Charles L. Heyde to Walt Whitman, 2 August 1891

 duk.00486.001_large.jpg 2 aug '911 Sunday Morning—

A glorious day outside—Han2 is resting quietly on the sofa, Lou3 had so nicely had repaired. She had a serious time yesterday—on the floor with pain. I obtained a nurse,4 for my time was occupied in procuring remedies—all day—until allmost​ night. I was on the run, without food sufficient to sustain me. I was quite broken down—famished and most irritable—completely prostrated myself. Han must have her mattress made over. The woman5 who attemped to make up her bed—could not succeed satisfactorially. It will cost but 5.50—will be called for at 9 o'clock  duk.00486.002_large.jpg and returned at 5 as good as new. It cost me 20 dollars cash, in Myrtle Av, Brooklyn.

I'm not selling any paintings yet I have some fine ones, could I but get away them—to Adirondack, but that is impossible—Han says you will, or can make it all right. You must not criticise me, Walt—Mother Whitman6 had great faith, sympathy, and respect—for me. I have improved this property more than 1000$—by my personal industry.

Yours truly Charlie

Our noble Friend and Brother7 Walt—allways​ , and forever to be remembered.

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Notes

• 1. Heyde's dateline for this letter reads simply "Sunday morning." The date of August 2, 1891, has been added at the top of the first page of the letter page in red ink, likely by Richard Maurice Bucke, a Canadian physician and one of Whitman's literary executors. [back]
• 2. Hannah Louisa Whitman Heyde (1823–1908) was the fourth child of Walter and Louisa Whitman and Walt Whitman's youngest sister. Hannah was named for her paternal grandmother, Hannah Brush Whitman (1753–1834), and her mother, Louisa Van Velsor Whitman (1795–1873). Although Walt Whitman had a close relationship with his younger brother Jeff Whitman, Hannah was his favorite, most beloved sibling. Until she married, Hannah lived at home with her parents and her brothers. Educated at the Hempstead Academy, Hannah taught school in rural Long Island. On March 23, 1852, Hannah married Charles Louis Heyde (ca. 1820–1892), a landscape painter. It is possible that Walt introduced Hannah to Charles. In August 1852 the Heydes departed for Vermont. The first decade of their marriage was marked by constant moving from boarding houses to hotels, mostly in rural Vermont, as Heyde sought out vantage points for his landscape paintings. In 1864 the Heydes settled in Burlington, purchasing a house on Pearl Street. After Hannah's marriage and relocation to Vermont, Mother Whitman became Hannah's faithful correspondent; Walt also kept in touch, sending letters and editions of Leaves of Grass after publication. Hannah faced several health crises during her marriage, partly due to the ongoing trauma of emotional, verbal, and physical intimate partner violence that she experienced. In the 1880s and 1890s Heyde increasingly had difficulty earning enough to cover household expenses; in addition, he may have become an alcoholic. He repeatedly asked Whitman for funds to cover their expenses. Whitman sent both Heyde and Hannah small amounts of money. After Heyde died in 1892, Hannah remained in Burlington, living in their house on Pearl Street until her death in 1908. For more information, 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]
• 3. Louisa Orr Haslam Whitman (1842–1892), called "Loo" or "Lou," married Whitman's brother George Whitman on April 14, 1871. Their son, Walter Orr Whitman, was born in 1875 but died the following year. A second son was stillborn. Whitman lived in Camden, New Jersey, with George and Louisa from 1873 until 1884, when George and Louisa moved to a farm outside of Camden and Whitman decided to stay in the city. Louisa and Whitman had a warm relationship during the poet's final decades. For more, see Karen Wolfe, "Whitman, Louisa Orr Haslam (Mrs. George) (1842–1892)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
• 4. As yet we have no information about this person. [back]
• 5. As yet we have no information about this person. [back]
• 6. Louisa Van Velsor Whitman (1795–1873) married Walter Whitman, Sr., in 1816; together they had nine children, of whom Walt was the second. The close relationship between Louisa and her son Walt contributed to his liberal view of gender representation and his sense of comradeship. For more information on Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, see Sherry Ceniza, "Whitman, Louisa Van Velsor (1795–1873)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
• 7. Heyde is referring to Whitman's youngest brother, Thomas Jefferson Whitman. [back]