More
guests arrived, and the talk became general until the time came to
listen to 'Amita.'"
The charm of that reading can never be forgotten by those who heard
it. The paper itself can now be found upon the printed page; but
Emerson's enjoyment of his own wit, as reflected back from the faces
of his listeners, cannot be reproduced, nor a kind of squirrel-like
shyness and swiftness which pervaded it.
The diary continues:--
"C---- and ---- were first at breakfast, but Mr. Emerson soon
followed. The latter had been some time at work, and his hands were
cold. I had heard him stirring before seven o'clock. He came down
bright and fresh, however, with the very spirit of youth in his face.
At table they fell upon that unfailing resource in conversation,
anecdotes of animals and birds. Speaking of parrots, Mr. Emerson said
he had never heard a parrot say any of these wonderful things himself,
but the Storer family of Cambridge, who were very truthful people, had
told him astonishing anecdotes of a bird belonging to them, which he
could not disbelieve because they told him.
"At ten o'clock we went to Miss L----'s, where the young ladies' club
was convened to hear Mr. Emerson on 'Manners.' He told us we should do
better to stay at home, as we had heard this paper many times. Happily
we did not take his advice. There were many good things added, beside
the pleasure of hearing the old ones revived. One of the things new to
me was the saying of a wise woman, who remarked that she 'did not
think so much of what people said as of what made them say it.
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