I can decide that, without any trouble; not upon my own authority, but upon a higher & better than mine. For instance: above our chiefest fireplaceⒶemendation, at home, in Hartford, is this sentence, cut in enduring brass—& mind you, it is from Emerson:

“The Ornament of a house is the f Friends

who frequent it.”

You perceive, now, that Mr. Emerson would say, “The curse of a house is the mumps who frequent it—especially if they is malarious.” And that is what says also