MANUSCRIPT: BPL (Higg 70). Ink.

PUBLICATION: L (1931) 293.

Apparently Higginson had written that some mistake had been made, which ED in the following letter tries to explain. The "elderly Gentleman" was Luke Sweetser, now in his mid seventies, who at this time often addressed and mailed her letters and parcels. There is still extant a note written in a very shaky hand (AC) on the back of which ED wrote the rough draft of "Bees are Black, with Gilt Surcingles" (1877): "You don't know [how] much I have missed these opportunities of service of late. I shall not believe you are displeased with me until you tell me so. Yours L. Sweetser." It was some such mistake as this which made ED turn such pleasant services over to George Montague, who thenceforth often addressed her letters.