IhavealreadyspokenofmyearliestmeetingswithLowellatCambridgewhenIcametoNewEnglandonaliterarypilgrimagefromtheWestin1860。IsawhimmoreandmoreafterIwenttoliveinCambridgein1866；
andInowwishtorecordwhatIknewofhimduringtheyearsthatpassedbetweenthisdateandthatofhisdeath。IftheportraitIshalltrytopaintdoesnotseemafaithfullikenesstootherswhoknewhim，Ishallonlyclaimthatsohelookedtome，atthismomentandatthat。IfIdonotkeepmyselfquiteoutofthepicture，whatpaintereverdid？
I。
Itwasinthesummerof1865thatIcamehomefrommyconsularpostatVenice；andtwoweeksafterIlandedinBoston，IwentouttoseeLowellatElmwood，andgivehimaninkstandthatIhadbroughthimfromItaly。
Thebronzelobsterwhosebackopenedanddisclosedaninkpotandasand—
boxwasquiteugly；butIthoughtitbeautifulthen，andifLowellthoughtotherwiseheneverdidanythingtoletmeknowit。Heputthethinginthemiddleofhiswriting—table（henearlyalwayswroteonapasteboardpadrestinguponhisknees），andthereitremainedaslongasIknewtheplace——amatteroftwenty—fiveyears；butinallthattimeI
supposetheinkpotcontinuedasdryasthesand—box。
MyvisitwasintheheatofAugust，whichisasfervidinCambridgeasitcanwellbeanywhere，andIstillhaveasenseofhisstudywindowsliftedtothesummernight，andthecricketsandgrasshopperscryinginatthemfromthelawnsandthegardensoutside。OtherpeoplewentawayfromCambridgeinthesummertotheseaandtothemountains，butLowellalwaysstayedatElmwood，inanimpassionedloveforhishomeandforhistown。Imusthavefoundhimthereintheafternoon，andhemusthavemademesupwithhim（dinnerwasattwoo’clock）andthengowithhimforalongnightoftalkinhisstudy。Helikedtohavesomeonehelphimidlethetimeaway，andkeephimaslongaspossiblefromhiswork；andnodoubtIwasimpersonallyservinghisturninthisway，asidefromanypleasurehemighthavehadinmycompanyassomeonehehadalwaysbeenkindto，andasafresharrivalfromtheItalydeartousboth。
Helightedhispipe，andfromthedepthsofhiseasychair，invitedmyshyyouthtoalltheeaseitwascapableofinhispresence。Itwasnotmuch；Ilovedhim，andhegavemereasontothinkthathewasfondofme，butinLowellIwasalwaysconsciousofanolderandcloserandstrictercivilizationthanmyown，anunbrokentradition，amoreauthoritativestatus。Hisdemocracywasmoreoftheheadandminemoreoftheheart，andhisdeniedtheequalitywhichmineaffirmed。ButhisnaturewassonobleandhisreasonsotolerantthatwheneverinourlongacquaintanceIfounditwelltocometoopenrebellion，asImorethanoncedid，headmittedmyrightofinsurrection，andneverresentedtheoutbreak。
Idislikedtodifferwithhim，andperhapshesubtlyfeltthissomuchthathewouldnotdislikemefordoingit。Heevensufferedbeingtaxedwithinconsistency，andwherehesawthathehadnotbeenquitejust，hewouldtakepunishmentforhiserror，withacontritionthatwassometimeshumorousandalwaystouching。
JustthenitwasthedarkhourbeforethedawnwithItaly，andhewasinterestedbutnotmuchencouragedbywhatIcouldtellhimofthefeelinginVeniceagainsttheAustrians。HeseemedtoreservealikescepticismconcerningthefinethingsIwashopingfortheItaliansinliterature，andheconfessedaninterestinthefactstreatedwhichintheretrospect，Iamaware，wasmoretolerantthanparticipantofmyenthusiasm。ThatwasalwaysLowell’sattitudetowardstheopinionsofpeopleheliked，whenhecouldnotgotheirlengthswiththem，andnothingwasmorecharacteristicofhisaffectionatenatureandhisjustintelligence。Hewasamanofthemoststrenuousconvictions，buthelovedmanysortsofpeoplewhoseconvictionshedisagreedwith，andhesufferedevenprejudicescountertohisowniftheywerenotignoble。
Inthewhimsicalitiesofothershedelightedasmuchasinhisown。
II。
OurassociationswithItalyheldoveruntilthenextday，whenafterbreakfasthewentwithmetowardsBostonasfaras\"thevillage\"：forsohelikedtospeakofCambridgeinthecustomofhisyoungerdayswhenwidetractsofmeadowseparatedHarvardSquarefromhislife—longhomeatElmwood。Westoodontheplatformofthehorsecartogether，andwhenI
