Thomas Jefferson Whitman to Walt Whitman, 29 October 1882

 loc_ad.00529_large.jpg OFFICE OF THE  
 WATER COMMISSIONER St. Louis, Oct 29 1882 Dear brother Walt

I append slip from the Evening paper of last Thursday that frightened us all so. I telegraphed Thursday evening and again Friday—and was on my way to the telegraph office yesterday afternoon when I was handed your dispatch. We were all glad to know that the statement was wrong although as the time passed and I had an opportunity to reason it over I felt pretty well assured that there was a mistake in the statement—The morning papers of Friday, however, all repeated the statement and gave as authority the press reports

I hope you are all o.k. again and able to get around as usual. If you are tied down to the house I imagine you feel pretty sick. In my own case when sick I find that the fact that I cannot get out makes me feel as badly as anything else

We are all well and getting on quite  loc_ad.00529_large.jpg nicely. The girls have been busy "putting up" large quantities of all sorts of stuff in the pickle &c line—as much to practice I presume as with any idea that it would be needed

I have had considerable to do this summer—have only been away once (to St Joseph) since I was East—I expect to go to St Jo the last of this week—and toward the middle or last of Nov hope to come East—at least as far as Camden—so dont be surprised to see me pop in at any time

All send love to George and Lou and to yourself—by-the-way I must be considerable behind in regard to Ed's board—when George or Lou write ask them to please state how far and I will square up—

We are having splendid fall weather—never so delightful—I have just finished a seven days out door survey—putting up at the nearest place where night found us—the country was new to me and very beautiful—the weather perfect—it was like going back 25 years. Let me hear from you soon—again love to all

Affectionately Jeff