Conventional etiquette would compel me to say "Mr Whitman" but to me it would detract from your greatness hence I persist and address you as Walt Whitman loc_tb.00071.jpg loc_tb.00070.jpg Whom I wish to thank for 3 things.
First—for being born just when you were, 2nd for having the courage and manhood to write and "cast upon the waters."—"Leaves of Grass"—
I have long wished to take the honest hand loc_tb.00069.jpg loc_tb.00072.jpg and look in the honest eyes, of the man who was possessed of knowledge courage & persistence sufficient to write and publish such thoughts;—But increased invalidism has prevented my meeting the wisest man of this age—one loc_tb.00075.jpg loc_tb.00074.jpg who has shown that nought in nature is base or vile, only as we make it so, by base uses—That the "Soul of Things" must be reached through the channel of nature—We must have our feet planted (so to speak) loc_tb.00073.jpg loc.02260.005_large.jpg in the soil in order to touch heaven with our souls—
Thirdly & last, though not least, I must thank you for preserving your cheerfulness serenity & kindly spirit through it all—I loc.02260.006_large.jpg am writing (or scratching rather) for my good, to satisfy my own soul—So pardon me & I trust the reading of this will not weary you
With kindest thoughts and regard Truly Mrs Anna Hatch Nov 4 1891 Shepard Franklin Co Ohio loc.02260.007_large.jpg loc.02260.008_large.jpg Anna Hatch ShephardCorrespondent:
As yet we have no information about
this correspondent.