objectedtohispayingmyfareintheAmericanfashion，heallowedthattheItalianusageofeachpayingforhimselfwasthepoliterway。
HewouldnotcommithimselfaboutmyreturningtoVenice（forIhadnotgivenupmyplace，yet，andwasawayonleave），butheintimatedhisdistrustoftheflatteringconditionsoflifeabroad。Hesaiditwascharmingtobetreated’dasignore’，butheseemedtodoubtwhetheritwaswell；andinthisasinallotherthingsheshowedhisfinalfealtytotheAmericanideal。
Itwasthatseriousandgreatmomentafterthesuccessfulcloseofthecivilwarwhentherepublicanconsciousnesswasmorerobustinusthaneverbeforeorsince；butIcannotrecallanyreferencetothehistoricalinterestofthetimeinLowell’stalk。Ithadbeenallaboutliteratureandabouttravel；andnowwiththesuggestionofthewordvillageitbegantobealittleabouthisyouth。Ihavesaidbeforehowreluctanthewastolethisyouthgofromhim；andperhapsthetouchwithmyjuniorityhadmadehimrealizehownearhewastofifty，andsethimthinkingofthepastwhichhadsorrowsinittoagehimbeyondhisyears。
Hewouldneverspeakofthese，thoughheoftenspokeofthepast。Hetoldonceofhavingbeenonabriefjourneywhenhewassixyearsold，withhisfather，andofdrivinguptothegateofElmwoodintheevening，andhisfathersaying，\"Ah，thisisapleasantplace！Iwonderwholiveshere——whatlittleboy？\"Atanothertimehepointedoutacertainwindowinhisstudy，andsaidhecouldseehimselfstandingbyitwhenhecouldonlygethischinonthewindow—sill。Hismemoriesofthehouse，andofeverythingbelongingtoit，wereverytender；buthecouldlaughoveranescapadeofhisyouthwhenhehelpedhisfellow—studentspulldownhisfather’sfences，inthepurezealofgood—comradeship。
III。
MyfortunestookmetoNewYork，andIspentmostofthewinterof1865—6
writingintheofficeof’TheNation’。IcontributedseveralsketchesofItaliantraveltothatpaper；andoneofthesebroughtmeapreciousletterfromLowell。Hepraisedmysketch，whichhesaidhehadreadwithouttheleastnotionwhohadwrittenit，andhewantedmetofeelthefullvalueofsuchanimpersonalpleasureinit。Atthesametimehedidnotfailtotellmethathedislikedsomepseudo—cynicalversesofminewhichhehadreadinanotherplace；andIbelieveitwasthenthathebademe\"sweattheHeineoutof\"me，\"asmensweatthemercuryoutoftheirbones。\"
WhenIwasaskedtobeassistanteditoroftheAtlanticMonthly，andcameontoBostontotalkthematteroverwiththepublishers，IwentouttoCambridgeandconsultedLowell。Hestronglyurgedmetotaketheposition（IthoughtmyselfhopefullyplacedinNewYorkonTheNation）；
andatthesametimeheseemedtohaveitonhishearttosaythathehadrecommendedsomeoneelseforit，never，heowned，havingthoughtofme。
Hewasmostcordial，butafterIcametoliveinCambridge（wherethemagazinewasprinted，andIcouldmoreconvenientlylookovertheproofs），hedidnotcallonmeformorethanamonth，andseemedquitetohaveforgottenme。WemetonenightatMr。Norton’s，foroneoftheDantereadings，andhetooknospecialnoticeofmetillIhappenedtosaysomethingthatofferedhimachancetogivemealittlehumoroussnub。IwasspeakingofapaperintheMagazineonthe\"ClaudianEmissary，\"andIdemanded（nodoubtalittletooairily）somethinglike\"WhointheworldeverheardoftheClaudianEmissary？\"\"YouareinCambridge，Mr。Howells，\"Lowellanswered，andlaughedatmyconfusion。
Havingputmedown，heseemedtosoftentowardsme，andatpartinghesaid，withalightofhalf—mockingtendernessinhisbeautifuleyes，\"Goodnight，fellow—townsman。\"\"Ihardlyknewwewerefellow—townsmen，\"I
returned。Helikedthat，apparently，andsaidhehadbeenmeaningtocalluponme；andthathewascomingverysoon。
Hewasasgoodashisword，andafterthathardlyaweekofanykindofweatherpassedbuthemountedthestepstothedooroftheuglylittlehouseinwhichIlived，twomilesawayfromhim，andaskedmetowalk。
