Writings of Charles S. Peirce: A Chronological Edition, Volume 8: 1890–1892

12. My Life

44 12 My Life c. 1890 Houghton Library An extraordinary thing happened to me at a tender age,—as I now reflect upon it, a truly marvellous thing, though in my youthful heedlessness , I overlooked the wonder of it and just cried at the pickle. This occurred 1839 September 10. At that time I commenced life in the function of a baby belonging to Sarah Hunt (Mills) Peirce and Benjamin Peirce, professor of mathematics in Harvard College, beginning to be famous. We lived in a house in Mason Street. This house belonged to Mr. Hastings, who afterward built an ugly house between Longfellow ’s and the Todd’s. I remember nothing before I could talk. I remember starting out to drive in a carryall and trying to say something about a canarybird; I remember sitting on the nursery floor playing with blocks in an aimless way and getting cramps in my fingers; and I remember an old negro woman who came to do scrubbing. I remember her because she frightened me and I dreamed about her. I remember a gentleman who came to see my mother,—probably William Story, who drew a sketch of her. At a later time, I remember well the Davis’s wedding which took place in the house, the minister in his black gown, and my getting my leg down in the register hole and being rescued by Uncle Henry Davis. I well remember Aunt Harty before she was married and my trying to mesmerize her, I think in imitation of Jem. I remember the dining room, which had formerly been a kitchen, and eating hasty pudding for breakfast there. I remember distinctly my first taste of coffee, given me surreptitiously by the kitchen girls. No mocha will ever again have that quality for me. I remember Professor Sylvester at table there. I also remember my Aunt Helen Huntington coming and being obliged to lie at once on the bed. She died shortly after, Ned Huntington, her youngest child, being, I suppose, 2 or 3 years younger than me. I remember many other things about the old house, and often dream about it. I remember the Isabella grapes over the piazza. 12. My Life, c. 1890 45 C a m b r id g e S t . K i r k l a n d S t r e e t B r o a d w a y Oxford Street Quincy Street Charles Street H a r v a r d S t r e e t Street M ain A r r o w S t r e e t Bow S t r e e t M o u n t A u b u r n Harvard Square Brattle Square G a r d e n S t r e e t W i n t h r o p S t r e e t B r a t t l e S t r e e t Ash Street M a s o n S t r e e t B e r k e l e y S t r e e t P h i l i p s Place S t r e e t M o u n t A u b u r n North Avenue Charles River Common D e l t a Harvard University Cemetery Winthrop Square H a r v a r d B r a n c h R a i l r o a d Street Brighton Lawrence Scientific School 500 250 Ft. 0 Scale: North J. Sparks H. Greenough Lieut. Davis A.M. Parker C.R. Lowell Prof. Felton Prof. Peirce Brattle House M r s . T o d d Oliver Hastings H.W. Longfellow Judge Parker Holworthy Hall Gore Hall (library) University Hall Stoughton Hall Hollis Hall Holden Hall Harvard Hall Massachusetts Hall Dane Hall This map is derived from H. F. Walling's 1854 map of the City of Cambridge. Marked in black are the Peirce houses on Mason Street and on Quincy Street. Prest. Walker Greenough Writings of C. S. Peirce 1890–1892 46 I forgot to mention that earlier (?) I remember Mrs. Harriet Gray Otis who lived next door and had a poodle dog; and I had a toy poodle. The Whittemores afterward moved into that house and Babby Whittemore ,—a little girl a few months younger than me,—and I went...