Mary Thacher Higginson, Thomas Wentworth Higginson: the story of his life

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IX: the Atlantic Essays

In the midst of these public interests, Mr. Higginson did some of the best literary work of his life. In the winter of 1852, he dined with A. Bronson Alcott at James T. Fields', and Mr. Alcott amused himself by guessing, with astonishing success, Mr. Higginson's literary methods. Some of the features he had divined were the young author's habit of bridge-building, of composing much in the open air, and in separate sentences. This analysis the latter declared admirable, and reflected: ‘I might have said to him—in summer I bring home from the woods in my pockets flowers, lichens, chrysalids, nests, brown lizards, baby turtles . . . spiders' eggs . . . and scraps of written paper.’

In November, 1853, Mr. F. H. Underwood wrote to Mr. Higginson, asking for aid from his pen for a new ‘literary and anti-slavery magazine’ [the Atlantic Monthly], adding, ‘The articles will all be anonymous.’ In answer, he wrote: ‘I gladly contribute my name to the list of writers. . . I am very much absorbed by necessary writing, ’