Walt Whitman to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, 16 April 1868 a machine readable transcription Walt Whitman Kenneth M. Price Ed Folsom Transcription and encoding The Walt Whitman Archive Staff Center for Digital Research in the Humanities, University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Iowa National Historical Publications and Records Commission 2010 The Walt Whitman Archive
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 nyp.00280 The following are responsible for particular readings or for changes to this file, as noted: Kenneth M. Price Elizabeth Lorang Zachary King Eric Conrad Walt WhitmanEdwin Haviland Miller The Correspondence New York New York University Press 1961–19772 27–28 Walt Whitman Walt Whitman to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, 16 April 1868 April 16, 1868 The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, New York Public Library Walt Whitman Louisa Van Velsor Whitman added schematron declaration blessed checked encoded extracted transcription from Major Authors cd Attorney General's Office, Washington, Thursday noon April 16, 1868. Dearest mother,

Well, it is a dark cloudy day, & raining hard—the darkies were to have a great celebration here to-day, in honor of emancipation—they turn out here in real good style, on such occasions—but it is too wet for them to-day—Mr. Stanbery is quite ill, as you see by the papers—The Impeachment trial still goes on—I went up, that day, but it was very crowded, & the air was so bad, I left, & went off & had a real good tramp, way up Georgetown, along the banks of the river—it is beautiful along there, of a fine day—So you see I am still able to get around.

There is nothing new in the office—the same old story—I have rec'd a number of papers from England with notices of my book, there—mostly friendly & favorable—more so than any here—Mother, I am very sorry you have those pains in your face & head—I shouldn't wonder if it was neuralgia—that is a violent inflammation of the nerves of the face & head—Mrs. Mix used to have it very bad—O, I forgot I believe to tell you Mrs. Mix is living yet—she had a very bad spell, but got over it—Mother, I have just got your letter of 14th—& was glad to get it—I havn't seen William Velsor for some time—will tell him when I see him—

Mother, I send a couple of papers same time with this—they are not much, but will do just for a change—poor old Uncle John—he is failing then at last—I suppose George is well, & having good times—I see him every day as I have his picture tacked up on the door of my desk in front—Good bye, dearest mother, & take good care of yourself, & dont work too hard.

Walt.