Just as I was deeply interested in reading "John Russell Youngs2 reminiscences of Walt Whitman" as published in last evn'gs Paper, my soul enters with the pleasing tidings that you were not "only sitting up" (in bed) but was partaking with a relish of such food as you had not till now been allowed or desired." To gain strength is what you need to combat with your disease & nourishing food may bring about this happy result.
Such we shall pray & loc_vm.01293_large.jpg hope for—I have always longed to hear you recite "Captain, Oh, My Captain,"3 & may I not yet hear it?
I would again come over to see you, but I am not myself well & you are too sick to entertain even friends.
To our Heavenly Fathers care I consign you, dear friend, trusting He will spare you to us yet a little longer.
Truly Yours Lavinia F. Whitman Phila, 2337 N. 18th loc_vm.01294_large.jpg loc_vm.01295_large.jpg loc_vm.01290_large.jpg loc_vm.01291_large.jpgCorrespondent:
Lavinia Fanning Watson Whitman
(1818–1900) was the eldest daughter of John Fanning Watson—author of
Annals of Philadelphia (1830) and a well known
historian of Philadelphia and New York City—and his wife Phebe Barron
Crowell. In 1846, Lavinia became the first woman to sponsor a United States Navy
ship when she christened the sloop-of-war, the USS
Germantown, in Philadelphia. She married Harrison Gray Otis Whitman, a
son of Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ezekial Whitman.