ThelasttimeIwasatthattablehesatalonethereamongthosegreatmemories；buthewasasgayaseverIsawhim；hiswitsparkled，hishumorgleamed；thepoetictouchwasdeftandfirmasofold；theseriouscuriosity，theinstantsympathyremained。Tothewitnesshewaspathetic，buttohimselfhecouldonlyhavebeeninteresting，asthefigureofamansurviving，inanalienbutnotunfriendlypresent，thepastwhichheldsovastapartofallthathadconstitutedhim。Ifhehadthoughtofhimselfinthisway，itwouldhavebeenwithoutoneemotionofself—pity，suchasmoremaudlinsoulsindulge，butwithaloveofknowledgeandwisdomaskeenlyalertasinhisprime。
ForthreeprivilegedyearsIlivedallbutnext—doorneighborofDoctorHolmesinthatpartofBeaconStreetwhitherheremovedafterhelefthisoldhomeinCharlesStreet，andduringtheseyearsIsawhimratheroften。Wewerebothonthewaterside，whichmeanssomuchmorethanthewordssay，andourlibrarywindowscommandedthesamegeneralviewoftheCharlesripplingoutintotheCambridgemarshesandthesunsets，andcurvingeastwardunderLongBridge，throughshippingthatincreasedonwardtothesea。Hesaidthatyoucouldcountfourteentownsandvillagesinthecompassofthatview，withthethreeconspicuousmonumentsaccentingthedifferentattractionsofit:thetowerofMemorialHallatHarvard；theobeliskonBunkerHill；andinthecentreofthepicturethatbulkofTuftsCollegewhichhesaidheexpectedtogreethiseyesthefirstthingwhenheopenedthemintheotherworld。
Buttheprospect，thoughgenerallythesame，hadcertainpreciousdifferencesforeachofus，whichIhavenodoubthevaluedhimselfasmuchuponasIdid。Ihaveanotionthathefanciedtheseweretobeenjoyedbestinhislibrarythroughtwoovalpanesletintothebaythereapartfromthewindows，forhewasapttomakeyoucomeandlookoutofthemifyougottotalkingoftheviewbeforeyouleft。Inthispleasantstudyhelivedamongthebooks，whichseemedtomultiplyfromcasetocaseandshelftoshelf，andclimbfromfloortoceiling。Everythingwasinexquisiteorder，andthedeskwherehewrotewasasscrupulouslyneatasiftheslovendisarrayofmostauthors’deskswereimpossibletohim。
Hehadanumberofingeniouslittlecontrivancesforhelpinghiswork，whichhelikedtoshowyou；foratimearevolvingbook—caseatthecornerofhisdeskseemedtobehispet；andafterthatcamehisfountain—pen，whichheusedwithdueobservanceofitsfountainprinciple，thoughhewastolerantofmewhenIsaidIalwaysdippedmineintheinkstand；itwasameritinhiseyestouseafountainpeninanywise。Afteryouhadgoneovertheseobjectswithhim，andperhapstakenapeepatsomethinghewasexaminingthroughhismicroscope，hesatdownatonecornerofhishearth，andinvitedyoutoaneasychairattheother。Histalkwasalwaysconsiderateofyourwishtobeheard，butthepersonwhowishedtotalkwhenhecouldlistentoDoctorHolmeswashisownvictim，andalwaystheloser。Ifyouwerewelladvisedyoukeptyourselftothequestionandresponsewhichmanifestedyourinterestinwhathewassaying，andlethimtalkon，withhissweetsmile，andthathuskylaughhebrokesoftlyintoattimes。Perhapshewasnotverywellwhenyoucameinuponhim；thenhewouldnamehistrouble，withascientificzestandaccuracy，andpassquicklytoothermatters。AsI
havenoted，hewasinterestedinhimselfonlyontheuniversalside；andhelikedtofindhispeculiarityinyoubetterthantokeepithisown；
