Emily Dickinson — Letter 316 17 March 1866 T. W. Higginson

                                                                                                Amherst Dear friend. Whom my Dog understood could not elude others. I should be glad to see you, but think it an apparitional pleasure - not to be fulfilled. I am uncertain of Boston. I had promised to visit my Physician for a few days in May, but Father objects because he is in the habit of me. Is it more far to Amherst? You would find a minute Host but a spacious Welcome - Lest you meet my Snake. and suppose I deceive it was robbed of me - defeated too of the third line by the punctuation. The third and fourth were one - I had told you I did not print - I feared you might think me ostensible. If I still entreat you to teach me, are you much displeased? I will be patient - constant, never reject your knife and should my my [sic] slowness goad you, you knew before myself that         Except the smaller size         No lives are round -         These - hurry to a sphere         And show and end -         The larger - slower grow         And later hang -         The Summers of Hesperides         Are long.                                                                                                    Dickinson