Ambrose Bierce, Los Gatos, California, to Harriet Hershberg, Oakland, California, 1897

Scope and content:

In this letter, he sends Harriet some wild pansies growing by the wayside because they made him think of her, "I feel sure that the thought of you was put into my head by some divine intervention in the affairs of mortals, and for some purpose. My interpretation -with my feeble light and dull intuition-is that I am to send you some of those poor little frail pansies." He then goes on to explain that pansies are for thoughts and their old English name "hearts-ease" is better suited than "pansies = pensees"

Physical description:

ALS, 3 p. with envelope.

Access and use