The passion of poetry seizes on him every spring, he says,--yet oftentimes he complains, that, when he feels most, he can sing least.
Then a fit of despondency comes over him .-- I feel ashamed, sometimes,--said he, the other day,--to think how far my worst songs fall below my best.

It sometimes seems to me, as I know it does to others who have told me so, that they ought to be ALL BEST,--if not in actual execution, at least in plan and motive.

I am grateful--he continued--for all such criticisms.

A man is always pleased to have his most serious efforts praised, and the highest aspect of his nature get the most sunshine.
Yet I am sure, that, in the nature of things, many minds must change their key now and then, on penalty of getting out of tune or losing their voices.

You know, I suppose,--he said,--what is meant by complementary colors?
You know the effect, too, which the prolonged impression of any one color has on the retina.