Emily Dickinson - Letter 316 (17 March 1866) T. W. Higginson lyrics

Amherst Dear friend. Whom my Dog understood could not elude others. I should be glad to see you, but think it an apparitional pleasure - not to be fulfilled. I am uncertain of Boston. I had promised to visit my Physician for a few days in May, but Father objects because he is in the habit of me. Is it more far to Amherst? You would find a minute Host but a spacious Welcome - Lest you meet my Snake. and suppose I deceive it was robbed of me - defeated too of the third line by the punctuation. The third and fourth were one - I had told you I did not print - I feared you might think me ostensible. If I still entreat you to teach me, are you much displeased? I will be patient - constant, never reject your knife and should my my [sic] slowness goad you, you knew before myself that Except the smaller size No lives are round - These - hurry to a sphere And show and end - The larger - slower grow And later hang - The Summers of Hesperides Are long. Dickinson