Page 68 - Four Famous American Writers: Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, James Russell Lowell, Bayard Taylor

Elmwood--going, of course, only as a day scholar. This school was kept by
an Englishman named Wells, who had belonged to a publishing firm in

Boston which had failed. This teacher was very sharp and severe, but he
made all his boys learn Latin, as you may see by reading the learned notes

and introductions to the "Biglow Papers," supposed to have been written by
"Parson Wilbur," but in reality by Lowell himself.

We sometimes find it difficult to believe that a great man whom we admire
was ever an ordinary human being, with faults and errors like our own. But

when we do find natural, childish letters, or read anecdotes of youthful
naughtiness, we immediately feel like shaking hands with the scapegrace,
and a real liking for him begins.

Lowell was so reserved in after life, and so very correct and elegant both in

his writing and in his deportment, that when we come across two letters
written at about nine years of age, badly punctuated and badly spelled, but
displaying all the natural spirits of a boy, we begin at once to feel at home

with him and to have a genuine affection for the man we had before only
admired as a very great and learned author. Here are the two letters just as

they were written. It will be a good exercise for you to rewrite them,
correcting the spelling, punctuation, and other faults.

Jan. 25, 1827.

My dear brother The dog and the colt went down to-day with our boy for
me and the colt went before and then the horse and slay and dog-- I went to
a party and I danced a great deal and was very happy--I read french

stories--The colt plays very much--and follows the horse when it is out.
Your affectionate brother,

James R. Lowell.

I forgot to tell you that sister mary has not given me any present but I have
got three books

Nov. 2, 1828.