The Thoreau
Institute at Walden Woods Library
Thoreau's Life &
Writings: Correspondence
_____
HDT to Myron
Benton
Concord, 31 March 1862
Dear
Sir,—
I thank you for your very kind letter,
which, ever since I received it, I have intended to answer before I
died, however briefly. I am encouraged to know, that, so far as you
are concerned, I have not written my books in vain. I was
particularly gratified, some years ago, when one of my friends and
neighbors said, "I wish you would write another book,—write
it for me." He is actually more familiar with what I have
written than I am myself.
The verses you refer to in Conway's
"Dial," were written by F. B. Sanborn of this town. I
never wrote for that journal.
I am pleased when you say that in "The
Week" you like especially "those little snatches of
poetry interspersed through the book," for these, I suppose,
are the least attractive to most readers. I have not been engaged in
any particular work on Botany, or the like, though, if I were to
live, I should have much to report on Natural History generally.
You ask particularly after my health. I suppose
that I have not many months to live; but, of course, I know nothing
about it. I may add that I am enjoying existence as much as ever,
and regret nothing.
Yours truly,
Henry D. Thoreau,
by S. E. Thoreau.
A
Note on the Text:
-
Source:
The Correspondence of Henry David Thoreau edited by
Walter Harding and Carl Bode (New York: New York University
Press, c1958) p. 641.
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