"
When he had fully delivered himself, he seemed easier in his mind, but
before a month had passed he became completely paralysed, and though he
lingered till the beginning of June, he was seldom more than dimly
conscious of what was going on around him.
His death robbed me of one who had been a very kind and upright elder
brother rather than a father; and so strongly have I felt his influence
still present, living and working, as I believe for better within me,
that I did not hesitate to copy the epitaph which he saw in the Musical
Bank at Fairmead, {1} and to have it inscribed on the very simple
monument which he desired should alone mark his grave.
* * * * *
The foregoing was written in the summer of 1891; what I now add should be
dated December 3, 1900. If, in the course of my work, I have
misrepresented my father, as I fear I may have sometimes done, I would
ask my readers to remember that no man can tell another's story without
some involuntary misrepresentation both of facts and characters. They
will, of course, see that "Erewhon Revisited" is written by one who has
far less literary skill than the author of "Erewhon;" but again I would
ask indulgence on the score of youth, and the fact that this is my first
book. It was written nearly ten years ago, _i.e_. in the months from
March to August 1891, but for reasons already given it could not then be
made public.
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