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have to deal with。 We were some weeks longer together； but he never
offered to continue his reading。 At length I ventured to give him a
hint that our young friend and myself would both of us be greatly
gratified if he would begin reading from his unpublished page where
he had left off。
No； sir；he said；better not； better not。 That which means so
much to me； the writer； might be a disappointment； or at least a
puzzle； to you； the listener。 Besides； if you'll take my printed
book and be at the trouble of thinking over what it says； and put
that with what you've heard me say； and then make those comments and
reflections which will be suggested to a mind in so many respects
like mine as is your own；excuse my good opinion of myself；
（It is a high compliment to me； I replied） you will perhaps find you
have the elements of the formula and its consequences which I was
about to read you。 It's quite as well to crack your own filberts as
to borrow the use of other people's teeth。 I think we will wait
awhile before we pour out the Elixir Vitae。
To tell the honest truth； I suspect the Master has found out that
his formula does not hold water quite so perfectly as he was
thinking； so long as he kept it to himself； and never thought of
imparting it to anybody else。 The very minute a thought is
threatened with publicity it seems to shrink towards mediocrity； as。
I have noticed that a great pumpkin； the wonder of a village； seemed
to lose at least a third of its dimensions between the field where it
grew and the cattle…show fair…table； where it took its place with
other enormous pumpkins from other wondering villages。 But however
that maybe； I shall always regret that I had not the opportunity of
judging for myself how completely the Master's formula； which； for
him； at least； seemed to have solved the great problem； would have
accomplished that desirable end for me。
The Landlady's announcement of her intention to give up keeping
boarders was heard with regret by all who met around her table。 The
Member of the Haouse inquired of me whether I could tell him if the
Lamb Tahvern was kept well abaout these times。 He knew that members
from his place used to stop there； but he hadn't heerd much abaout it
of late years。 I had to inform him that that fold of rural innocence
had long ceased offering its hospitalities to the legislative； flock。
He found refuge at last； I have learned； in a great public house in
the northern section of the city； where； as he said； the folks all
went up stairs in a rat…trap； and the last I heard of him was looking
out of his somewhat elevated attic…window in a northwesterly
direction in hopes that he might perhaps get a sight of the Grand
Monadnock； a mountain in New Hampshire which I have myself ；seen from
the top of Bunker Hill Monument。
The Member of the Haouse seems to have been more in a hurry to find a
new resting…place than the other boarders。 By the first of January；
however； our whole company was scattered； never to meet again around
the board where we had been so long together。
The Lady moved to the house where she had passed many of her
prosperous years。 It had been occupied by a rich family who had
taken it nearly as it stood； and as the pictures had been dusted
regularly； and the books had never been handled； she found everything
in many respects as she had left it； and in some points improved； for
the rich people did not know what else to do； and so they spent money
without stint on their house and its adornments； by all of which she
could not help profiting。 I do not choose to give the street and
number of the house where she lives； but a…great many poor people
know very well where it is； and as a matter of course the rich ones
roll up to her door in their carriages by the dozen every fine Monday
while anybody is in town。
It is whispered that our two young folks are to be married before
another season； and that the Lady has asked them to come and stay
with her for a while。 Our Scheherezade is to write no more stories。
It is astonishing to see what a change for the better in her aspect a
few weeks of brain…rest and heart's ease have wrought in her。 I
doubt very much whether she ever returns to literary labor。 The work
itself was almost heart…breaking； but the effect upon her of the
sneers and cynical insolences of the literary rough who came at her
in mask and brass knuckles was to give her what I fear will be a
lifelong disgust against any writing for the public； especially in
any of the periodicals。 I am not sorry that she should stop writing；
but I am sorry that she should have been silenced in such a rude way。
I doubt； too； whether the Young Astronomer will pass the rest of his
life in hunting for comets and planets。 I think he has found an
attraction that will call him down from the celestial luminaries to a
light not less pure and far less remote。 And I am inclined to
believe that the best answer to many of those questions which have
haunted him and found expression in his verse will be reached by a
very different channel from that of lonely contemplation； the duties；
the cares； the responsible realities of a life drawn out of itself by
the power of newly awakened instincts and affections。 The double
star was prophetic；I thought it would be。
The Register of Deeds is understood to have been very handsomely
treated by the boarder who owes her good fortune to his sagacity and
activity。 He has engaged apartments at a very genteel boarding…house
not far from the one where we have all been living。 The Salesman
found it a simple matter to transfer himself to an establishment over
the way； he had very little to move； and required very small
accommodations。
The Capitalist； however； seems to have felt it impossible to move
without ridding himself of a part atleast of his encumbrances。 The
community was startled by the announcement that a citizen who did not
wish his name to be known had made a free gift of a large sum of
moneyit was in tens of thousandsto an institution of long
standing and high character in the city of which he was a quiet
resident。 The source of such a gift could not long be kept secret。
It； was our economical； not to say parsimonious Capitalist who had
done this noble act； and the poor man had to skulk through back
streets and keep out of sight； as if he were a show character in a
travelling caravan； to avoid the acknowledgments of his liberality；
which met him on every hand and put him fairly out of countenance。
That Boy has gone； in virtue of a special invitation； to make a visit
of indefinite length at the house of the father of the older boy；
whom we know by the name of Johnny。 Of course he is having a good
time； for Johnny's father is full of fun； and tells first…rate
stories； and if neither of the boys gets his brains kicked out by the
pony； or blows himself up with gunpowder； or breaks through the ice
and gets drowned； they will have a fine time of it this winter。
The Scarabee could not bear to remove his collections； and the old
Master was equally unwilling to disturb his books。 It was arranged；
therefore； that they should keep their