Content:
Two drafts of a poem entitled "This journey." The lines were later
incorporated as lines 6, 7, 8, and 9 in "L. of G.'s Purport," first published in
1891.
On the verso are notes about "Payments to Mrs. White" between 1871 and 1874.
Content:
A draft entitled "This
Journey" (the manuscript suggests Whitman was also
considering the title "My
Task"), later incorporated as lines 6, 7, 8, and 9 in "L. of G.'s Purport,"
first published in 1891. Also on the leaf is an undated,
cancelled letter.
Content:
Proofs of four poems pasted together and collected under the main
handwritten title "An Old
Man's Recitatives." The poems included are: "Ancient songs
reciting" (published as "Old Chants" in 1891), "Grand is the seen"
(first published in 1891), "Death dogs my steps" (published as part of
"L. of G.'s
Purport" in 1891), and "For us two, reader dear," first published
in 1891. A note in Whitman's hand in the right margin details
failed attempts to publish this grouping in
Scribner's
.
Content:
This draft appears to be trial lines for the poems "L. of G.'s Purport"
and "L of G," both
published in 1891. Near the middle of the page appear
three underlined words, "These pages past," but whether or not they were
intended as a title is unclear.
Content:
Manuscripts of the following four poems, written neatly with slight
corrections: "My
task,"
"L of G's Purport,"
"Death dogs my
steps," and "For
us two, reader dear." All of the verses except "For us two, reader
dear" were fused together and published as one poem entitled
"L. of G.'s
Purport" in 1891.
Content:
Proof pages of six poems collected under the general title "Old-Age Recitatives."
The poems included are: "Old Chants" (1891), "On, On the Same,Ye Jocund
Twain!" (1891), "Sail Out for Good, Eidólon
Yacht!" (1891), "L. of G.'s Purport"
(only two lines of the twelve-line poem of the same title first
published in 1891), "My task" (published as part of "L. of G.'s Purport" in
1891), and "For
us two, reader dear" (1891). At the top of the first page is a note to the printer
in Whitman's hand.
Content:
A galley proof of a group of six poems titled "Old-Age Recitatives." The poems included
are: "Sail out for good,
Eidolon yacht!" (first published in 1891), "My task" (published as
part of "L. of G.'s
Purport" in 1891), "L. of G.'s Purport" (only the first two
lines of the poem of the same title published in 1891),
"Death dogs my
steps" (published as part of "L. of G.'s Purport" in 1891), "For us
two, reader dear" (first published in 1891), and "Grand is the seen" (first published in 1891). On the verso is a note to the printer.
Content:
Draft of "Death Dogs My
Steps" written in ink on the inside of a discarded and opened
out envelope, addressed to Whitman from England, mailed in London February 21,
1890 and postmarked received in Camden March 3,
1890. The three lines later appeared as part of "L. of G.'s Purport,"
first published in 1891.
