Page 74 - Four Famous American Writers: Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, James Russell Lowell, Bayard Taylor

the 'unknown God,' which the Divinity has builded not with hands in the
bosom of every decent man, sometimes blazing out clear with flame, like

Abel's sacrifice, heaven-seeking; sometimes smothered with greenwood
and earthward, like that of Cain. Lazy quota! I haven't dug, 'tis true, but I

have done as well, and 'since my free soul was mistress of her choice, and
could of books distinguish her election,' I have chosen what reading I
pleased and what friends I pleased, sometimes scholars and sometimes

not."

Once out of college he had to take up some profession. Had poetry been a
profession, he would have taken that; but such a choice at that time would
have been considered sheer folly. He did not consider that he had any "call"

to be a minister, still less a doctor. As there was nothing else left, he began
the study of law. It is truly amusing to see how he manages to "wriggle

along" until he takes his degree of LL.B. and is admitted to the bar.

First, he announces that he is "reading Blackstone with as good a grace and

as few wry faces as he may." Only a few days later he declares, "A very
great change has come o'er the spirit of my dreams. I have renounced the

law." He is going to be a business man, and sets about looking for a place,
in a store. He is going to give up all thoughts of literary pursuits and devote
himself to money-making. He also says, "I have been thinking seriously of

the ministry, but then-- I have also thought of medicine, but then--still
worse!"

A few days pass by. He goes into Boston and hears Webster speak in a case
before the United States Court. "I had not been there an hour before I

determined to continue in my profession and study as well as I could."

Still, it was hard work to keep at his law studies. He is soon writing to his
friend George Loring, "I sometimes think that I have it in me, and shall one
day do somewhat; meantime I am schooling myself and shaping my theory

of poesy."

Six weeks later: "I have written a great deal of pottery lately. I have quitted
the law forever." Then he inquires if he can make any money by lecturing