where she could look out of the win 
 dow. I noticed her voice was very faint as she 
 whispered : " I think he will come to-night ! Do 
 I look all right ? I m his little sweetheart." 
 
 She was very fond of flowers, and I placed 
 in her hand a bunch of violets which she had 
 herself planted. 
 
 She looked across the valley at the hills, over 
 which played the sunshine and the shadow. 
 She motioned me to look, too ; and moved her 
 lips as if trying to speak of the serene beauty 
 of the scene ; then she closed her eyes and I 
 thought she wanted to sleep, so I left her alone. 
 
 When I came back in half an hour, the thin 
 hands still held the violets in her lap, just as 
 when I left her, but the fingers were cold and 
 stiff, I saw that the good mother had waited as
 
 308 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 long as she could for her boy. He did not come, 
 and she had gone to meet him. 
 
 We lay her tired form away beneath the 
 pines in Sleepy Hollow to-morrow at ten o clock. 
 It is two years to-morrow since Arthur left 
 Concord. 
 
 Sincerely your friend, 
 
 HONOR HAROLD. 
 
 NUMBER CXIII. 
 
 GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT TO H. HAROLD. 
 
 Good^news. A letter from General Fremont 
 enclosing newspaper clippings. 
 
 FORT ALAMO, CAL., Oct. 4, 1853. 
 
 H. HAROLD, ESQ., CONCORD, MASS. 
 
 SIR : Some time ago you interested your 
 self in one Private Forbes, a deserter, for 
 whose capture a reward was offered. By read 
 ing the enclosed clippings from the San 
 Francisco Vindicator, you will see you were 
 wrong in your conclusions.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 309 
 
 The charge against Forbes is a serious one, 
 but I am inclined to believe the story of his 
 being taken captive by the Indians is truth. If 
 so, this would relieve him of the implication of 
 desertion ; but the charge of mutiny he will have 
 to stand trial for. A private by the name of 
 Isaac Buckhorn, otherwise known as Huckle 
 berry Ike, was here a few months ago and 
 spoke very highly of Forbes. 
 
 This Buckhorn was a scout in my command 
 for awhile; and as he is honest, and a good 
 judge of human nature, I think his estimate of 
 the man is correct. 
 
 I have ordered Forbes release on ticket of 
 leave, for nothing more can be done now, 
 except to order him to stay in California and 
 let them go on with the court martial. 
 
 It may take several months to get the wit 
 nesses together for the trial, as the complainant, 
 Captain Snyder, is in Texas. Nothing but a 
 pardon from the President can effect Forbes 
 release ; so you will tell his friends that they 
 must be patient, for he will be given an 
 impartial trial. 
 
 I thought best to send the clippings and let
 
 310 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 you know that the man is alive, as I judge you 
 are an attorney acting for his kinsmen. I 
 deemed it likely he might feel his disgrace so 
 keenly that he would not tell you of his where 
 abouts ; or, if not this, he would fear paining 
 his friends by reciting his difficulties. I have 
 noticed that not one soldier in a . hundred 
 writes to his folks, anyway, even in prosperity. 
 I am, dear sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN C. FREMONT.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 811 
 
 NUMBER CXIV. 
 
 FROM THE "SAN FRANCISCO VINDICATOR" 
 OF SEPT. 14, 1853. 
 
 FICTION OUTDONE. 
 
 A Soldier captured by the Indians be 
 comes their Big Medicine Man. 
 
 WHILE WITH THEM HE DISCOVERS A RICH 
 LEAD IN A DESERTED MINE. 
 
 CLAIM BOUGHT UP BY THE CONSOLIDATED COM 
 PANY FOR 35,OOO. 
 
 In this glorious country there is a quality in 
 the atmosphere which makes it easy to do 
 things that would be absolutely impossible in 
 the dreamy, effete and psychic East. 
 
 For instance, last week we recorded how 
 Freckled Smith broke a faro bank, married 
 Dolly Dimple the boss beauty of the Champs 
 Elysees, and then had four bullets sent through
 
 312 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 his gizzard by a former lover of the Dimple, 
 all inside of forty-eight hours. 
 
