Walt Whitman to Edward Cattell, 24 January 1877 a machine readable transcription Walt Whitman Kenneth M. Price Ed Folsom Transcription and encoding Grace Thomas Alicia Bones Anthony Dreesen Kevin McMullen Nicole Gray Kenneth Price Elizabeth Lorang Amanda J. Axley Marie Ernster Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Iowa National Historical Publications and Records Commission 2012 The Walt Whitman Archive
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 loc.01251 Walt Whitman Walt Whitman to Edward Cattell, 24 January 1877 January 24, 1877 MSS18630, Box 8, Reel 5 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/ms004014.mss18630.00122 The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Whitman wrote this draft letter on the back of a May 10, 1876, letter he received from S. F. Michel. Walt Whitman Walt Whitman Edward Cattell final edits from Ken added DOI revised annotations added schematron declaration blessed added image references, revised transcription based on images checked Checked Checked Corrected Encoded letter to Ed Cattell Jan 24 '77 letter sent to Ed Cattell—Jan 24th '77 JanJanuary 24th '77 Dear Ed

I want to write you a few lines particular. Do not call to see me any more at the Stafford family, & do not call there at all any more. Dont ask me why—I will explain to you when we meet. When you meet any of the family I wish you to use them just the same as ever, but do not go over there at all. I want you to keep this to yourself, & not mention it nor this letter to any one & you must not speak about it at all to any one.

There is nothing in it that I think I do wrong, nor am ashamed of, but I wish it kept entirely between you and me—& I shall feel very much hurt & displeased if you don't keep the whole thing & the present letter entirely to yourself. Mr and Mrs Stafford are very near & kind to me, & have been & are like brother & sister to me—& as to Harry you know how I love him. Ed you too have my unalterable love, & always shall have. I want you to come up here & see me. when will you come. write