I intend to put into my envelope a letter to you with some verses from one of your great admirers in England. It is my nephew—the second son of my sister. I gave him a copy of Leaves of Grass in 1874, and he knows a great portion of it now by heart. Though still so young, he has developed a considerable faculty for writing and is an enthusiastic student of literature as well as a frank vigorous lively young fellow. I thought you might like to see how some of the youth of England is being drawn towards you.
Believe me always sincerely and affectionately yours.
J. A. Symonds.
From Edward Everett Hale to Dr. Lyman Abbott:[11]
Jan. 29, 1900, Roxbury,
Monday morning.
Dear Dr. Abbott:
I shall stay at home this morning—so I shall not see you.
All the same I want to thank you again for the four sermons: and to say that I am sure they will work lasting good for the congregation.
More than this. I think you ought to think that such an opportunity to go from church to church and city to city—gives you a certain opportunity and honour—which even in Plymouth Pulpit a man does not have—and to congregations such a turning over the new leaf means a great deal.