 Now we have a true story of a different 
 nature, and much more pleasant to relate. 
 
 The sleepy coyote who pretends to edit the 
 dirty sheet of bombast in Pig Alley, and flatters 
 himself that he is our competitor, may get the 
 news from this report and rehash it day after 
 to-morrow, but here it is now. 
 
 Moral : When you want the news, read the 
 Vindicator. But to our story : At room 169 in 
 the Grand Central Hotel is Mr. A. R. Forbes, 
 formerly from Boston, and more recently Big 
 Medicine Man among the Blackfeet. 
 
 Forbes was a courier in U. S. Army and ran 
 a night run between Fort San Jacinto and Bad 
 Man s Gulch, eighty miles straight, between 
 the time old Sol took his night-cap and said 
 good-by behind the mountains, and his blink 
 ing in the bright A. M. 
 
 A hard ride, but many a man in Frisco has 
 done harder. 
 
 On the night of Feb. 4th, 1852, Forbes 
 started as usual. The moon came out bright 
 and clear, a thing that strikes terror to a night
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 313 
 
 rider in an injun country. All went well until* 
 our hero had gotten within ten miles of the 
 fort, when, behold ! Injuns. 
 
 There they were behind every rock, and 
 they let the arrows whiz. What could Forbes 
 do but turn about and clap the spurs to his 
 mule; but the injuns had fresh horses, and it 
 was now near daylight and the courier s mule 
 was fagged. 
 
 No sane man ever surrenders to the red dev 
 ils. It s death either way ; and better be done 
 for in fair fight than be tied to a tree and have 
 your naked body lashed with hickory switches 
 
 9 
 
 by squaws, and end up with a dance and a holo 
 caust at which you are invited to be present. 
 
 Forbes saw they were gaining on him, and 
 resolved to dismount and fight it out, when an 
 arrow caught his mule in the ham and down 
 she went, with rider underneath, and the injuns 
 had Forbes in a jiffy. It seems the mule was 
 only wounded, and up she got and away. 
 
 They intended to kill the prisoner at once, 
 when they captured him ; but a row started 
 among the red gents as to who should have his 
 scalp. The gent that wanted to kill him was
 
 314 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 restrained by a more influential red gent, and 
 so they just decided to carry him away and 
 decide later. 
 
 They put Forbes on a horse and tied his feet 
 underneath so tight that it took off the skin ; 
 and on each ankle, now, he shows a scar that 
 looks like a bracelet. 
 
 They ran him off, he thinks, about fifty miles ; 
 when they camped in a canyon, and untied the 
 prisoner to look him over. 
 
 It seems Forbes had learned to talk the Black- 
 feet lingo a little ; and as he is a fine fellow 
 anyway, over six feet tall, they fell to admiring 
 him as they powwowed about how they would 
 send him to the spirit land. 
 
 They had taken his rifle and pistols, but 
 didn t know how to use them. Forbes saw 
 one of the injuns was a leader in the party, and 
 he began to talk to this chief. 
 
 He also noticed the bucks were not on the 
 best of terms with each other, and that the 
 chief was disliked by one big fellow in particu 
 lar ; so Forbes told the chief he would like to 
 wrestle the big cuss. Here was fun ! and the 
 challenge was given.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD, 815 
 
 Forbes, it seems, is an expert on the carpet. 
 The injun was not to be bluffed before his fel 
 low-citizens, so he stripped and they went at it. 
 Forbes got in a half Nelson on him in short 
 order. 
 
 Then he told the chief he would fight any 
 one of them with his fists ; but an injun is as 
 much afraid of a fist as he is of a revolver, and 
 none would come forward. He then showed 
 the chief how to use the rifle, and had got on 
 such good terms with him, that as they could 
 not decide as to which one should have his 
 scalp, they just let him keep it himself. 
 
 Forbes told them he was a Medicine Man, 
 and wanted to become one of the tribe. So 
 they let him paint his face, and he changed 
 clothes with several of them, which they were 
 glad to do. And he went with them clear up 
 to the North Branch of the Muscle Shell, where 
 they were going to trap beaver. 
 