hesufferedavisibledisappointmentifhecouldnotmakeyouthinkorsayyouweresoandsotoo。Thequerulousnotewasnotinhismostcheerfulregister；hewouldnotdwelluponaspecializedgrief；thoughsometimesIhaveknownhimtouchverylightlyandcurrentlyuponaslightannoyance，ordisrelishforthisorthat。Ashegrewolder，hemusthavehad，ofcourse，anoldman’sdispositiontospeakofhisinfirmities；butitwasfinetoseehimcatchhimselfupinthis，whenhebecameconsciousofit，andstopshortwithanabruptturntosomethingelse。Witharealinterest，whichhegavehumorousexcess，hewouldcelebratesomelittleingeniousthingthathadfalleninhisway，andIhaveheardhimexpatiatewithchildlikedelightuponthemeritsofanewrazorhehadgot:asortofmower，whichhecouldsweeprecklesslyovercheekandchinwithouttheleastdangerofcuttinghimself。ThelasttimeIsawhimheaskedmeifhehadevershownmethatmiraculousrazor；andIdoubtifhequitelikedmysayingIhadseenoneofthesamekind。
Itseemedtomethatheenjoyedsittingathischimney—cornerratherasthetypeofapersonhavingagoodtimethanassuchaperson；hewouldratherbeupandaboutsomething，takingdownabook，makinganote，goingagaintohislittlewindows，andaskingyouifyouhadseenthecrowsyetthatsometimesalightedontheshoalsleftbarebytheebb—tidebehindthehouse。Thereaderwillrecallhislovelypoem，\"MyAviary，\"
whichdealswiththewingedlifeofthatpleasantprospect。Isharedwithhimintheflockofwild—duckswhichusedtocomeintoourneighborwatersinspring，whentheicebrokeup，andstayedaslongasthesmallestspaceofbrineremainedunfrozeninthefall。HewasgraciouslywillingIshouldshareinthem，andinthecloudofgullswhichdriftedaboutinthecurrentsoftheseaandskythere，almostthewholeyearround。Ididnotpretendanoriginalrighttothem，comingsolateasI
didtotheplace，andIthinkmydeferencepleasedhim。
VII。
AsIhavesaid，helikedhisfences，oratleastlikedyoutorespectthem，ortobesensibleofthem。AsoftenasIwenttoseehimIwasmadetowaitinthelittlereception—roombelow，andnevershownatoncetohisstudy。Mynamewouldbecarriedup，andIwouldhearhimverifyingmypresencefromthemaidthroughtheopeneddoor；thentherecameacheerycryofwellcome:\"Isthatyou？Comeup，comeup！\"andI
foundhimsometimeshalf—waydownthestairstomeetme。Hewouldmakeanexcuseforhavingkeptmebelowamoment，andsaysomethingabouttherulehehadtoobserveinallcases，asifhewouldnothavemefeelhisfenceapersonalthing。Iwasawarehowthoroughlyhisgentlespiritpervadedthewholehouse；theIrishmaidwhoopenedthedoorhadtheeffectofbeinganeighbortoo，andofbeinginthejokeofthelittleformality；sheapologizedinherturnforthereception—room；therewascertainlynothingtrampleduponinhermanner，butaffectionandreverenceforhimwhosegatesheguarded，withsomethinglikethesentimentshewouldhavecherishedforadignitaryoftheChurch，butnicelydifferencedandadjustedtotheAutocrat’speculiarmerits。
ThelasttimeIwasinthatplace，avisitantwhohadlatelyknockedatmyowndoorwasabouttoenter。Imetthemasterofthehouseonthelandingofthestairsoutsidehisstudy，andheledmeinforthefewmomentswecouldspendtogether。Hespokeoftheshadowsonear，andsaidhesupposedtherecouldbenohope，buthedidnotrefusethecheerIofferedhimfrommyignoranceagainsthisknowledge，andatsomethingthatwasthoughtorsaidhesmiled，withevenabreathoflaughter，sopotentisthewontofalifetime，thoughhiseyeswerefulloftears，andhisvoicebrokewithhiswords。Thosewhohavesorroweddeepestwillunderstandthisbest。