Thesewalkscontinued，Isuppose，untilLowellwentabroadforawinterintheearlyseventies。TheytookusalloverCambridge，whichheknewandlovedeveryinchof，andledusafieldthroughthestraggling，unhandsomeoutskirts，bedrabbledwithsqualidIrishneighborhoods，andfrayingoffintomarshesandsaltmeadows。Helikedtoindulgeanexcessofadmirationforthelocallandscape，andthoughIneverheardhimprofessapreferencefortheCharlesRiverflatstothefinestAlpinescenery，Icouldwellbelievehewoulddosounderprovocationofafitlistener’ssurprise。Hehadalwayssomuchoftheboyinhimthathelikedtoteasetheover—seriousorover—sincere。Helikedtoteaseandhelikedtomock，especiallyhisjuniors，ifanytouchofaffectation，oranylittleexuberanceofmannergavehimthechance；whenheoncecametofetchme，andtheyoungmistressofthehouseenteredwithacertainexcessiveelasticity，hesprangfromhisseat，andmincedtowardsher，withaburlesqueofherbuoyantcarriagewhichmadeherlaugh。Whenhehadgivenushisheartintrustofours，heuseduslikeayoungerbrotherandsister；orlikehisownchildren。Heincludedourchildreninhisaffection，andheenjoyedourfondnessforthemasifitweresomethingthathadcomebacktohimfromhisownyouth。Ithinkhehadalsoasortofartistic，asortofethicalpleasureinit，asbeingofthegoodtradition，oftheoldhonest，simplematerial，fromwhichpleasingeffectsinliteratureandcivilizationwerewrought。Helikedgivingthechildrenbooks，andwritingtricksyfanciesinthese，wherehemaskedasafairyprince；andaslongashelivedherememberedhisearlykindnessforthem。
IV。
InthosewalksofoursIbelievehedidmostofthetalking，andfromhistalkthenandatothertimesthereremainstomeanimpressionofhisgrowingconservatism。Ihadinfactcomeintohislifewhenithadspentitsimpulsetowardspositivereform，andIwastobewitnessofitsincreasingtendencytowardsthenegativesort。Hewasquitepastthestormandstressofhisanti—slaveryage；withthecloseofthewarwhichhadbrokenforhimallhisidealsofinviolablepeace，hehadreachedtheageofmisgiving。IdonotmeanthatIeverheardhimexpressdoubtofwhathehadhelpedtodo，orregretforwhathehaddone；butIknowthatheviewedwithcriticalanxietywhatothermenweredoingwiththeaccomplishedfacts。Hisanxietygaveacastofwhatonemaycallreluctancefromthepoliticalsituation，andturnedhimbacktowardsthosecivicandsocialdefenceswhichhehadonceseemedwillingtoabandon。Idonotmeanthathelostfaithindemocracy；thisfaithheconstantlythenandsignallyafterwardsaffirmed；buthecertainlyhadnolongeranyfaithininsubordinationasameansofgrace。HepreachedaquiteSocraticreverenceforlaw，aslaw，andIrememberthatoncewhenIhadgotbackfromCanadaintheusualdisgustfortheAmericancustom—
house，andspokelightlyofsmugglingasnotanevilinitself，andperhapsevenarightunderourvexatioustariff，hewouldnothaveit，butheldthattheillegalityoftheactmadeitamoraloffence。Thiswasnotthelogicthatwouldhavejustifiedtheattitudeoftheanti—
slaverymentowardsthefugitiveslaveact；butitwasinaccordwithLowell’sfeelingaboutJohnBrown，whomhehonoredwhilealwayscondemninghisviolationoflaw；anditwasinthelineofallhislaterthinking。Inthis，hewishedyoutoagreewithhim，oratleasthewishedtomakeyou；buthedidnotwishyoutobemoreofhismindthanhewashimself。InoneofthosesqualidIrishneighborhoodsIconfessedagrudge（ameanandcruelgrudge，Inowthinkit）fortheincreasingpresenceofthatraceamongus，butthisdidnotpleasehim；andIamsurethatwhatevermisgivinghehadastothefutureofAmerica，hewouldnothavehaditlessthanithadbeentherefugeandopportunityofthepoorofanyraceorcolor。Yethewouldnothavehaditthisalone。