 All of this is not to the point, however ; only 
 
 preliminary, and by the way. The thing that 
 
 touches our souls about the case is, that while 
 
 ^ with these injuns Forbes found a gold lead that 
 
 assays the richest that has been seen since the
 
 316 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Sally Waters was located. The injuns showed 
 Forbes the lead ; and he escaped soon after, 
 and struck an overland train and a troop of 
 cavalry. With this train was Major Beezum, 
 chief prospector for the New York Consolidated 
 Mining Company. 
 
 Forbes got Beezum interested, and they 
 looked the claim over ; and the result of it is, 
 that Forbes has sold out to the Consolidated 
 for $35,000 in cash. 
 
 He has got the money in five New York 
 drafts, and sails on the Western Queen for 
 New York to-morrow. 
 
 Forbes is as modest a brown-whiskered 
 gentleman as you could find in a day s search. 
 He was trying on a gray suit of store clothes 
 at Solomon Eikenstein s (whose advertisement 
 appears in this paper) when the reporter found 
 him. He was. averse to telling the story, but 
 the Vindicator interviewers are the kind that 
 get the facts. 
 
 The Consolidated is to be congratulated on 
 the purchase. They now have four of the best 
 producing claims yet struck in California ; and 
 although the fools that came here in 49, expect-
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 317 
 
 ing to pick up double eagles in the street, got 
 badly left, yet the gold mines of this country 
 are bound to turn out the dust, when worked 
 on scientific principles. Great is California ! 
 
 NUMBER CX. 
 
 FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO VINDICATOR OF 
 SEPT. 1 6, 1853. 
 
 The Vindicator yesterday recorded the facts 
 about one Forbes selling his claim to the Con 
 solidated. The money had all been paid over 
 and Forbes had engaged passage and state 
 room on the Western Queen, which sailed to 
 day. But just as he was going on board he 
 was arrested by United States Marshal Wat- 
 kins, on charge of mutiny, and desertion from 
 the army. 
 
 This fully explains the haste Forbes has 
 shown in starting for the East. 
 
 The prisoner was seen at the jail, but refused 
 to talk. He seems to be a very gentlemanly 
 individual on the surface ; but they say he is a
 
 318 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 bad one, and can use a knife quicker than any 
 man this side of the Ridge. 
 
 He led an insurrection at Fort San Jacinto, 
 and locked the commander of the fort in the 
 guard-house, and afterwards made him do 
 guard duty, carrying a rail ; the troops got into 
 the supplies, and made the corks fly, and all 
 hands had a glorious drunk, ending up with a 
 fight in which four were killed. 
 
 Forbes took six horses and all the money 
 that was sent to pay off the troops, and made 
 good his escape. This was over a year ago ; 
 it may take a little time, but eventually justice 
 must be done. Verily the way of the trans 
 gressor is hard ! 
 
 There is no mistake about the claim, though ; 
 the latest report is that it is richer than at first 
 reported by Colonel Beezum. We congratulate 
 the Consolidated on the purchase.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 319 
 
 NUMBER CXVI. 
 
 GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT TO H. HAROLD. 
 
 information given that the money Forbes 
 was entrusted to carry zvas faithfully guarded. 
 Its rettirn leads to his arrest. 
 
 FORT ALAMO, Oct. 6, 1853. 
 
 H. HAROLD, CONCORD, MASS. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Since writing you a few days 
 ago, I have received official notification of the 
 arrest of Forbes. 
 
 It seems he had the money which he was 
 entrusted to carry, in a leather pouch fastened 
 to his belt, and he carried this through all his 
 experience with the Indians. The money was 
 returned to the United States paymaster at 
 Frisco by Forbes immediately on his arrival 
 there, and led to the arrest. 
 
 You thus see that if he had not seen fit to 
 report to the authorities, he would not have 
 been arrested at all, as the belief had gone 
 out that he had been killed, and his record on 
 the service books reads, "Killed in action." 
 
 The charges now against him are reduced to
 
 320 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 those of mutiny and inciting insurrection, fol 
 lowed by desertion and theft. These, under 
 some circumstances, would be very serious 
 offences ; but as it stands, if he is found guilty 
 the penalty ought not to be severe. 
 
