Wednesday, November 9, 2011

eve of a snow-storm


August 1, 1851
"Proceeding homeward, we were overtaken by a cavalier on horseback, who saluted me in Spanish, to which I replied by touching my hat. But, the cavalier renewing his salutation, I regarded him more attentively, and saw that it was Herman Melville!" --Nathaniel Hawthorne
November 1851
"We left Lenox Friday morning, November 21, 1851, in a storm of snow and sleet, and took the cars at Pittsfield, and arrived at West Newton that evening."  --Nathaniel Hawthorne

 April 1852
"Amigo mio! Didn't you desert me on the eve of a snow-storm, like many another friend of so honest mouthing!"

Friday, November 4, 2011

good mornings with horses


Herman Melville, letter to Evert Duyckinck:
Do you want to know how I pass my time? — I rise at eight— thereabouts — & go to my barn — say good-morning to the horse, & give him his breakfast.  (It goes to my heart to give him a cold one, but it can’t be helped.)
 Pierre (1852)
Now, this grand old Pierre Glendinning was a great lover of horses. . .He said that no man loved his horses, unless his own hands grained them. Every Christmas he gave them brimming measures. "I keep Christmas with my horses," said grand old Pierre. This grand old Pierre always rose at sunrise; washed his face and chest in the open air; and then, returning to his closet, and being completely arrayed at last, stepped forth to make a ceremonious call at his stables, to bid his very honorable friends there a very good and joyful morning.
1853
August 4th.[1845]—We marched at half-past 6 o'clock. That means that two hours earlier a trumpet had called us all from sleep to sudden labours; first, arms in hand,—there is an inspection,—then a "stable call," which the poor horses know well, although they have perhaps forgotten what a stable is, or have despaired ever to see one again; possibly they retain a vague memory of the grain, which, on a time, was served to them at that signal.  Now they whinny a morning greeting to their masters, and seem grateful for a little rubbing of their stiffened limbs, and removal to fresh grass.