ItwasduringthefewyearsofourBeaconStreetneighborhoodthathespentthosehundreddaysabroadinhislastvisittoEnglandandFrance。
Hewasfulloftheirdelightwhenhecameback，andmypropinquitygavemetheadvantageofhearinghimspeakofthematfirsthand。HewhimsicallypleasedhimselfmostwithhisDerby—dayexperiences，andenjoyedcontrastingthecrowdandoccasionwiththatoffortyorfiftyyearsearlier，whenhehadseensomefamousraceoftheDerbywon；
nothingelseinEnglandseemedtohavemovedhimsomuch，thoughallthatroyalties，dignities，andcelebritiescouldwelldoforhimhadbeendone。Ofcertainthingsthathappenedtohim，characteristicoftheEnglish，andinterestingtohimintheirrelationtohimselfthroughhischaracterofuniversallyinterestedman，hespokefreely；buthehassaidwhathechosetothepublicaboutthem，andIhavenorighttosaymore。
ThethingthatmostvexedhimduringhissojournapparentlywastohavebeendescribedinoneoftheLondonpapersasquitedeaf；andIcouldtrulysaytohimthatIhadneverimaginedhimatalldeaf，orheardhimaccusedofitbefore。\"Oh，yes，\"hesaid，\"Iamalittlehardofhearingononeside。Butitisn’tdeafness。\"
Hehad，indeed，fewornoneoftheinfirmitiesofagethatmakethemselvespainfullyorinconvenientlyevident。Hecarriedhisslightfigureerect，anduntilhislatestyearshisstepwasquickandsure。
Oncehespokeofthelessenedheightofoldpeople，aproposofsomethingthatwassaid，and\"Theywillshrink，youknow，\"headded，asifhewerenotatallconcernedinthefacthimself。Ifyoumethiminthestreet，youencounteredaspare，carefullydressedoldgentleman，withaclean—
shavenfaceandafriendlysmile，qualifiedbytheinvoluntaryfrownofhisthick，senilebrows；wellcoated，lustrouslyshod，wellgloved，inasilkhat，latterlywoundwithamourning—weed。Sometimeshedidnotknowyouwhenheknewyouquitewell，andatsuchtimesIthinkitwaskindtosparehisyearsthefatigueofrecallingyouridentity；atanyrate，IamgladofthetimeswhenIdidso。Insocietyhehadthesamevagueness，thesamedimness；butafterthemomentheneededtomakesureofyou，hewasasvividaseverinhislife。Hemademethinkofabedofembersonwhichtheasheshavethinlygathered，andwhich，whenthesearebreathedaway，sparklesandtinkleskeenlyupwithallthefreshnessofanewlykindledfire。Hedidnotmindtalkingabouthisage，andIfanciedratherenjoyeddoingso。Itsapproachesinterestedhim；ifhewasgoing，helikedtoknowjusthowandwhenhewasgoing。Oncehespokeofhislastingstrengthintermsofimaginativehumor:hewasstillsointenselyinterestedinnature，theuniverse，thatitseemedtohimhewasnotlikeanoldmansomuchasalustyinfantwhichstrugglesagainsthavingthebreastsnatchedfromit。Helaughedatthenotionofthis，withthatimpersonalrelishwhichseemedtomesingularlycharacteristicoftheself—consciousnesssomarkedinhim。Ineverheardonelugubriouswordfromhiminregardtohisyears。Helikedyoursympathyonallgroundswherehecouldhaveitself—respectfully，buthewasamostmanlyspirit，andhewouldnothavehaditevenasatypeoftheuniversaldecay。
Possiblyhewouldhavebeeninterestedtohaveyoushareinthatanalysisofhimselfwhichhewasalwaysmaking，ifsuchathingcouldhavebeen。