 The newspaper reports I sent you were not 
 very exact, but as near the truth, I suppose, as 
 the average newspaper can get. Reporters 
 have no time to sift evidence. No doubt they 
 wish to tell the truth, but they desire still more 
 to write a readable article. 
 I am, dear sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JOHN C. FREMONT. 
 
 NUMBER CXVII. 
 
 H. HAROLD TO GEN. JOHN C. FREMONT. 
 
 CONCORD, MASS., Nov. 18, 1853. 
 
 MY DEAR SIR : 
 
 Your favors of October 4th and 6th received. 
 
 Your great kindness in thus interesting your 
 self in the misfortunes of a worthy man is only 
 equaled by the joy your letters caused to the
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 321 
 
 friends of Mr. Forbes on hearing of his being 
 alive. 
 
 I have not yet decided what steps will be 
 taken for his defense ; but I trust no move will 
 be made in the trial, until the friends of Mr. 
 Forbes can have time to act in his behalf. 
 With high regard, dear general, I am, 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 H. HAROLD. 
 
 NUMBER CXVIII. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO MISS MARIE MEREDITH. 
 
 The trip to Washington. The call at the White 
 House. The pardon. All aboard for the 
 Golden Gate. 
 
 WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 22, 1853. 
 
 DEAR AUNT MARIE: 
 
 I arrived here all right, at nine o clock this 
 morning, and had no trouble in finding Mr. 
 Sumner. 
 
 The Senator read over the letters of Mr. 
 Buckthorn, and made memorandum of the fact 
 that General Fremont had great faith in him.
 
 322 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 Those affidavits, and the petition signed by 
 all of the Harvard professors, he said were all 
 in perfect order. The letter of General Fre 
 mont, expressing a belief in Arthur s inno 
 cence, he considered the best of all ; and the 
 fact of his having returned the money, was of 
 course in his favor. 
 
 The Senator then called a carriage and we 
 went to the White House. 
 
 The President received us very cordially 
 no more formality than going into the Concord 
 Bank. There were several men waiting ; but 
 Mr. Pierce was in no hurry, and read over all 
 the letters carefully. He smiled a little at Mr. 
 Buckthorn s and sighed at General Fremont s, 
 and asked if H. Harold, Esq., was my father. 
 
 I had to explain that / was H. Harold, Esq. 
 Then he smiled again ; then looked sober, and 
 tapped absent-mindedly on the desk. Then he 
 opened his watch, and I saw the picture of a 
 face in miniature on the dial. He looked at 
 it an instant, and turned to me and asked 
 abruptly, "Are you engaged to be married to 
 Mr. Forbes ? " Perhaps he saw I was a little 
 agitated. I answered at once, "Yes, sir."
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 323 
 
 He blew his nose very savagely on a big red 
 handkerchief, and reached over and took a pen 
 and signed his name deliberately to the pardon 
 which Senator Sumner had already written out. 
 A clerk standing near affixed a big seal to the 
 document. 
 
 Not another word did the President say. I 
 tried to speak, but could not ; he pressed my 
 hand and bowed us out, and here I am waiting 
 for the train for New York. 
 
 The steamer sails at 5 P. M. for the Isth 
 mus ; and, if we have fair weather, I will get to 
 San Francisco in four weeks. 
 
 Adieu, dear old aunty ! I love you well ; 
 and will write you a little line every day on the 
 trip, and mail it when I can. 
 
 With tenderest regard to the Dearest of 
 Womankind, I am, 
 
 Ever your 
 
 "HoNor BRIGHT."
 
 324 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER CXIX. 
 
 HONOR HAROLD TO MARIE MEREDITH. 
 
 And it came to pass. 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 23, 1853. 
 
 MY DEAR AUNT : 
 
 I mailed you an envelope filled to overflow 
 ing at the Isthmus, and a still larger one has 
 gone to-day, all filled with messages I wrote my 
 dear old aunt on board ship. 
 
