Life & Letters

Correspondence

About this Item

Title: Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 7 April 1890

Date: April 7, 1890

Whitman Archive ID: duk.00444

Source: Trent Collection of Whitmaniana, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University . 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.

Contributors to digital file: Blake Bronson-Bartlett, Ian Faith, and Stephanie Blalock



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Van Ness House
L. S. Drew & H. N. Clark
Managers
U. A. Woodbury, Proprietor.
Burlington Vt.
April 7, 1890,

Bro Walt.

Good kind Friend—Your letter, enclosing $2—most gratefully received. I assure you. How you help us along—How could we ever survive, but for your goodness—

Han1 is but poorly as yet. A beautifull day overhead, and an adventurous robin chirping at 4 O:Clock this morning—I heard him from my window—but cold chilly, freezing nights prevail—I am quite unsteady on my legs, from effects of the grippe—and my stomach is weak, but I feel stronger this morning and encouraged—

God bless you Walt, he has qualified you all through your life, with a benevolent disposity, and a sustaining philosophy—

Han talks of you nearly all the time—she can now promenade on the back piazza where you may remember the sun used to fall so benignly——

Dear Friend
Gratefully yours ever
Charlie


Correspondent:
Charles Louis Heyde (ca. 1820–1892), a French-born landscape painter, married Hannah Louisa Whitman (1823–1908), Walt Whitman's sister, and they lived in Burlington, Vermont. Charles Heyde was infamous among the Whitmans for his offensive letters and poor treatment of Hannah. For more information about Heyde, see Steven Schroeder, "Heyde, Charles Louis (1822–1892)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998).

Notes:

1. Hannah Louisa (Whitman) Heyde (1823–1908), youngest sister of Walt Whitman, married Charles Louis Heyde (ca. 1820–1892), a Pennsylvania-born landscape painter. Charles Heyde was infamous among the Whitmans for his offensive letters and poor treatment of Hannah. Hannah and Charles Heyde lived in Burlington, Vermont. For more, see Paula K. Garrett, "Whitman (Heyde), Hannah Louisa (d. 1908)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]


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