Han1 is gaining yet of course impatient— Any word or notice of you she studies closely—
Hard times with me for money—
I sent a painting to New York—to Aquila, Rich, 84 William St2—reported safe—and carefully hang up— —
I am wearing a batterd old hat—Shame on Burlington Vermont——allmost begging for victuals—or provisions at times—Yet hope to surpass my troubles yet.
CharlieCorrespondent:
Charles Louis Heyde (ca.
1820–1892), a French-born landscape painter, married Hannah Louisa Whitman
(1823–1908), Walt Whitman's sister, and they lived in Burlington, Vermont.
Charles Heyde 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).