 I told you of the wonderful sights of the sea ; 
 of going down from New England, the land of 
 lingering snow, to the tropics, where roses are 
 always in bloom. Of how our steamer came 
 creeping up the western coast ; of the whale 
 we saw; of the porpoises and flying fish, and 
 how the passengers and officers of the boat 
 vied with each other in kindnesses to your girlie. 
 Why was this, Auntie Dear? You must have 
 told them a great lot of nice things about me, 
 and they believed them all ; and so I have been 
 treated as a very princess ever since I left 
 Concord.
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 325 
 
 It was the same at Washington, at New York, 
 and better than all, here in San Francisco. 
 
 There ! I know you are all on nettles. Your 
 heart thumps as you read, and your hand shakes 
 a little, and you say, But Arthur our Arthur? 
 
 Well, auntie dear, he is looking over this 
 sheet as I write now, is not that enough ? 
 
 Why need I write more, for now you know 
 that he is well and safe ; but there ! you want 
 to know of my finding him. 
 
 Well, he knew nothing of my coming, and 
 yet, when the steamer drew up slowly to the 
 dock, I saw hundreds of people awaiting her 
 arrival ; and among them, leaning against a 
 post, was a young man far taller then the rest. 
 He wore gray clothes and a wide-brimmed 
 sombrero, and his face was very grave and a 
 little careworn had I ever seen it before ? 
 
 I kept looking at him and I saw he was 
 scanning the faces of the passengers, for we 
 were all out on deck. His eyes followed along 
 the upper rail until he came to me, and then 
 he held out both arms toward me. 
 
 I must confess that your strong, self-reliant 
 young woman now became suddenly weak ; at
 
 326 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 the last my strength left me. I only remem 
 ber that my hand went to my bosom, where the 
 President s pardon was sewed into my dress, 
 and I grasped the rail for support, and that in 
 some way I got down across the gang plank, 
 and that there my lover was waiting to 
 receive me. 
 
 He said not a word, and I could not, for I 
 could scarcely stand. 
 
 He put me in a carriage, and as we rode he 
 held my hand ; but not a word was spoken, 
 until we arrived at the house where I now 
 write. Here Arthur helped me from the car 
 riage and introduced me to a white-haired old 
 lady who seemed to be waiting for me, and she 
 called me " my dear " and took me into the 
 cosiest little parlor you ever saw, and then for 
 the first time I found my tongue. 
 
 " How did you know I was coming? " I asked. 
 Arthur smiled and the old lady smiled, and 
 then we all smiled; and the old lady said, "Mr. 
 Forbes told me you were coming all alone from 
 New York. What an awful long trip for one 
 so young ! Why ! you ain t much older than 
 my Matilda, and I would not trust her to go
 
 FORBES OF HARVARD. 327 
 
 down town alone, hardly. Mr. Forbes came 
 here to board with me because it was so noisy 
 at the hotel. Why ! what makes you cry so, my 
 dear? You are here all safe among friends. 
 And I declare if Mr. Forbes ain t crying, too! 
 and I fear I have something in my eye." 
 
 That account in the Vindicator about Arthur s 
 being captured by the Indians was nearly cor 
 rect. A wonderful experience : he kept a 
 journal the whole time, writing on birch bark. 
 You shall see it. And about the mine, too it 
 proves now to be worth more than he got for it ; 
 but no difference about that. 
 
 There ! Dear, loving, fault-finding, old 
 auntie, I cannot finish this letter to-night, so I 
 will just lay it aside and complete it to-morrow. 
 By that time, perhaps, I may be able to tell 
 you how my Lover knew that I was coming. 
 
 Good-night, Auntie Dear ! To-morrow I will 
 finish the sheet and write you several more 
 besides, and tell you all about
 
 328 FORBES OF HARVARD. 
 
 NUMBER CXX. 
 
 FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO VINDICATOR OF 
 DEC. 26, 1853. 
 
 MARRIED. On Christmas Day, at the resi 
 dence of Mrs. Tyler, No. 217 Magnolia Street, 
 by the Rev. Dr. H. M. Brown, Arthur Ripley 
 Forbes to Miss Honor Harold. (Boston papers 
 please copy.)
 
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 to 
 
 O 
 
 e 
 
 t=i

 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 
 A 000 676 208 2 
 
 
 
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