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garden； some shrubbery； an open paddock； and … come on； Macduff。
TOMARCHER； I am now a distinguished litterytour； but that was not
the real bent of my genius。 I was the best player of hide…and…seek
going； not a good runner； I was up to every shift and dodge； I
could jink very well； I could crawl without any noise through
leaves； I could hide under a carrot plant； it used to be my
favourite boast that I always WALKED into the den。 You may care to
hear； Tomarcher； about the children in these parts； their parents
obey them； they do not obey their parents； and I am sorry to tell
you （for I dare say you are already thinking the idea a good one）
that it does not pay one halfpenny。 There are three sorts of
civilisation； Tomarcher： the real old…fashioned one； in which
children either had to find out how to please their dear papas； or
their dear papas cut their heads off。 This style did very well；
but is now out of fashion。 Then the modern European style： in
which children have to behave reasonably well； and go to school and
say their prayers； or their dear papas WILL KNOW THE REASON WHY。
This does fairly well。 Then there is the South Sea Island plan；
which does not do one bit。 The children beat their parents here；
it does not make their parents any better； so do not try it。
Dear Tomarcher； I have forgotten the address of your new house； but
will send this to one of your papa's publishers。 Remember us all
to all of you； and believe me； yours respectably；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO CHARLES BAXTER
TAUTIRA （THE GARDEN OF THE WORLD）； OTHERWISE CALLED HANS…CHRISTIAN…
ANDERSEN…VILLE ＇NOVEMBER 1888＇。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … Whether I have a penny left in the wide world； I
know not； nor shall know； till I get to Honolulu； where I
anticipate a devil of an awakening。 It will be from a mighty
pleasant dream at least： Tautira being mere Heaven。 But suppose；
for the sake of argument； any money to be left in the hands of my
painful doer； what is to be done with it？ Save us from exile would
be the wise man's choice； I suppose； for the exile threatens to be
eternal。 But yet I am of opinion … in case there should be SOME
dibs in the hand of the P。D。； I。E。 painful doer； because if there
be none； I shall take to my flageolet on the high…road； and work
home the best way I can； having previously made away with my family
… I am of opinion that if … and his are in the customary state； and
you are thinking of an offering； and there should be still some
funds over； you would be a real good P。D。 to put some in with yours
and tak' the credit o't； like a wee man！ I know it's a beastly
thing to ask； but it； after all； does no earthly harm； only that
much good。 And besides； like enough there's nothing in the till；
and there is an end。 Yet I live here in the full lustre of
millions； it is thought I am the richest son of man that has yet
been to Tautira： I！ … and I am secretly eaten with the fear of
lying in pawn； perhaps for the remainder of my days； in San
Francisco。 As usual； my colds have much hashed my finances。
Do tell Henley I write this just after having dismissed Ori the
sub…chief； in whose house I live； Mrs。 Ori； and Pairai； their
adopted child； from the evening hour of music： during which I
Publickly （with a k） Blow on the Flageolet。 These are words of
truth。 Yesterday I told Ori about W。 E。 H。； counterfeited his
playing on the piano and the pipe； and succeeded in sending the six
feet four there is of that sub…chief somewhat sadly to his bed；
feeling that his was not the genuine article after all。 Ori is
exactly like a colonel in the Guards。 … I am； dear Charles； ever
yours affectionately；
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TAUTIRA； 10TH NOVEMBER '88。
MY DEAR CHARLES； … Our mainmast is dry…rotten； and we are all to
the devil； I shall lie in a debtor's jail。 Never mind； Tautira is
first chop。 I am so besotted that I shall put on the back of this
my attempt at words to Wandering Willie； if you can conceive at all
the difficulty； you will also conceive the vanity with which I
regard any kind of result； and whatever mine is like； it has some
sense； and Burns's has none。
Home no more home to me； whither must I wander？
Hunger my driver； I go where I must。
Cold blows the winter wind over hill and heather；
Thick drives the rain； and my roof is in the dust。
Loved of wise men was the shade of my roof…tree。
The true word of welcome was spoken in the door …
Dear days of old； with the faces in the firelight；
Kind folks of old； you come again no more。
Home was home then； my dear； full of kindly faces；
Home was home then； my dear； happy for the child。
Fire and the windows bright glittered on the moorland；
Song； tuneful song； built a palace in the wild。
Now； when day dawns on the brow of the moorland；
Lone stands the house； and the chimney…stone is cold。
Lone let it stand； now the friends are all departed；
The kind hearts； the true hearts； that loved the place of old。
R。 L。 S。
Letter： TO J。 A。 SYMONDS
NOVEMBER 11TH 1888。
One November night； in the village of Tautira； we sat at the high
table in the hall of assembly； hearing the natives sing。 It was
dark in the hall； and very warm； though at times the land wind blew
a little shrewdly through the chinks； and at times； through the
larger openings； we could see the moonlight on the lawn。 As the
songs arose in the rattling Tahitian chorus； the chief translated
here and there a verse。 Farther on in the volume you shall read
the songs themselves； and I am in hopes that not you only； but all
who can find a savour in the ancient poetry of places； will read
them with some pleasure。 You are to conceive us； therefore； in
strange circumstances and very pleasing； in a strange land and
climate； the most beautiful on earth； surrounded by a foreign race
that all travellers have agreed to be the most engaging； and taking
a double interest in two foreign arts。
We came forth again at last； in a cloudy moonlight； on the forest
lawn which is the street of Tautira。 The Pacific roared outside
upon the reef。 Here and there one of the scattered palm…built
lodges shone out under the shadow of the wood； the lamplight
bursting through the crannies of the wall。 We went homeward
slowly； Ori a Ori carrying behind us the lantern and the chairs；
properties with which we had just been enacting our part of the
distinguished visitor。 It was one of those moments in which minds
not altogether churlish recall the names and deplore the absence of
congenial friends； and it was your name that first rose upon our
lips。 'How Symonds would have enjoyed this evening！' said one； and
then another。 The word caught in my mind； I went to bed； and it
was still there。 The glittering； frosty solitudes in which your
days are cast arose before me： I seemed to see you walking there
in the late night； under the pine…trees and the stars； and I
received the image with something like remorse。
There is a modern attitude towards fortune； in this place I will
not use a graver name。 Staunchly to withstand her buffets and to
enjoy with equanimity her favours was the code of the virtuous of
old。 Our fathers； it should seem； wondered and doubted how they
had merited their misfortunes： we； rather how we have deserved our
happiness。 And we stand often abashed and sometimes revolted； at
those partialities of fate by which we profit most。 It was so with
me on that November night： I felt that our positions should be
changed。 It was you； dear Symonds； who should have gone upon that
voyage and written this account。 With your rich stores of
knowledge； you could have remarked and understood a thousand things
of interest and beauty that escaped my ignorance； and the brilliant