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John M. Rogers to Walt Whitman, 1 June 1871

 loc.01869.007_large.jpg Dear Fathe​

It a long time cince​ I heard from you and thinking you would like to hear from me thought I wright​ you a line or two to see how you are geting​ along I am as well as can be I should like to hear from you very much I have got a good place and are doing well I like it very much I wilull​ send you a card 480 Bway I supose​ you will  loc.01869.008_large.jpg come on here soon to spend one or two months and then I shall see you It is very warm here yesterday we had a very hard thunder storm and it done a great deal of dammage​ along the North River & distroye​ Houses and trees and fruit things is very quite​ here except a murder now and then so now I will close with my love

good by from you affecinate​ Son and Friend John M Rogers

To my Dear Father

write Soon

 loc.01869.011_large.jpg John Rogers ans. June 2 '71.  loc.01869.012_large.jpg

Correspondent:
John (Jack) M. Rogers was a Brooklyn driver with whom Whitman had a loving relationship. Whitman first met him in Brooklyn on September 21, 1870. For more on Rogers and his relationship with the poet, see Charley Shively, ed., Calamus Lovers: Walt Whitman's Working-Class Camerados (San Francisco: Gay Sunshine Press, 1987), 122–135.


Notes

  • 1. This letter is addressed in Whitman's hand as follows: Mr. Walt Whitman | Atorney General Office | Treasure Building | Washington. | D.C. It is postmarked: New York | JUN | 1; CARRIER | JUN | 2 | 8AM. [back]
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