CONCORD, October 31, 1858.
FRIEND RICKETSON,--I have not seen anything of your English author
yet. Edward Hoar, my companion in Maine and at the White Mountains,
his sister Elizabeth, and a Miss Prichard, another neighbor of ours,
went to Europe in the Niagara on the 6th. I told them to look out for
you under the Yardley Oak, but it seems they will not find you there.
I had a pleasant time in Tuckerman's Ravine at the White Mountains in
July, entertaining four beside myself under my little tent through
some soaking rains; and more recently I have taken an interesting walk
with Channing about Cape Ann. We were obliged to "dipper it" a good
way, on account of the scarcity of fresh water, for we got most of our
meals by the shore. Channing is understood to be here for the winter,
but I rarely see him.
I should be pleased to see your face here in the course of the Indian
summer, which may still be expected, if any authority can tell us when
that phenomenon _does_ occur. We would like to hear the story of your
travels; for if you have not been fairly intoxicated with Europe, you
have been half-seas-over, and so can probably tell more about it.
* * * * *
This alludes to the fact that Ricketson got as far as Halifax in his
attempt at Europe; and in his reply (November 3, 1858) he gave Thoreau
an account of his short voyage, on which the next letter comments.