Walt Whitman to Abby H. Price, 21 April 1871

Washington April 21, 1871.1 Dear Abby,

I have seen Major Saxton,2 & handed him your note, & the accompanying paper—he said he knew the 4th Auditor personally, & would see him about it, & would probably write to you within three or four days. So Arthur3 is home, & you are all well—what with the baby4 & all you women—what jolly times you must have—I wish I could just drop in and take part in them—

With me, nothing very new or special—I am well & hearty—feel first-rate the greater part of the time—and as to streaks of the other kind of feeling, I am thankful they are so few—for you know I am getting to be an old fellow—though my temperament for buoyancy & fun I believe increases instead of diminishes—I shall take my vacation considerably earlier than usual, this summer—so it wont be long before I shall see you all.

Love to all—not forgetting the baby. Walt.

Abby, Willard Saxton's address is  
 1st Comptroler's office  
 Treasury Dep't.

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Notes

• 1. This letter's envelope bears the address, "Mrs. Abby H. Price | 331 East 55th street | bet 1st and 2d av's. | New York City." It is postmarked: "Washington | Apr | 22 | D.C." [back]
• 2. Major Samuel Willard Saxton, who served in the Union Army from 1862 to 1866, was employed in the Treasury Department. [back]
• 3. Arthur Price, who was in the Navy, is also mentioned in Whitman's October 27, 1866 letter to Abby Price. [back]
• 4. Emily Price's baby; Whitman reported the birth in his August 2, 1870 letter to William D. O'Connor. [back]