TO MRS. HAWTHORNE

 TO MRS. HAWTHORNE

 

 

Philadelphia, Tuesday 19th, 1853

 

Ownest,

 

We left New York yesterday at 3 o'clock, and arrived safely here, where we have spent the day. We leave for Washington tomorrow morning, and I shall mail this scribble¹ there, so that thou wilt² know that I have arrived in good condition. Thou canst not imagine the difficulty of finding time and place to write a word. I enjoy the journey and seeing new places, but need thee beyond all possibility of telling. I feel as if I had just begun to know that there is nothing else for me but thou. The children, too, I know how to love, at last. Kiss them all for me. In greatest haste (and in a public room),

 

Thine ownest,

N. H.

 

Baltimore, Wednesday, 5 o'clock.—Thus far in safety. I shall mail the letter immediately 224 on reaching Washington, where we expect to be at ? past 9.

 

With love a thousand times more than ever,

 

Thinest,

N. H.

 

Washington, Thursday.—Before Breakfast.

 

—Dearest, I arrived so late and tired, last night, that I quite forgot to mail the letter. I found about a dozen letters awaiting me at the hotel, from other people, but none from thee. My heart is weary with longing³ for thee. I want thee in my arms.

 

I shall go to the President at nine o'clock this morning—shall spend three or four days here—and mean to be back early next week.

 

Thine Ownest.

 

1 scribble   

v.潦草地书写，乱写，滥写；n.潦草的写法，潦草写成的东西，杂文

参考例句：

• She can't write yet,but she loves to scribble with a pencil.她现在还不会写字，但她喜欢用铅笔乱涂。
• I can't read this scribble.我看不懂这种潦草的字。

2 wilt   

v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱

参考例句：

• Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
• Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。

3 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。