The books did not arrive last ev'g to my great disgust. I went in on purpose to inquire for them at express office. I shall no doubt get them tomorrow forenoon, will then write again. I wonder how you are getting on by now? Much better I hope but I dare not count on anything and am very anxious all the time. We are having gloomy weather which does not tend to cheer one, raining all day and looks as though it might rain for a week—the roads loc_es.00523.jpg were hard and were getting nice and smooth now they will be in a devil of a mess again. Willy Gurd2 is to be home early in the week—I shall try and hurry up the meter patents so as to get East as soon as possible. But it seems difficult to get on, every step takes such a time—however the end must come at last
I wish I could hear from O.C.3 I imagine all sorts of things about him and worry a good deal. My chief interest now is the pat, I trust I shall hear tomorrow morning that you are easier
Always your friend R M Bucke loc_es.00524.jpgP.S.
I have the "Boston Literary World" of 8th inst. Horace4 had it sent to me. Not a bad little review at all of "November Boughs"5 Do you know who did it? He is a good friend and has considerable insight into matters—is evidently holding himself in in the little col. and half article—
RMB loc_es.00525.jpg loc_es.00520.jpg See notes Dec 18, 1888 loc_es.00521.jpgCorrespondent:
Richard Maurice Bucke (1837–1902) was a
Canadian physician and psychiatrist who grew close to Whitman after reading Leaves of Grass in 1867 (and later memorizing it) and
meeting the poet in Camden a decade later. Even before meeting Whitman, Bucke
claimed in 1872 that a reading of Leaves of Grass led him
to experience "cosmic consciousness" and an overwhelming sense of epiphany.
Bucke became the poet's first biographer with Walt
Whitman (Philadelphia: David McKay, 1883), and he later served as one
of his medical advisors and literary executors. For more on the relationship of
Bucke and Whitman, see Howard Nelson, "Bucke, Richard Maurice," Walt Whitman: An
Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York:
Garland Publishing, 1998).