November 18, 1858
. . It is remarkable that James Lowell was . . . entirely unprepared for Maria L.'s death until a few days previous; she had been so frail so long, and he was so unable to entertain the thought of her departure.
He was entirely overwhelmed by it and saw no one for several days, I believe; but he is of an elastic nature, and who could mourn long for one like her in heaven?May, 1854
. . He [Lowell] told some pleasant things which he might have put into his “Fireside tales” but for the feelings of some now living — as of Dr. Waterhouse living in same house with his father-in-law, they hating each other mortally.
The latter was bedridden and never knew that Dr. W. lived in the house, for Dr. W. used to walk in daily after breakfast, with hat, coat, and cane, inquire after the old gentleman's health and walk out again, into his own part of the house, there to disrobe himself.
J. R. L. thinks that out of all the ex-ministers in Cambridge, a new crop of oddities is ripening.... Finally, he said, to my great regret, that M-. R-. is very intemperate, driven to it, he thinks, by his wife (that “poor little ting” ); but he says he is never so elegant in his manners as when inebriated.I saw Charles Dana [later editor of the New York Sun ] at Redding's and had some talk. He looks finely and was gay as usual, but I never feel entirely at ease with him — his comers are too clearly defined.
