Han1 recd your letter, with 2 dollars
enclosed2—gratefully. Walt—Han is looking wasted, wan, and wretched—yet
continues to keep her faculties—reason—methods of domestic
usage—Yet—but I cannot describe her
appearce—attenuated. We have taken up our winter
carpet—an undertaking—and Han will be compelled to have
the matrass she sleeps on, made over, at a cost of $6.50—It
has become so hard—and Walt she needs a cheap warm
shawl—and drawers—she has been patching for months,
any thing that will hold together—old stock of mine.
Had you not
duk.00482.002_large.jpg
best write to Lou3 about her—Lou should
help her—come to see her—send her money, or send it to Dr
Bringham4— but it will come safe if sent to her through mail—she
looks pitifull—does not sleep well. Brahma roosters make
such discord at early morning—and men currying horses—and
chirping birds! I rise at 5 o'clock and care for myself—help wash—as
she directs—sunday morning perhaps—hang out on Monday.
I received a present of 5 dollars a few days ago, which helps—I wear pants—the same for three years—growing old of course—have nice paintings in reseve—cant sell—provisions high—Write to Lou.
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).