TherewasalineinhispoemonAgassizwhichheleftoutoftheprintedversion，atthefervententreatyofhisfriends，assayingtoobitterlyhisdisappointmentwithhiscountry。WritingatthedistanceofEurope，andwithAmericaintheperspectivewhichthealienenvironmentclouded，hespokeofheras\"TheLandofBrokenPromise。\"Itwasasplendidreproach，butperhapstoodramatictobearthefulltestofanalysis，andyetithadthetruthinit，andmight，Ithink，haveusefullystood，totheendofmakingpeoplethink。Undoubtedlyitexpressedhissenseofthecase，andinthesamemeasureitwouldnowexpressthatofmanywholovetheircountrymostamongus。Itiswelltoholdone’scountrytoherpromises，andifthereareanywhothinksheisforgettingthemitistheirdutytosayso，eventothepointofbitteraccusation。Idonotsupposeitwasthe\"commonman\"ofLincoln’sdreamthatLowellthoughtAmericawasunfaithfulto，thoughasIhavesuggestedhecouldbetenderofthecommonman’shopesinher；buthewasimpeachinginthatblottedlinehersinceritywiththeuncommonman：themanwhohadexpectedofheraconstancytotheidealsofheryouthendtothehighmartyr—moodsofthewarwhichhadgivenanunguardedandbewilderingfreedomtoaraceofslaves。Hewasthinkingoftheshameofourmunicipalcorruptions，thedebasedqualityofournationalstatesmanship，thedecadenceofourwholecivictone，ratherthanoftheincreasingdisabilitiesofthehard—
workingpoor，thoughhisheartwhenhethoughtofthemwaswiththem，too，asitwasin\"thetimewhentheslavewouldnotlethimsleep。\"
Hespokeveryrarelyofthosetimes，perhapsbecausetheirpoliticalandsocialassociationsweresoknitupwiththesaddestandtenderestpersonalmemories，whichitwasstillanguishtotouch。Notonlywashe\"——notoftheraceThathawk，theirsorrowsinthemarketplace，\"
butsofarasmywitnesswentheshrankfrommentionofthem。Idonotrememberhearinghimspeakoftheyoungwifewhoinfluencedhimsopotentlyatthemostvitalmoment，andturnedhimfromhiswholescholarlyandaristocratictraditiontoanimpassionedchampionshipoftheoppressed；andheneverspokeofthechildrenhehadlost。Irecallbutoneallusiontothedayswhenhewasfightingtheanti—slaverybattlealongthewholeline，andthiswaswithahumorousrelishofhisIrishservant’sdisgustinhavingtowaituponanegrowhomhehadaskedtohistable。
Hewasrathersevereinhisnotionsofthesubordinationhisdomesticsowedhim。Theywere\"todoastheywerebid，\"andyethehadatendernessforsuchashadbeenanytimewithhim，whichwaswoundedwhenonceahiredmanlonginhisemploygreedilyoverreachedhiminacertaintransaction。Hecomplainedofthatwithasimplegrieffortheman’sindelicacyaftersomanyfavorsfromhim，ratherthanwithanyresentment。Hishauteurtowardshisdependentswastheoretic；hisactualbehaviorwasofthegentleconsiderationcommonamongAmericansofgoodbreeding，andthatrecreanthiredmanhadnodoubtneverbeensufferedtoexceedhiminshowsofmutualpoliteness。Oftenwhenthemaidwasaboutweightiermatters，hecameandopenedhisdoortomehimself，welcomingmewiththesmilethatwaslikenoother。Sometimeshesaid，\"Sieteilbenvenuto，\"orusedsomeotherItalianphrase，whichputmeateasewithhimintheregionwhereweweremostathometogether。
LookingbackImustconfessthatIdonotseewhatitwashefoundtomakehimwishformycompany，whichhepresentlyinsisteduponhavingonceaweekatdinner。Afterthemealweturnedintohisstudywherewesatbeforeawoodfireinwinter，andhesmokedandtalked。Hesmokedapipewhichwasalwaysneedingtobacco，orgoingout，sothatIhavethefigureofhimbeforemyeyesconstantlygettingoutofhisdeepchairtorekindleitfromthefirewithapaperlighter。Hewasoftenoutofhischairtogetabookfromtheshelvesthatlinedthewalls，eitherforapassagewhichhewishedtoread，orforsomedisputedpointwhichhewishedtosettle。IfIhadcausedthedispute，heenjoyedputtingmeinthewrong；ifhecouldnot，hesometimeswhimsicallypersistedinhiserror，indefianceofallauthority；butmostlyhehadsuchreverenceforthetruththathewouldnotquestioniteveninjest。
IfIdroppedinuponhimintheafternoonIwasapttofindhimreadingtheoldFrenchpoets，ortheplaysofCalderon，orthe’DivinaCommedia’，whichhemagnanimouslysupposedmemuchbetteracquaintedwiththanIwasbecauseIknewsomepassagesofitbyheart。OnedayIcameinquoting\"Ioson，cantava，iosondolceSirena，Cheimarinaiinmezzoalmardismago。\"
