Keats, John, 1795-1821; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
none--"he did not," says Keats, "seem to care much about it, but let me go
without my money almost with nonchalance." This was too much even for
Keats's patience. He declares that he shall never count Haydon a friend
again: nevertheless he by-and-by let old affection resume its sway, and
entered into the other's interests and endured his exhortations as kindly
as ever.
To his young sister Keats's letters during the same period are full of
playful brotherly tenderness and careful advice; of regrets that she is
kept so much from him by the scruples of Mr and Mrs Abbey; and of plans
for coming over to see her at Walthamstow when the weather and his throat
allow. He thinks of various little presents to please her,--a selection of
Tassie's pretty, and then popular, paste imitations of ancient
gems,--flowers,--drawing materials,--
"anything but live stock. Though I will not now be very severe on it,
remembering how fond I used to be of Goldfinches, Tomtits, Minnows,
Mice, Ticklebacks, Dace, Cock Salmons and all the whole tribe of the
Bushes and the Brooks: but verily they are better in the trees and the
water,--though I must confess even now a partiality for a handsome
globe of gold-fish--then I would have it hold ten pails of water and
be fed continually fresh through a cool pipe with another pipe to let
through the floor--well ventilated they would preserve all their
beautiful silver and crimson. Then I would put it before a handsome
painted window and shade it all round with Myrtles and Japonicas. I
should like the window to open on to the Lake of Geneva--and there I'd
sit and read all day like the picture of somebody reading."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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