one in his parish of a thousand or a million who honestly preferred
him to any other of his kind。 I have no doubt we have each one of
us； somewhere； our exact facsimile； so like us in all things except
the accidents of condition； that we should love each other like a
pair of twins； if our natures could once fairly meet。 I know I have
my counterpart in some State of this Union。 I feel sure that there
is an Englishman somewhere precisely like myself。 （I hope he does
not drop his h's； for it does not seem to me possible that the Royal
Dane could have remained faithful to his love for Ophelia； if she had
addressed him as 'Amlet。） There is also a certain Monsieur； to me at
this moment unknown； and likewise a Herr Von Something； each of whom
is essentially my double。 An Arab is at this moment eating dates； a
mandarin is just sipping his tea； and a South…Sea…Islander （with
undeveloped possibilities） drinking the milk of a cocoa…nut； each one
of whom； if he had been born in the gambrel…roofed house； and
cultivated my little sand…patch； and grown up in 〃the study 〃 from
the height of Walton's Polyglot Bible to that of the shelf which held
the Elzevir Tacitus and Casaubon's Polybius； with all the complex
influences about him that surrounded me； would have been so nearly
what I am that I should have loved him like a brother；always
provided that I did not hate him for his resemblance to me； on the
same principle as that which makes bodies in the same electric
condition repel each other。
For； perhaps after all； my One Reader is quite as likely to be not
the person most resembling myself； but the one to whom my nature is
complementary。 Just as a particular soil wants some one element to
fertilize it； just as the body in some conditions has a kind of
faminefor one special food； so the mind has its wants； which do not
always call for what is best； but which know themselves and are as
peremptory as the salt…sick sailor's call for a lemon or a raw
potato； or； if you will； as those capricious 〃longings；〃 which have a
certain meaning； we may suppose； and which at any rate we think it
reasonable to satisfy if we can。
I was going to say something about our boarders the other day when I
got run away with by my local reminiscences。 I wish you to
understand that we have a rather select company at the table of our
boarding…house。
Our Landlady is a most respectable person； who has seen better days；
of course；all landladies have；but has also； I feel sure； seen a
good deal worse ones。 For she wears a very handsome silk dress on
state occasions； with a breastpin set； as I honestly believe； with
genuine pearls； and appears habitually with a very smart cap； from
under which her gray curls come out with an unmistakable expression；
conveyed in the hieratic language of the feminine priesthood； to the
effect that while there is life there is hope。 And when I come to
reflect on the many circumstances which go to the making of
matrimonial happiness； I cannot help thinking that a personage of her
present able exterior； thoroughly experienced in all the domestic
arts which render life comfortable； might make the later years of
some hitherto companionless bachelor very endurable； not to say
pleasant。
The condition of the Landlady's family is； from what I learn； such as
to make the connection I have alluded to； I hope with delicacy；
desirable for incidental as well as direct reasons； provided a
fitting match could be found。 I was startled at hearing her address
by the familiar name of Benjamin the young physician I have referred
to； until I found on inquiry； what I might have guessed by the size
of his slices of pie and other little marks of favoritism； that he
was her son。 He has recently come back from Europe； where he has
topped off his home training with a first…class foreign finish。 As
the Landlady could never have educated him in this way out of the
profits of keeping boarders； I was not surprised when I was told that
she had received a pretty little property in the form of a bequest
from a former boarder； a very kind…hearted； worthy old gentleman who
had been long with her and seen how hard she worked for food and
clothes for herself and this son of hers； Benjamin Franklin by his
baptismal name。 Her daughter had also married well； to a member of
what we may call the post…medical profession； that； namely； which
deals with the mortal frame after the practitioners of the healing
art have done with it and taken their leave。 So thriving had this
son…in…law of hers been in his business； that his wife drove about in
her own carriage； drawn by a pair of jet…black horses of most
dignified demeanor； whose only fault was a tendency to relapse at
once into a walk after every application of a stimulus that quickened
their pace to a trot； which application always caused them to look
round upon the driver with a surprised and offended air； as if he had
been guilty of a grave indecorum。
The Landlady's daughter had been blessed with a number of children；
of great sobriety of outward aspect； but remarkably cheerful in their
inward habit of mind； more especially on the occasion of the death of
a doll； which was an almost daily occurrence； and gave them immense
delight in getting up a funeral； for which they had a complete
miniature outfit。 How happy they were under their solemn aspect！
For the head mourner； a child of remarkable gifts； could actually
make the tears run down her cheeks；as real ones as if she had been
a grown person following a rich relative； who had not forgotten his
connections； to his last unfurnished lodgings。
So this was a most desirable family connection for the right man to
step into；a thriving； thrifty mother…in…law； who knew what was
good for the sustenance of the body； and had no doubt taught it to
her daughter； a medical artist at hand in case the luxuries of the
table should happen to disturb the physiological harmonies； and in
the worst event； a sweet consciousness that the last sad offices
would be attended to with affectionate zeal； and probably a large
discount from the usual charges。
It seems as if I could hardly be at this table for a ：year； if I
should stay so long； without seeing some romance or other work itself
out under my eyes； and I cannot help thinking that the Landlady is to
be the heroine of the love…history like to unfold itself。 I think I
see the little cloud in the horizon； with a silvery lining to it；
which may end in a rain of cards tied round with white ribbons。
Extremes meet； and who so like to be the other party as the elderly
gentleman at the other end of the table； as far from her now as the
length of the board permits？ I may be mistaken； but I think this is
to be the romantic episode of the year before me。 Only it seems so
natural it is improbable； for you never find your dropped money just
where you look for it； and so it is with these a priori matches。
This gentleman is a tight； tidy； wiry little man； with a small； brisk
head； close…cropped white hair； a good wholesome complexion； a quiet；
rather kindly face； quick in his movements； neat in his dress； but
fond of wearing a short jacket over his coat； which gives him the
look of a pickled or preserved schoolboy。 He has retired； they say；
from a thriving business； with a snug property； suspected by some to
be rather more than snug； and entitling him to be called a
capitalist； except that this word seems to be equivalent to highway
robber in the new gospel of Saint Petroleum。 That he is economical
in his habits cannot be denied； for he saws and splits his own wood；
for exercise； he says；and makes his own fires； brushes his own
shoes； and； it is whispered； darns a hole in a stocking now and
then；all for exercise； I suppose。 Every summer he goes out of town
for a few weeks。 On a given day of the month a wagon stops at the
door and takes up； not his trunks； for he does not indulge in any
such extravagance； but the stout brown linen bags in which he packs
the few conveniences he carries with him。
I do not think this worthy and economical personage will have much to
do or to say； unless he marries the Landlady。 If he does that； he
will play a part of some importance；but I don't feel sure at all。
His talk is little in amount； and generally ends in some compact
formula condensing much wisdom in few words； as that a man； should
not put all his eggs in one basket； that there are as good fish in
the sea as ever came out of it； and one in particular； which he
surprised me by saying in pretty good French one day； to the effect
that the inheritance of the world belongs to the phlegmatic people；
which seems to me to have a good deal of truth in it。
The other elderly personage； the old man with iron…gray hair and
large round spectacles； sits at my right at table。 He is a retired
college officer； a man of books and observation； and himself an
author。 Magister Artium is one of his titles on the College
Catalogue； and I like best to speak of him as the Master； because he
has a certain air of authority which none of us feel inclined to
dispute。 He has given me a copy of a work of his which seems to me
not wanting in suggest