The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: Walt Whitman to John H. and Amelia Johnston, 17 March [1877]
Date: March 17, 1877
Whitman Archive ID: uva.00380
Source: Papers of Walt Whitman (MSS 3829), Clifton Waller Barrett Library of American Literature, Albert H. Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 3:80. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Alicia Bones, Grace Thomas, Eder Jaramillo, Kevin McMullen, and Kenneth Price
Esopus-on-Hudson
March 17
Dear friends
We arrived here all safe at last—(after adventures)—had to cross the river late of a dark night in broken ice, in a little row boat, mid a furious snow storm (this house is on the west bank Hudson)—the natives advised us not to try it, but Harry & I said cross, & Mr. Burroughs consented—it was quite interesting—It looks like winter here, snow 8 inches deep in every direction—but I like it much—a far view from my window of miles of river, mountains, rocks & woods—quite a change of scene from N Y—We are very comfortable here, folks are (as every where) very kind to us—Harry has gone across the river in a row boat with Mr B. all the forenoon—& I have spent mine alone in the library writing, & frequently looking out at the grand show of scenery, in winter garb—
Love to you all, to Al and May, and the childer—to Mr Waters—(& even the picture)—May return either Tuesday or Wednesday for a couple of days or so—1
Walt Whitman
Notes:
1. Whitman returned to New York on Tuesday, March 20, and stayed with the Johnstons until March 27. See also Clifton Joseph Furness, Walt Whitman's Workshop (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1928), 207. [back]