Hestaredatmeinarapturewiththematchlessmusic，andthenutteredallhisadorationanddespairinoneword。\"Damn！\"hesaid，andnomore。
Ibelieveheinstantlyproposedawalkthatday，asifhisstudywallswithalltheirvistasintothegreatliteraturescrampedhissoulliberatedtoasenseofineffablebeautyoftheverseofthe’sommapoeta’。Butcommonlybepreferredtohavemesitdownwithhimthereamongthemutewitnessesofthelargerpartofhislife。AsIhavesuggestedinmyowncase，itdidnotmattermuchwhetheryoubroughtanythingtothefeastornot。Ifhelikedyouhelikedbeingwithyou，notforwhathegot，butforwhathegave。HewasfondofonemanwhomI
recallasthemostsilentmanIevermet。Ineverheardhimsayanything，notevenadullthing，butLowelldelightedinhim，andwouldhaveyoubelievethathewasfullofquainthumor。
V。
WhileLowelllivedtherewasasuperstition，whichhasperhapssurvivedhim，thathewasanindolentman，wastinghimselfinbarrenstudiesandminoreffortsinsteadofdevotinghisgreatpowerstosomemonumentalworkworthyofthem。Iftherobustbodyofliterature，bothpoetryandprose，whichlivesafterhimdoesnotyetcorrectthisvaindelusion，thetimewillcomewhenitmust；andinthemeantimethedelusioncannotvexhimnow。Ithinkitdidvexhim，then，andthatheevensharedit，andtriedattimestomeetsuchshadowyclaimasithad。Oneofthethingsthatpeopleurgeduponhimwastowritesomesortofstory，anditisknownhowheattemptedthisinverse。Itislessknownthatheattempteditinprose，andthathewentsofarastowritethefirstchapterofanovel。Hereadthistome，andthoughIpraiseditthen，Ihaveafeelingnowthatifhehadfinishedthenovelitwouldhavebeenafailure。\"ButIshallneverfinishit，\"hesighed，asifhefeltirremediabledefectsinit，andlaidthemanuscriptaway，toturnandlighthispipe。Itwasaratherold—fashionedstudyofawhimsicalcharacter，anditdidnotarriveanywhere，sofarasitwent；butI
believethatitmighthavebeendifferentwithaYankeestoryinversesuchaswehavefragmentarilyin’TheNooning’and’FitzAdam’sStory’。
Still，hisgiftwasessentiallylyricalandmeditative，withtheuniversalNewEnglandtendencytoallegory。Hewaswhollyundramaticintheactuationofthecharacterswhichheimaginedsodramatically。Helikedtodealwithhissubjectatfirsthand，toindulgethroughhimselfallthewhimandfancywhichthemoredramatictalentindulgesthroughitspersonages。
Heenjoyedwritingsuchapoemas\"TheCathedral，\"whichisnotofhisbest，butwhichismoreimmediatelyhimself，inallhismoods，thansomebetterpoems。Hereadittomesoonafteritwaswritten，andinthelongwalkwhichwewentharduponthereading（ourwayledusthroughthePortfartowardsEastCambridge，wherehewishedtoshowmeatupelo—treeofhisacquaintance，becauseIsaidIhadneverseenone），histalkwasstillofthepoemwhichhewasgreatlyinconceitof。Laterhissatisfactionwithitreceivedacheckfromthereservesofotherfriendsconcerningsomewhimsicallineswhichseemedtothemtoogreatadropfromthehighermoodsofthepiece。Theirreluctancenettledhim；
perhapsheagreedwiththem；buthewouldnotchangethelines，andtheystandashefirstwrotethem。Infact，mostofhislinesstandashefirstwrotethem；hewouldoftenchangetheminrevision，andthen，inasecondrevisiongobacktothefirstversion。
Hewasverysensitivetocriticism，especiallyfromthosehevaluedthroughhisheadorheart。Hewouldtrytohidehishurt，andhewouldnotletyouspeakofit，asthoughyoursympathyunmannedhim，butyoucouldseethathesuffered。Thisnotablyhappenedinmyremembrancefromareviewinajournalwhichhegreatlyesteemed；andoncewheninanoticeofmyownIhadputonelittlethornypointamongtheflowers，heconfessedapuncturefromit。Hepraisedthecriticismhardily，butI
knewthathewincedundermyrecognitionofthedidacticqualitywhichhehadnotquiteguardedhimselfagainstinthepoetryotherwisepraised。