Hehadnotmuchpatiencewiththeunmanlycravingforsympathyinothers，andchieflyinourliterarycraft，whichissomewhatignoblygiventoit，thoughhewaspatient，afterall。Heusedtosay，andIbelievehehassaiditinprint，——[Holmessaiditinprintmanytimes，inhisthreenovelsandscatteredthroughthe\"BreakfastTable\"series。D。W。]——thatunlessamancouldshowagoodreasonforwritingverse，itwasratheragainsthim，andaproofofweakness。Isupposethissevereconclusionwassomethinghehadreachedafterdealingwithinnumerablesmallpoetswhosoughtthelightinhimwithversesthatnoeditorwouldadmittoprint。Yetofmorbidnesshewasoftenverytender；heknewittobedisease，somethingthatmustbescientificallyratherthanethicallytreated。Hewasinthesamedegreekindtoanysensitiveness，forhewashimselfassensitiveashewasmanly，andhewasmostdelicatelysensitivetoanyrightfulsocialclaimuponhim。Iwasonceatadinnerwithhim，wherehewasinsomesortmyhost，inacompanyofpeoplewhomhehadnotseenmewithbefore，andhemadeapointofacquaintingmewitheachofthem。ItdidnotmatterthatIknewmostofthemalready；
theproofofhisthoughtfulnesswasprecious，andIwassorrywhenIhadtodisappointitbyconfessingapreviousknowledge。
VIII。
Ihadthreememorablemeetingswithhimnotverylongbeforehedied:oneayearbefore，andtheothertwowithinafewmonthsoftheend。Thefirstofthesewasatluncheoninthesummer—houseofafriendwhosehospitalitymadeitsummertheyearround，andweallwentouttomeethim，whenhedroveupinhisopencarriage，withthelittlesunshadeinhishand，whichhetookwithhimforprotectionagainsttheheat，andalso，alittle，Ithink，forthewhimofit。Hesatamomentafterhearrived，asiftoorienthimselfinrespecttoeachofus。Besidethegiftedhostess，therewasthemostcharmingofalltheAmericanessayists，andtheAutocratseemedatoncetofindhimselfsingularlyathomewiththepeoplewhogreetedhim。Therewasnointervalneededforfanningawaytheashes；hetinkledupbeforeheenteredthehouse，andatthetablehewasasvividandscintillantasIeversawhim，ifindeedI
eversawhimasmuchso。Thetalkbeganatonce，andwehadmadehimbelievethattherewasnothingegotisticinhistakingtheword，orturningitinillustrationfromhimselfuponuniversalmatters。IspokeamongotherthingsofsomehumbleruinsontheroadtoGloucester，whichgavetheway—sideaveryagedlook；thetumbledfoundation—stonesofpoorbitsofhouses，and\"Ah，\"hesaid，\"thecellarandthewell？\"Headded，tothecompanygenerally，\"DoyouknowwhatIthinkarethetwolinesofminethatgoasdeepasanyothers，inacertaindirection？\"andhebegantorepeatstragglinglycertainversesfromoneofhisearlierpoems，untilhecametotheclosingcouplet。ButIwillgivetheminfull，becauseingoingtolookthemupIhavefoundthemsolovely，andbecauseIcanhearhisvoiceagainineveryfondlyaccentedsyllable:
\"Whoseesunmoved，aruinathisfeet，Thelowliesthomewherehumanheartshavebeat？
Itshearth—stone，shadedwiththebistrestain，Acentury’sshowerytorrentswashinvain；
Itsstarvingorchardwherethethistleblows，Andmossytrunksstillmarkthebrokenrows；
Itschimney—lovingpoplar，oftenestseenNextanoldroof，orwherearoofhasbeen；
Itsknot—grass，plantain，——allthesocialweeds，Man’smutecompanionsfollowingwhereheleads；
Itsdwarfedpaleflowers，thatshowtheirstragglingheads，Sownbythewindfromgrass—chokedgarden—beds；
Itswoodbinecreepingwhereitusedtoclimb；
Itsrosesbreathingoftheoldentime；
Allthepoorshowsthecuriousidlersees，Aslife’sthinshadowswastebyslowdegrees，Tillnaughtremains，thesaddeningtaletotell，Savehome’slastwrecks——theCELLARANDTHEWELL！\"
