It is night, clear and cold: Han1 has just left my room; gone to
the east apartment: She prefers
much to be alone. Cannot see visitors;2
does not talk much; wearies her; so does reading: must not read aloud to her; or narrate
any thing from newspapers: occasionaly breaks out into some small gossip,
furtively: Is weak: too much so to dress up. Languishes on the sofa, or by the fire, seated on a
pillow, in a tall rocking chair: sometimes with a blanket around her,
indian fashion: window
partly raised, freshning the room:
has been about since 9 o'clock; attended some to dinner.
duk.00401.002_large.jpg
prepared her own supper oysters stewed; baked apples; indian pudding, milk; prunes; takes
no tea or coffee: She is come in again: sitting down by the stove: I am writing to Walt:
says to give her love to him; wants to see him very much: had letter from Lou:3
yesterday; reports you looking very well; which
gave her great satisfaction. Lou sent her some time ago a box of underclothing, at my
suggestion: She was badly off: I purchased a garment hose; could not wear it: could not
endure a woman dress maker, to handle her; make such things for he r was too nervous. She
has now numerous blankets
and bed comforters; and
duk.00401.003_large.jpg
sleeps warm; bed warmed, between blankets. sleeps some; better; improves: does not feel
her heartbeat in her brain so much; as she expresses it: does not use so much bromide:
it is hurtfull to her: affects her seriously the next day: would craze her if she persisted:
it is given to make her sleep; at too great a risk: Doctor was in last night: said she
was not getting better very fast, but would acertainly
get well: She never can be as she was: look as well: be as strong. She has changed greatly:
her neck and breast has shrunk; her face too: her eyes at times are sunken, glassy; her
back is weak: her hair grows—and
becomes thinner
duk.00401.004_large.jpg
very grey. Yet her voice is natural: her step firmer. When this hard cold winter is past,
she may recuperate. She tried to sew a little to day: I was away 3 hours this morning, to
Union to get subscribers to my picture
sale: cruel way to get a livinng : 60 dollars
in frames; months of work on pictures: shall distribute them next month: I meet with much
sympathy among people but times are hard: The landscape is truly
enshrouding a white country, snow
enveloped, hill, valley, lake and
river: Lou is to purchase two paintings: will help me much. Geo4 sent
a check: he reserved for Han: It has cost me over 200 dollars, this winter new stove, extra
fires: frames, groceries, etc—have not recieved a line from the girls.
Correspondent:
Charles Louis Heyde (ca.
1820–1892), a Pennsylvania landscape painter, married Hannah Louisa
Whitman (1823–1908), Walt Whitman's sister, and they lived in Burlington,
Vermont. Charles Heyde often claimed to have been born in France, and he 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).