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Walt Whitman to Van Doran Stafford, 14 June [1882]

About This Item

  • Title: Walt Whitman to Van Doran Stafford, 14 June [1882]
  • Date: June 14, 1882
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.04259
  • Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.

    Notes for this letter were created by Whitman Archive staff and/or were derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller, 6 vols. (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), and supplemented or updated by Whitman Archive staff.
  • Contributors to digital file: Stefan Schoeberlein Nima Najafi Kianfar Eder Jaramillo Nicole Gray
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to Van Doran Stafford, 14 June [1882]." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 04 December 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.04259.xml (TEI)
 loc_gt.00021_large.jpg Camden Wednesday Evn'g June 14 Dear boy Van1

So you are back again—I heard that your folks had sent for you—How did you like New York & your trip & every thing? I got your letter & was glad to get it—write to me again if you feel like it—I saw Bill Engle & he told me they had sent for you, & that Ed was up here in Camden in a store—(I have not seen Ed yet)—Van I send you a paper—read that story "the boy from Xenia"—it is very good—in fact there is lots of good reading in the little paper—I know you do not care much for reading, but I wish you would read more—read this paper I send any how

 loc_gt.00022_large.jpg

I have had a good deal of trouble in business lately, but I guess it is going to be all right—I am not altogether out of the woods, but near it surely—I keep about as usual in health—I got a paper from Herbert—one of his pictures has taken a big prize, a gold medal—(probably he has wrote your folks all about it though)—A big fire up here last night, the Narrow Gauge Engine House & Depot, five engines burnt, bad luck—

—Van, show this letter to your father and mother—my love to you, boy, & to all the rest, every one—I want to come down before long—Ruth, have you got a chicken ready? I will send you word—I dream'd night before last I was down by the old pond a long while—the old tulip tree was coverd​ with blossoms & the bees humming—

Walt Whitman

Notes

  • 1. Van Doran Stafford wrote to Whitman on May 28 from New York, where he was employed on the steamer "Plymouth Rock." He was enjoying New York and was not anxious to return since "Ruth says she will have a situation for me when I get home to scrub and wash dishes." [back]
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