Thepoet’schantingvoicerosewithatriumphantswellintheclimax，and\"There，\"hesaid，\"isn’titso？Thecellarandthewell——theycan’tbethrowndownorburntup；theyarethehumanmonumentsthatlastlongestanddefydecay。\"Herejoicedopenlyinthesympathythatrecognizedwithhimthedivinationofamostpathetic，mostsignalfact，andherepeatedthelastcoupletagainatourentreaty，gladtobeentreatedforit。
Idonotknowwhetherallwillagreewithhimconcerningtherelativeimportanceofthelines，butIthinkallmustfeeltheexquisitebeautyofthepicturetowhichtheygivethefinaltouch。
Hesaidathousandwittyandbrilliantthingsthatday，buthispleasureinthisgavemethemostpleasure，andIrecallthepassagedistinctlyoutofthedimnessthatcoverstherest。Hechosetofigureusyoungermen，intouchingupontheliterarycircumstanceofthepastandpresent，asrepresentativeofmodernfeelingandthinking，andhimselfasnolongercontemporary。Weknewhedidthistobecontradicted，andweprotested，affectionately，fervently，withallourheartsandminds；andindeedtherewerenoneofhisgenerationwhohadlivedmorewidelyintoours。HewasnotaprophetlikeEmerson，noreveravoicecryinginthewildernesslikeWhittierorLowell。Hisnotewasheardratheramidthesweetsecurityofstreets，butitwasalwaysforafinerandgentlercivility。Heimaginednonewruleoflife，andnophilosophyortheoryoflifewillbeknownbyhisname。Hewasnotconstructive；hewasessentiallyobservant，andinthisheshowedthescientificnature。
Hemadehisreaderknowntohimself，firstinthelittle，andtheninthelargerthings。Fromfirsttolasthewasacensor，butamostwinninganddelightfulcensor，whocouldmakeusfeelthatourfaultswereotherpeople’s，andwhowasnotwont\"Tobaithishomilieswithhisbrotherworms。\"
Atoneperiodhesatintheseatofthescorner，asfarasReformwasconcerned，orperhapsreformers，whoaresooftentediousandridiculous；
butheseemedtogetanewheartwiththenewmindwhichcametohimwhenhebegantowritetheAutocratpapers，andthelightmockerofformerdaysbecametheseriousandcompassionatethinker，towhommosttrulynothingthatwashumanwasalien。Hisreaderstrustedandlovedhim；fewmenhaveeverwrittensointimatelywithsomuchdignity，andperhapsnonehassoendearedhimselfbysayingjustthethingforhisreaderthathisreadercouldnotsayforhimself。Hesoughttheuniversalthroughhimselfinothers，andhefoundtohisdelightandtheirsthatthemostuniversalthingwasoften，ifnotalways，themostpersonalthing。
InmylatermeetingswithhimIwasstruckmoreandmorebyhisgentleness。Ibelievethatmenareapttogrowgentlerastheygrowolder，unlesstheyareofthecurmudgeontype，whichrustsandcrustswithage，butwithDoctorHolmesthegentlenesswaspeculiarlymarked。
Heseemedtoshrinkfromallthingsthatcouldprovokecontroversy，orevendifference；hewaivedwhatmightbeamatterofdispute，andrathersoughtthethingsthathecouldagreewithyouupon。InthelasttalkI
hadwithhimheappearedtohavenogrudgeleft，exceptforthepuritanicorthodoxyinwhichhehadbeenbredasachild。Thishewasnotabletoforgive，thoughitstraditionwasinterwovenwithwhatwastenderestanddearestinhisrecollectionsofchildhood。Wespokeofpuritanism，andIsaidIsometimeswonderedwhatcouldbethemindofamantowardslifewhohadnotbeenrearedinitsawfulshadow，sayanEnglishChurchman，oraContinentalCatholic；andhesaidhecouldnotimagine，andthathedidnotbelievesuchamancouldatallenterintoourfeelings；puritanism，heseemedtothink，madeanessentialandineradicabledifference。Idonotbelievehehadanyofthatfalsesentimentwhichattributesvirtueofcharactertoseverityofcreed，whileitownsthecreedtobewrong。
