Prose at its finest.

"Emerson gave us last Monday evening the most brilliant lecture I ever listened to from any mortal. It was on the identity of the laws of the mind with the laws of nature. He proved conclusively that man is only a higher kind of corn, that he is a squirrel gone up into first class, that he is a liberated oyster fully educated, that he is a spiritualized pumpkin, a thinking squash, a graduated sunflower, and inspired turnip. Such imagery, such wit, such quaint things said in a tone of solemn and sublime! I have the most profound respect henceforth for every melon-vine as my ancestor. I look upon every turtle as of kin. Tonight he lectures again. I fear I may have lost it."