Helikedyourliking，andheopenlyrejoicedinit；andIsupposehemadehimselfbelievethatintryinghisversewithhisfriendshewastestingit；butIdonotbelievethathewas，andIdonotthinkheevercorrectedhisjudgmentbytheirs，howeverhesufferedfromit。
Inanymatterthatconcernedliterarymoralshewasmorethaneagertoprofitbyanothereye。OnesummerhesentmefortheMagazineapoemwhich，whenIreadit，Itrembledtofind，inmotivealmostexactlylikeonewehadlatelyprintedbyanothercontributor。Therewasnothingforitbuttocallhisattentiontotheresemblance，andIwentovertoElmwoodwiththetwopoems。Hewasnotathome，andIwasobligedtoleavethepoems，Isupposewithsomesortofnote，forthenextmorning’spostbroughtmeadeliciousletterfromhim，allonecryofconfession，themostcomplete，themostample。Hedidnottroublehimselftosaythathispoemwasanunconsciousreproductionoftheother；thatwasforeveryreasonunnecessary，buthehadatoncerewrittenituponwhollydifferentlines；andIdonotthinkanyreaderwasremindedofMrs。
Akers’s\"AmongtheLaurels\"byLowell’s\"Foot—path。\"Hewasnotonlymuchmoresensitiveofothers’rightsthanhisown，butinspiteofacertainseverityinhim，hewasmosttenderlyregardfuloftheirsensibilitieswhenhehadimaginedthem：hedidnotalwaysimaginethem。
VI。
Atthisperiod，betweentheyears1866and1874，whenheunwillinglywentabroadforatwelvemonth，LowellwasseeninveryfewCambridgehouses，andinstillfewerBostonhouses。Hewasnotanunsocialman，buthewasmostdistinctlynotasocietyman。Helovedchieflythecompanionshipofbooks，andofmenwholovedbooks；butofwomengenerallyhehadanamusingdiffidence；hereveredthemandhonoredthem，buthewouldrathernothavehadthemabout。Thisisover—sayingit，ofcourse，butthetruthisinwhatIsay。Therewasneveramoredevotedhusband，andhewascontenttolethisdevotiontothesexendwiththat。Heespeciallycouldnotabidedifferenceofopinioninwomen；hevaluedtheirtaste，theirwit，theirhumor，buthewouldhavenoneoftheirreason。Iwasbyonedaywhenhewasarguingapointwithoneofhisnieces，andafterithadgoneonforsometime，andtheimpartialwitnessmusthaveownedthatshewasgettingthebetterofhimheclosedthecontroversybygivingheragreatkiss，withthewords，\"Youareaverygoodgirl，mydear，\"andpracticallyputtingheroutoftheroom。Astowomenoftheflirtatioustype，hedidnotdislikethem；noman，perhaps，does；buthefearedthem，andhesaidthatwiththemtherewasbutoneway，andthatwastorun。
IhaveanotionthatatthisperiodLowellwasmorefreelyandfullyhimselfthanatanyother。Thepassionsandimpulsesofhisyoungermanhoodhadmellowed，thesorrowsofthattimehadsoftened；hecouldblamelesslylivetohimselfinhisaffectionsandhissoberedideals。
Hiswasalwaysaduteouslife；buthehadprettywellgivenupmakingmanoverinhisownimage，asweallwishsometimetodo，andthennolongerwishit。Hefulfilledhisobligationstohisfellow—menasthesesoughthimout，buthehadceasedtoseekthem。Helovedhisfriendsandtheirlove，buthehadapparentlynodesiretoenlargetheircircle。Itwasthathourofcivicsuspense，inwhichpublicmenseemedstillactuatedbyunselfishaims，andonenotessentiallyapoliticianmightcontentedlywaittoseewhatwouldcomeoftheirdoingtheirbest。Atanyrate，withoutoccasionallywithholdingopencriticismoracclaimLowellwaitedamonghisbooksforthewoundsofthewartohealthemselves，andthenationtobeginherhealthfullerandnoblerlife。Withslaverygone，whatmightnotoneexpectofAmericandemocracy！
HislifeatElmwoodwasofanentiresimplicity。Intheoldcolonialmansioninwhichhewasborn，hedweltintheemboweringleafage，amidthequietoflawnsandgarden—plotsbrokenbyfewnoisesruderthanthosefromtheelmsandthesyringaswhere\"Theorioleclatteredandthecat—birdsang。\"
