master letters

Master Letter 3 Summer 1861 * Master If you saw a bullet hit a bird- and he told you he was'nt shot- you might weep at his courtesy, but you would certainly doubt his word- One drop more from the gash that stains your Daisy's bosom- then would you believe? Thomas' faith in anatomy- was stronger than his faith in faith. God made me- Sir- (Master-) I did'nt be- myself- He I dont know how it was done- He built the heart in me- Bye and bye it outgrow me- and like the little mother- with the big child- I got tired holding him- I heard of a thing called "Redemption"- which rested men and women-

* * You remember I asked you for it- you gave me something else- I forget the Redemption in the Redeemed- I did'nt tell you for a long time- but I knew you had altered me- I (and) was tired- no more(+) -so dear did this stranger become, that were it, or my breath- the alternative- I had tossed the fellow away with a smile. I am older- tonight, Master- but the love is the same so are the moon and the crescent- if it had been God's will that I might breathe where you breathed- and find the place- myself- at night- if I (can) never forget that I am not with you and that sorrow and frost are nearer than I- if I wish

* * * with a might I cannot repress- that mine were the Queen's place- the love of the- Plantagenet is my only apology- To come nearer than Presbyteries- and nearer than the new coat- that the Tailor made- the prank of the Heart at play on the Heart- in holy Holiday- is forbidden me- You make me say it over- I fear you laugh- when I do not see- but "Chillon" is not funny. Have you the Heart in your breast- Sir- is it set like mine- a little to the left- has it the misgiving- if it wake in the night- perchance- itself to it- a timbrel is it- itself to it a tune? These things are reverent (holy), Sir, I tough them reverently (hallowed), but

* * * persons who pray- dare remark our "Father!" You say I do not tell you all- Daisy "confessed- and denied not." Vesuvius dont talk- Etna- dont- They (2) said a syllable- (1) one of them- a thousand years ago, and Pompeii heard it, and hid forever- She could'nt look the world in the face, afterward- I suppose- Bashful Pompeii! "Tell you of the want"- you know what a leech is, dont you- and (remember that) Daisy's arm is small- and you have felt the Horizon- hav'nt you- and did the sea- (n)ever come so close as to make you dance? I dont know what you can do for it- thank you- Master-

* * * -but if I had the Beard on my cheek- (like you-) and you- had Daisy's petals- and you cared so for me- what would become of you? Could you forget (me) in fight, or flight- or the foreign land? Could Carlo, and you and I walk in the meadows an hour- and nobody care but the Bobolink- and his- a silver scruple? I used to think when I died I could see you- so I died as fast as I could- but the "Corporation" are going (too)- so Eternity Heaven wont be sequestered- at all (now)- Say I may wait for you- Say I need go with no stranger to the to me- untried country (fold) I waited a long time- Master- but I can want more- wait till my hazel hair is dappled-

* * * * * and you carry the cane- then I can look at my watch- and if the Day is too far declined- we can take the chances of (for) Heaven- What would you do with me if I came "in white"? Have you the little chest- to put the alive- in? I want to see you more- Sir- than all I wish for in this world- and the wish- altered a little- will be my only one- for the skies- Could you come to New England- this summer- could (Would ) you come to Amherst- Would you like to come- Master? Would it do harm- yet we both fear God- Would Daisy disappoint you- no she would'nt- Sir- it were comfort forever- just

to look in your face, while you looked in mine- then I could play in the woods- till Dark- till you take me where sundown cannot find us- and the true keep coming- till the town is full. Will you tell me if you will? I did'nt think to tell you, you did'nt come to me "in white"- nor ever told me why- +No Rose, yet felt myself a'bloom, No Bird- yet rode in Ether- < > inserted readings you cancelled readings * to the left of the line indicates the most likely paragraph break, based on space and content, determined by R.W.Franklin.

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