What an admirable reporter you would be! Your account of the meeting
with Miller in the restaurant and of the "entertainment" are amusing
no end. * * * By the way, I observe a trooly offle "attack" on me in
the Oakland _Times_ of the 3rd (I think) * * * (I know of course it
means me--I always know that when they pull out of their glowing minds
that old roasted chestnut about "tearing down" but not "building
up"--that is to say, effacing one imposture without giving them
another in place of it.) The amusing part of the business is that he
points a contrast between me and Realf (God knows there's unlikeness
enough) quite unconscious of the fact that it is I and no other who
have "built up" Realf's reputation as a poet--published his work, and
paid him for it, when nobody else would have it; repeatedly pointed
out its greatness, and when he left that magnificent crown of sonnets
behind him protested that posterity would know California better by
the incident of his death than otherwise--not a soul, until now,
concurring in my view of the verses. Believe me, my trade is not
without its humorous side.
Leigh and I went down to the waterfall yesterday. It was almost
grand--greater than I had ever seen it--and I took the liberty to wish
that you might see it in that state. My wish must have communicated
itself, somehow, though imperfectly, to Leigh, for as I was indulging
it he expressed the same wish with regard to Richard.
I wish too that you might be here to-day to see the swirls of snow. It
is falling rapidly, and I'm thinking that this letter will make its
way down the mountain to-morrow morning through a foot or two of it.
Unluckily, it has a nasty way of turning to rain.
My health is very good now, and Leigh and I take long walks. And after
the rains we look for Indian arrow-heads in the plowed fields and on
the gravel bars of the creek. My collection is now great; but I fear I
shall tire of the fad before completing it. One in the country must
have a fad or die of dejection and oxidation of the faculties. How
happy is he who can make a fad of his work!
By the way, my New York publishers (The United States Book Company)
have failed, owing me a pot of money, of which I shall probably get
nothing. I'm beginning to cherish an impertinent curiosity to know
what Heaven means to do to me next. If your function as one of the
angels gives you a knowledge of such matters please betray your trust
and tell me where I'm to be hit, and how hard.
But this is an intolerable deal of letter.
With best regards to all good Partingtons--and I think there are no
others--I remain your affectionate uncle by adoption,