HedifferedfromLongfellowinoftenspeakingofhiscontemporaries。Hespokeofthemfrankly，butwithanappreciativeratherthanacensoriouscriticism。OfLongfellowhimselfhesaidthatday，whenItoldhimIhadbeenwritingabouthim，andheseemedtomeamanwithouterror，thathecouldthinkofbutoneerrorinhim，andthatwasanerroroftaste，ofalmostmerelyliterarytaste。ItwasatanearliertimethathetalkedofLowell，afterhisdeath，andtoldmethatLowellonceinthefeverofhisanti—slaveryapostolatehadwrittenhim，urginghimstrongly，asamatterofduty，tocomeoutforthecausehehadhimselfsomuchatheart。AfterwardsLowellwroteagain，owninghimselfwronginhisappeal，whichhehadcometorecognizeasinvasive。\"HewastenyearsyoungerthanI，\"saidthedoctor。
IfoundhimthatdayIspeakofinhishouseatBeverlyFarms，wherehehadapleasantstudyinacornerbytheporch，andhemetmewithallthecheerinessofold。Butheconfessedthathehadbeengreatlybrokenupbythelaborofpreparingsomethingthatmightbereadatsomecommemorativemeeting，andhadsufferedfromfindingfirstthathecouldnotwritesomethingspeciallyforit。Eventhecopyingandadaptinganoldpoemhadovertaxedhim，andinthisheshowedthefailingpowersofage。Butotherwisehewasstillyoung，intellectually；thatis，therewasnofailureofinterestinintellectualthings，especiallyliterarythings。Somenewbooklayonthetableathiselbow，andheaskedmeifIhadseenit，andmadesomejokeabouthishavinghadthegoodlucktoreadit，andhaveitlyingbyhimafewdaysbeforewhentheauthorcalled。Idonotknowwhetherheschooledhimselfagainstanoldman’stendencytoreverttothepastornot，butIknowthatheseldomdidso。
Thatmorning，however，hemadeseveralexcursionsintoit，andtoldmethathisyouthfulsatireofthe’SpectrePig’hadbeenprovokedbyapoemoftheelderDana’s，whereaphantomhorsehadbeenseriouslyemployed，withaneffectofanticlimaxwhichhehadfoundirresistible。Anotherforaywastorecalltheoppressionanddepressionofhisearlyreligiousassociations，andtospeakwithmovingtendernessofhisfather，whoseharddoctrineasaministerwaswithouteffectuponhisownkindlynature。
Inaletterwrittentomeafewweeksafterthistime，uponanoccasionwhenhedivinedthatsomewordfromhimwouldbemorethancommonlydear，herecurredtothefeelinghethenexpressed:\"Fifty—sixyearsago——morethanhalfacentury——Ilostmyownfather，hisagebeingseventy—threeyears。AsIhavereachedthatperiodoflife，passedit，andnowleftitfarbehind，myrecollectionsseemtobrightenandbringbackmyboyhoodandearlymanhoodinaclearerandfairerlightthanitcametomeinmymiddledecades。IhaveoftenwishedoflateyearsthatIcouldtellhimhowIcherishedhismemory；perhapsImayhavethehappinessofsayingallIlongtotellhimontheothersideofthatthinpartitionwhichI
lovetothinkisallthatdividesus。\"
Menareneverlongtogetherwithoutspeakingofwomen，andIsaidhowinevitablymen’slivesendedwheretheybegan，inthekeepingofwomen，andtheirstrengthfailedatlastandsurrendereditselftotheircare。
IhadnotfinishedbeforeIwasmadetofeelthatIwaspoaching，and\"Yes，\"saidtheownerofthepreserve，\"Ihavespokenofthat，\"andhewentontotellmejustwhere。HewasnotgoingtohavemesupposeIhadinventedthosenotions，andIcouldnotdolessthanownthatImusthavefoundtheminhisbook，andforgottenit。
Hespokeofhispleasantsummerlifeintheair，atoncesoftandfresh，ofthatlovelycoast，andofhisdrivesupanddownthecountryroads。
