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to be flowing for them from all directions, and that is something, because, besides their severe bereavements, they greatly need money: though not so totally destitute as many seem to think.
I have had some queer letters about them, one from a man in Winchendon offering to adopt one of the daughters and teach her telegraphy.
The whole thing is having a tremendous influence on public sentiment.
In 1857 Mr. Higginson made a visit to his old “Prex.”
I thought, when waiting for admission to President Quincy's study, that there was really nobody living, except the veteran Humboldt, before whom I should feel so much awe, as in the presence of this ancient Doge.
But when finally admitted, the impression of old college times was so strong that I felt an immediate expectation of an English oration or a little good advice.
The latter came in the form of his views on Disunion, which he had evidently thought over pretty thoroughly, and stated with the utmost heartiness and even vehemence.
He spoke just as he used to do, with occasional pauses for a word, though not often; and with singular vigor and emphasis.
He expressed no sort of fear of Disunion; he was “perfectly willing to look over into this dark chasm which yawns in the midst of the Republic” ; and as for fear of saying what he thought, “old age had made him courageous” (an unusual effect of old age, I thought).
