I intended to send you A few lines this morning by Harry2 but he went off in such A hurry I did not get time.
It is of him that I wish to speak & I hardly know what to say. I am A Little botherd
About him I fear he is giveing you
to much trouble I am rather
sorry that he left the New Republic office in such A hurry at least untill
he had another place as he does not
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like to work on A farm, he spoke of getting A situation In the park I do not think He can his age &
size will Be against him there I will feel better satisfied if he can get in an office or better still
fore him to be with you but I fear he is
to
much trouble to you all ready I do not think it right to
impose on the good nature of our friends
I hope Harry will ever be Greatfull to you fore your Kindness to him
I think you will understand me we hope to see you out with us soon.
respectfully S M StaffordCorrespondent:
Susan M. Lamb Stafford
(1833–1910) was the mother of Harry Stafford (1858–1918), who, in
1876, became a close friend of Whitman while working at the printing office of
the Camden New Republic. Whitman regularly visited the
Staffords at their family farm near Kirkwood, New Jersey. Whitman enjoyed the
atmosphere and tranquility that the farm provided and would often stay for weeks
at a time (see David G. Miller, "Stafford, George and Susan M.," Walt Whitman: An
Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings [New York:
Garland Publishing, 1998], 685).