FromthetracksonBrattleStreet，camethedrowsytinkleofhorse—carbells；andsometimesafuneraltraileditsblacklengthpastthecornerofhisgrounds，andlostitselffromsightundertheshadowsofthewillowsthathidMountAuburnfromhisstudywindows。InthewinterthedeepNewEnglandsnowskepttheirpurityinthestretchofmeadowbehindthehouse，whichadoublerowofpinesguardedinadomesticprivacy。
Allwasofamodestdignitywithinandwithoutthehouse，whichLowelllovedbutdidnotimagineofamanorialpresence；andhecouldnotconcealhisannoyancewithanover—enthusiasticaccountofhishomeinwhichthesimplechisellingofsomepanelswasvauntedasrichwood—
carving。Therewasagracefulstaircase，andagoodwidehall，fromwhichthedining—roomanddrawing—roomopenedbyoppositedoors；behindthelast，inthesouthwestcornerofthehouse，washisstudy。
There，literally，helivedduringthesixorsevenyearsinwhichIknewhimaftermycomingtoCambridge。Summerandwinterhesatthereamonghisbooks，seldomstirringabroadbydayexceptforawalk，andbynightyetmorerarely。Hewenttothemonthlymid—daydinneroftheSaturdayClubinBoston；hewasveryconstantatthefortnightlymeetingsofhiswhist—club，becausehelovedtheoldfriendswhoformedit；hecamealwaystotheDantesuppersatLongfellow’s，andhewasfamiliarlyinandoutatMr。Norton’s，ofcourse。But，otherwise，hekepttohisstudy，exceptforsomerareandalmostunwillingabsencesuponuniversitylecturingatJohnsHopkinsoratCornell。
ForfouryearsIdidnottakeanysummeroutingfromCambridgemyself，andmyassociationswithElmwoodandwithLowellaremoreofsummerthanofwinterweathermeetings。Butoftenwewentourwalksthroughthesnows，trudgingalongbetweenthehorsecartrackswhichenclosedtheonlywell—broken—outpathsinthatsimpleoldCambridge。Idateonememorableexpressionofhisfromsuchawalk，when，aswewerepassingLongfellow’shouse，inmid—street，hecameasnearthedeclarationofhisreligiousfaithasheeverdidinmypresence。HewasspeakingoftheNewTestament，andhesaid，Thetruthwasinit；buttheyhadcovereditupwiththeirhagiology。ThoughhehadbeenbredaUnitarian，andhadmoreandmoreliberatedhimselffromallcreeds，hehumorouslyaffectedanabidingbeliefinhell，andsimilarlycontendedfortheeternalpunishmentofthewicked。Hewasofareligiousnature，andhewasveryreverentofotherpeople’sreligiousfeelings。Heexpressedaspecialtoleranceformyowninheritedfaith，nodoubtbecauseMrs。LowellwasalsoaSwedenborgian；butIdonotthinkhewasinterestedinit，andI
suspectthatallreligiousformulationsboredhim。Inhisearlierpoemsaremanyintimationsandaffirmationsofbeliefinanoverrulingprovidence，andespeciallyintheGodwhodeclaresvengeanceHisandwillrepaymenfortheirevildeeds，andwillrighttheweakagainstthestrong。Ithinkheneverquitelostthis，thoughwhen，inthelastyearsofhislife，Iaskedhimifhebelievedtherewasamoralgovernmentoftheuniverse，heansweredgravelyandwithasortofpain，Thescalewassovast，andwesawsuchalittlepartofit。
Astotinenotionofalifeafterdeath，Ineverhadanydirectorindirectexpressionfromhim；butIinclinetotheopinionthathisholduponthisweakenedwithhisyears，asitissadlyapttodowithmenwhohavereadmuchandthoughtmuch：theyhaveapparentlyexhaustedtheirpotentialitiesofpsychologicallife。MysticalLowellwas，aseverypoetmustbe，butIdonotthinkhelikedmystery。OnemorninghetoldmethatwhenhecamehomethenightbeforehehadseentheDoppelgangerofoneofhishousehold：though，ashejoked，hewasnotinastatetoseedouble。
Hethensaidheusedoftentoseepeople’sDoppelganger；atanothertime，astoghosts，hesaid，HewaslikeColeridge：hehadseentoomanyof’em。LestanyweakerbrethrenshouldbecausedtooffendbytherestrictedoathwhichIhavereportedhimusinginamomentoftransportitmaybebesttonoteherethatIneverheardhimuseanyotherimprecation，andthisoneseldom。
Anygrossnessofspeechwasinconceivableofhim；nowandthen，butonlyveryrarely，thehumannatureofsomestory\"unmeetforladies\"wastoomuchforhissenseofhumor，andovercamehimwithamusementwhichhewaswillingtoimpart，anddidimpart，butsothatmainlythehumannatureofitreachedyou。InthishewasliketheothergreatCambridgemen，thoughhewasopenerthantheotherstocontactwiththecommonerlife。
