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Camden1
Dec: 1 '91
Dear sister,
Suppose you have recd letter
f'm me
every week,2 as I have sent
one, (tho' of late have been late—last
Thursday $23—this one $2):—not much different—pretty
depress'd condition
with me night & day—sunny & cold—still eat my two meals a
day (very light however)—buckwheat cakes & coffee
this mn'g —letters
f'm England yesterday—my friend
Wallace4 ret'd safely
(Bolton) and much welcom'd
there—Geo,5 Lou,6 & Ed7
well as usual—Jessie8 at St L well as usual
last acc'ts —Mrs:
D9 has gone over to Phila : to-day
visiting & shopping—Warry10 here to mind
the shanty & me—(keeps up a good fire my stove)—the little children
have been in to see—I gave each a big doughnut—God bless you sister dear—
W W
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Correspondent:
Hannah Louisa Whitman Heyde
(1823–1908) was the fourth child of Walter and Louisa Whitman and Walt
Whitman's youngest sister. Hannah was named for her paternal grandmother, Hannah
Brush Whitman (1753–1834), and her mother, Louisa Van Velsor Whitman
(1795–1873). Although Walt Whitman had a close relationship with his
younger brother Jeff Whitman, Hannah was his favorite, most beloved sibling.
Until she married, Hannah lived at home with her parents and her brothers.
Educated at the Hempstead Academy, Hannah taught school in rural Long Island. On
March 23, 1852, Hannah married Charles Louis Heyde (ca. 1820–1892), a
landscape painter. It is possible that Walt introduced Hannah to Charles. In
August 1852 the Heydes departed for Vermont. The first decade of their marriage
was marked by constant moving from boarding houses to hotels, mostly in rural
Vermont, as Heyde sought out vantage points for his landscape paintings. In 1864
the Heydes settled in Burlington, purchasing a house on Pearl Street. After
Hannah's marriage and relocation to Vermont, Mother Whitman became Hannah's
faithful correspondent; Walt also kept in touch, sending letters and editions of
Leaves of Grass after publication. Hannah faced
several health crises during her marriage, partly due to the ongoing trauma of
emotional, verbal, and physical intimate partner violence that she experienced.
In the 1880s and 1890s Heyde increasingly had difficulty earning enough to cover
household expenses; in addition, he may have become an alcoholic. He repeatedly
asked Whitman for funds to cover their expenses. Whitman sent both Heyde and
Hannah small amounts of money. After Heyde died in 1892, Hannah remained in
Burlington, living in their house on Pearl Street until her death in 1908. For
more information, see Paula K. Garrett, "Whitman (Heyde), Hannah Louisa (d. 1908)," Walt
Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New
York: Garland Publishing, 1998).
Notes
- 1. In March 1884, Whitman
purchased a house at Mickle Street in Camden, New Jersey. He would live in this
house until his death on March 26, 1892. [back]
- 2. Charles Heyde, Hannah's
husband, occasionally intercepted her mail and removed the funds that Whitman
had sent to her. By using the phrase "every week," Whitman was checking to see
if Hannah had received the letters he sent to her. [back]
- 3. Whitman is referring to his
letter of November 26, 1891. [back]
- 4. James William Wallace
(1853–1926) visited Whitman in Camden in October 1891. An English
architect, Wallace was an admirer of Whitman's writing. With his friend Dr. John
Johnston, Wallace had helped to establish a club of Whitman enthusiasts in
England called the Bolton "College." For more infomration, see Larry D. Griffin,
"Wallace, James William (1853–1926)," Walt
Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New
York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
- 5. George Washington Whitman
(1829–1901) was the seventh child of Walter and Louisa Whitman. George
learned to read and write as a pupil under his older brother Walt (who briefly
served as a schoolteacher) in Long Island, and worked as a carpenter prior to
his military service during the Civil War. When the war ended, he became a pipe
inspector for the City of Camden and the New York Metropolitan Water Board. For
more on George's life see Martin G. Murray, "Whitman, George Washington (1829–1901)," Walt
Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New
York: Garland Publishing, 1998. [back]
- 6. Louisa Orr Haslam Whitman
(1842–1892), called "Loo" or "Lou," married Walt's brother George Whitman
on April 14, 1871. They moved to Camden in 1872, and Walt Whitman lived with
them from 1873–1884. For more information, see Karen Wolfe, "Whitman, Louisa Orr Haslam (Mrs. George) (1842–1892)," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and
Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
- 7. Eddy (Edward) Whitman
(1835–1892), the youngest child of Louisa and Walter Whitman, was mentally
and physically disabled. He lived with Mother Whitman until her death in 1873,
then with his brother George Washington Whitman and his wife Louisa Orr Haslam
Whitman. Walt Whitman contributed to his support. Eddy was placed in an asylum
in Blackwood, New Jersey, in 1888. See Randall Waldron, "Whitman, Edward (1835–1892)," Walt Whitman:
An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York:
Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
- 8. Jessie Louisa Whitman
(1863–1957) was the youngest daughter of Thomas Jefferson "Jeff" Whitman
and Martha Mitchell "Mattie" Whitman, Walt Whitman's brother and sister-in-law.
Jessie and her older sister Manahatta ("Hattie") were both favorites of their
uncle Walt. [back]
- 9. Mrs. Mary Oakes Davis (1837
or 1838–1908), Whitman's housekeeper, moved into Whitman's house on Mickle
street on February 24, 1885, and lived in a small apartment in the rear of the
house. She was a widow and had been married to a Sea Captain. See Carol J.
Singley, "Davis, Mary Oakes," in Walt Whitman: An
Encyclopedia, ed. J.R.LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York:
Garland Publishing, 1998), 163–164. [back]
- 10. Frank Warren Fritzinger
(1867–1899), known as "Warry," took Edward Wilkins's place as Whitman's
nurse, beginning in October 1889. Fritzinger and his brother Harry were the sons
of Henry Whireman Fritzinger (about 1828–1881), a former sea captain who
went blind, and Almira E. Fritzinger. Following Henry Sr.'s death, Warren and
his brother—having lost both parents—became wards of Mary O. Davis,
Whitman's housekeeper, who had also taken care of the sea captain and who
inherited part of his estate. A picture of Warry is displayed in the May 1891
New England Magazine (278). See Joann P. Krieg, "Fritzinger, Frederick Warren (1866–1899),"
Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and
Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998), 240. [back]