Sometimesthisladyandsometimesthatcameforhim，andoneortwohabitually，buthealwayshadhisowncarriageordered，iftheyfailed，thathemightnotfailofhisdriveinanyfairweather。Hiscottagewasnotimmediatelyonthesea，butinfullsightofit，andtherewasasenseoftheseaaboutit，asthereisinallthatincomparableregion，andIdonotthinkhecouldhavebeenathomeanywherebeyondthereachofitssaltbreath。
Iwasanxiousnottooutstayhisstrength，andIkeptmyeyeontheclockinfrequentglances。Isawthathefollowedmeinoneofthese，andI
saidthatIknewwhathishourswere，andIwaswatchingsothatImightgoawayintime，andthenhesweetlyprotested。DidIlikethatchairI
wassittingin？Itwasagifttohim，andhesaidwhogaveit，withapleasureinthefactthatwasverycharming，asifhelikedtheassociationofthethingwithhisfriend。Hewasdisposedtoexcusetheformallookofhisbookcases，whichwerefilledwithsets，andpresentedsomephalanxesoffictioninratherseverearray。
WhenIrosetogo，hewasconcernedaboutmybeingabletofindmywayreadilytothestation，andhetoldmehowtogo，andwhatturnstotake，asifhelikedrealizingthewaytohimself。Ibelievehedidnotwalkmuchoflateyears，andIfancyhefoundmuchthesamepleasureinlettinghisimaginationmakethisexcursiontothestationwithmethathewouldhavefoundinactuallygoing。
Isawhimoncemore，butonlyonce，whenadayortwolaterhedroveupbyourhotelinMagnoliatowardthecottagewherehissecretarywaslodging。Hesawusfromhiscarriage，andcalledusgaylytohim，tomakeusrejoicewithhimathavingfinallygotthatcommemorativepoemoffhismind。Hemadeajestofthetroubleithadcosthim，evensomesleeplessness，andsaidhefeltnowlikeaconvalescent。Hewasallbrightness，andfriendliness，andeagernesstomakeusfeelhismood，throughwhatwascommontousall；andIamgladthatthislastimpressionofhimissoonewiththefirstIeverhad，andwiththatwhicheveryreaderreceivesfromhiswork。
Thatisbright，andfriendlyandeagertoo，foritisthroughouttheveryexpressionofhimself。Ithinkitisapityifanauthordisappointseventheunreasonableexpectationofthereader，whomhisarthasinvitedtolovehim；butIdonotbelievethatDoctorHolmescouldinflictthisdisappointment。Certainlyhecoulddisappointnoreasonableexpectation，nointelligentexpectation。Whathewrote，thathewas，andeveryonefeltthiswhomethim。Hehasthereforenotdied，assomemendie，theremoteimpersonalsort，butheisyetthrillinglyaliveineverypageofhisbooks。Thequantityofhisliteratureisnotgreat，butthequalityisverysurprising，andsurprisingfirstofallasequality。Fromthebeginningtotheendhewroteoneman，ofcourseinhissuccessiveconsciousnesses。Perhapseveryonedoesthis，buthisworkgivestheimpressionofanuncommoncontinuity，inspiteofitsbeingtheeffectofalaterandanearlierimpulsesoverymarkedastohavemadethelateranastonishingrevelationtothosewhothoughttheyknewhim。
IX。
Itisnotformeinsuchapaperasthistoattemptanyjudgmentofhiswork。Ihavelovedit，asIlovedhim，withasenseofitslimitationswhichisbynomeansacensureofitsexcellences。Hewasnotamanwhocaredtotranscend；helikedbounds，helikedhorizons，theconstancyofshores。Ifheputtosea，hekeptinsightofland，liketheancientnavigators。Hedidnotdiscovernewcontinents；andIwillownthatI，formypart，shouldnothavelikedtosailwithColumbus。Ithinkonecansafelyaffirmthatasgreatandasusefulmenstayedbehind，andfoundanAmericaofthemindwithoutstirringfromtheirthresholds。