Yours of 2d2 to hand this
forenoon. I am here at office at work as usual (none the worse but rather, I think,
the better) for the few days at home and in bed. You see I was not sick—just a little pain and bad cold. I got a nice rest and
change and it did me good. You must not be the least uneasy about me—should I get really sick I
will send you word but
untill
I tell you the contrary consider me well. I gave
Beemer3 one of the 4 pictures—shall not part
with any of the other unless the spirit strongly moves me to do so. We have a cold
snap here—mercury down to zero this morning—no meters4
yet! loc_zs.00256.jpg May have the first dozen
out by end of this week.
Mrs Bucke5 went to Sarnia yesterday—she goes from there today (with some friends) to Windsor to attend Willy Kittermaster's wedding6 at 7 this P.M. I guess you will remember W.K. you knew him well (quite a boy then) in 1880. Willy remembers you very well and with much affection. Mrs. B. will stay in Windsor and Sarnia a few weeks
All well and quiet here Best love to you R M BuckeCorrespondent:
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).