Hekeenlydelightedineverynativeandnovelturnofphrase，andhewouldnotundervalueavitalwordoranotionpickedupoutoftheroadevenifithadsomedirtstickingtoit。
Hekeptasclosetothecommonlifeasamanofhispatricianinstinctsandcloisteredhabitscould。Icouldgotohimwithanynewfindaboutitandbesureofdelightinghim；afterIbeganmakingmyinvoluntaryandallbutunconsciousstudiesofYankeecharacter，especiallyinthecountry，hewasalwaysgladtotalkthemoverwithme。Still，whenIhaddiscoveredanewaccentorturnofspeechinthefieldshehadcultivated，Iwasawareofasubtlegrudgeminglingwithhispleasure；
butthiswasafteralllessenvythanafineregret。
AtthetimeIspeakoftherewascertainlynothinginLowell’sdressorbearingthatwouldhavekeptthecommonlifealooffromhim，ifthatlifewerenotalwaystooproudtomakeadvancestoanyone。Inthisretrospect，Iseehiminthesackcoatandroughsuitwhichheworeuponallout—dooroccasions，withheavyshoes，andaroundhat。IneversawhimwithahighhatontillhecamehomeafterhisdiplomaticstayinLondon；thenhehadbecomeratherrigorouslycorrectinhiscostume，andasconventionalashehadformerlybeenindifferent。Inbothepochshewasapttobegloved，andthestrong，broadhands，whichleftthesensationoftheirvigorforsometimeaftertheyhadclaspedyours，werenotablywhite。Attheearlierperiod，hestillworehisauburnhairsomewhatlong；itwasdarkerthanhisbeard，whichwasbranchingandfull，andmorestraw—coloredthanauburn，aswerehisthickeyebrows；
neitherhairnorbeardwasthentouchedwithgray，asInowremember。
Whenheuncovered，hisstraight，wide，whiteforeheadshoweditselfoneofthemostbeautifulthatcouldbe；hiseyesweregaywithhumor，andalertwithallintelligence。Hehadanenchantingsmile，alaughthatwasfulloffriendlyjoyousness，andavoicethatwasexquisitemusic。
Everythingabouthimexpressedhisstrenuousphysicalcondition：hewouldnotwearanovercoatinthecoldestCambridgeweather；atalltimeshemovedvigorously，andwalkedwithaquickstep，liftinghisfeetwellfromtheground。
VII。
ItgivesmeapleasurewhichIamafraidIcannotimpart，tolingerinthisefforttomaterializehispresencefromthefadingmemoriesofthepast。IamafraidIcanaslittleimpartaduesenseofwhathespirituallywastomyknowledge。ItavailsnothingformetosaythatIthinknomanofmyyearsanddeserthadeversotrueandconstantafriend。HewasbothyoungerandolderthanIbyinsomuchashewasapoetthroughandthrough，andhadbeenoutofcollegebeforeIwasborn。
Buthehadalreadycometotheageofself—distrustwhenamanlikestotakecounselwithhisjuniorsaswithhiselders，andfancieshecancorrecthisperspectivebythetestoftheirfreshervision。Besides，Lowellwasmostsimplyandpatheticallyreluctanttopartwithyouth，andwaswillingtoclingtoitwhereverhefoundit。Hecouldnotinanywisebeartobeleft—out。WhenMr。BretHartecametoCambridge，andthetalkwasallofthebrilliantcharacter—poemswithwhichhehadthenfirstdazzledtheworld，Lowellcasuallysaid，withamosttouching，howeverungroundedsenseofobsolescence，Hecouldrememberwhenthe’BiglowPapers’wereallthetalk。Ineednotdeclarethattherewasnothingungenerousinthat。Hewasonlytooreadytohanddownhislaurelstoayoungerman；buthewishedtodoithimself。Throughthemodestythatisalwaysaqualityofsuchanature，hewasmagnanimouslysensitivetotheappearanceoffadinginterest；hecouldnottakeitotherwisethanasaproofofhisfadingpower。IhadacurioushintofthiswhenoneyearinmakinguptheprospectusoftheMagazineforthenext，IomittedhisnamebecauseIhadnothingspecialtopromisefromhim，andbecauseIwashalfashamedtobealwaysflourishingitintheeyesofthepublic。\"Iseethatyouhavedroppedmethisyear，\"hewrote，andIcouldseethatithadhurt，andIknewthathewasgladtobelievethetruthwhenItoldhim。