462 FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS. [1862,

soul essentially sound, so free from any morbid tendency." After mentioning that his own home was in a pleasant valley, once the hunting-ground of the Indians, Mr. Benton said :

" I was in hope to read something more from your pen in Mr. Conway s Dial, l but only recognized that fine pair of Walden twinlets. Of your two books, I perhaps prefer the Week, but after all, Walden is but little less a favorite. In the former, I like especially those little snatches of poetry interspersed throughout. I would like to ask what progress you have made in a work some way connected with natural his tory, I think it was on Botany, which Mr. Emerson told me something about in a short in terview I had with him two years ago at Pough- keepsie. ... If you should feel perfectly able at any time to drop me a few lines, I would like much to know what your state of health is, and if there is, as I cannot but hope, a prospect of your speedy recovery."

Two months and more passed before Thoreau replied ; but his habit of performing every duty,

1 This was a short-lived monthly, edited at Cincinnati (1861- 62) by Moncure D. Conway, since distinguished as an author, who had resided for a time in Concord, after leaving his native Virginia. He wrote asking Thoreau and all his Concord friends to contribute to this new Dial, and several of them

did so.