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He started up instantly on my quiet entrance. "Oh!"

You have touched a chord that always induces my sympathy."

I looked at my watch. He asked: "Haven't you time?"

over the manuscript to my colleague.

I wanted to send Minden my translation of Starting from Paumanok, with my preface to the work and Freiligrath's

"He shan't squeeze my girl.'"

Asks from my sister a letter of introduction to the Strykers.

I quoted a review of Florian's Montaigne: " 'Myselfe am the groundworke of my booke': such were the Whitmanesque

"I always object," he explained, "to putting my name in a book about myself.

As to leaving this place just now—it is impossible—out of the question: my legs would not take me if

If I went off somewhere into more complaisant surroundings—had servants at my beck, the best of food,

I might be tempted some——I could not be tempted enough to go—my decision would be finally reverse."

"I like to get all my relations with people personal, human.

Whitman.Some days ago came my parcel—many thanks—Mr. Grosairt's books included. That for Mr.

My experience is a peculiar one: something like this"—working his hand circularly—"it is as if things

Had not suffered any from the fall in temperature.We talked of my work—of my bookkeeping: how at times

He had been "put in charge of the Attorney General's letters: cases were put into my hands—small cases

to them all so passed some of them over to me to examine, report upon, sum up: which I did mainly by my

I had a copy of Harper's Bazar in my pocket.

don't say my say for me in the most conclusive way.

I am doing my job in my way: it don't suit them: they growl, curse, ridicule: but what is left for Walt

I have loved you for years with my whole heart and soul.

And yet I am a writer and make a living by my pen.

I am proud of my feeling for you.

W. said: "Maurice says the new leaves and flowers will be my best medicine when spring comes.

It aroused my ire: has a scurrilous little paragraph on the Colonel: a mean, dirty little paragraph:

: "It is very companionlike of her to say that: I thank her deeply: such goodwill serves to appease my

I folded it and put it away in my pocket. W. asked: "Well: have you any thoughts about it?"

Was intercepted by the circus parade on Federal Street on my way down.

W. had heard the bands, and asked me about it on my coming. He sat in his room, not doing anything.

We talked of my interview with McKay yesterday afternoon.

was mad that people would not see what he thought he saw in it and said: 'Give it to me—give it in my

a poem to be read at the debuting, adventing, of a big affair—a big exposition; is now included in my

adding after my reply: "I see I am all right: I often use the word and yet lose the sense of it.

It is queer, too, Childs being so unmistakably my friend.

I imagine that it is an act of religion in McKean not to patronize a man of my make.

Some of my enemies are malignants—for instance, Littlebill Winter, as O'Connor calls him, and Stoddard

He said: "I believe in the higher patriotism—not, my country whether or no, God bless it and damn the

As to "Why should my dog inhabit heaven if I?" W. said: "Why not?

I took it out of my pocket. "Read that passage to me again." I did so.

Adams, my last news of your health, and enclosing also a copy of my last circular (summer of 1876) regarding

My wife received lately a letter from Mrs.

I can but repeat my delight in this prospect, were it to be realized, and my wife's hope and my own that

Leaves of Grass," said W. tonight, "were neither moral nor literary, but were given with an eye to my

My old fencing-master, Boulet, (no better ever lived; he taught once at West Point,) taught me always

to cover my breast with hilt and point, even in the lunge, and I think of his lessons when engaged in

My aim has been to shut Chadwick up for good, for I don't want to be bothered on a side issue by this

Channing at Providence, red-hot for you, and proposing to reprint my Good Gray Poet at his expense!!

Left word with my father for me to say to W. his feet were too bad for him to try to get to Mickle street

Consults with my father concerning these.

My life from my bed to my chair, from my chair to my bed again, is tedious, but endurable."

With my help W. closed the blinds, shoved the chairs about into position and lighted the gas.

dedicate" my book.

"I just started my fire—I am always anxious to know."

I wrote to Bucke this morning on hospital matters, and explained to W. the substance of my note.

As to Harrison's historic position W. said: "Take due note of my prophecy: it will come true."

W. asked for details about my visit to Shillaber with Morse.

On my description W. very readily perceived the differences. At W.'

My father had reinforced W. in his Goethean views. I had repeated these views from my notes.

Please don't mention my name in connection with what I write about Harlan.

Van Rensallaer.W. must have seen the big smile on my face. He looked extra pleased himself.

I turned the letter over and over in my hands.

He held my hand for an extra clasp. "Don't let our fight prejudice you against me," he said.

says: "There is some peculiar atmospherical influence which reacts strangfely upon the chemistry of my

impossible—really felt that it was out of the question—but after he had gone I turned the matter over in my

W. said of it: "My mind is a slow one—it never hustles: I don't seem to know yet what I think of the

He got up from his chair in rather painful fashion, took my arm, and went with me into the back room.

I for my part don't want to be either haughty or humble.

—Why should I trouble you with my pains? You have pains of your own." He paused for a minute.

"Neither did I for the most of my life: I hardly knew I had a stomach or a head for all the trouble I

I am told that Stoddard is pretty sour on me—hates even to have my name mentioned in his presence, never

"I am always sure that in some way my friends hear all that I say about them: all the love I say about

My dear friend and fellow toiler good bye.Yours faithfully,Joaquin Miller. Saturday, April 21, 1888.

"I am a prisoner," he said, smilingly, "but you are not my jailer."

Then after a pause: "Indeed, far from that: you are in fact my deliverer."

At present my brain is just mud—I have a heap of letters unanswered.

My own health is pretty good.

It has reduced my weight about ten per cent. My belly has gone away as if I had been confined.

You can ask—make inquiries in my name.

The old fellow is not Dutch but Italian—has been there from my boyhood.

Ask her in my name—though I don't know if she ever knew me by name.

Keeps well—sat much as I found him all the time of my stay.

I should without hesitation adopt those words as my own. 'A gassy fizzle!' Yes, surely!

Yet, such are the drains of the heat on my small treasure of strength, that the vim I had (Lord knows

I have had the book a couple of years (Gabriel sent it to me himself: he is my personal friend) but have

in the matter you can't hit a landlord too often, Irish or American, and if you hit and don't hear my

Put the photo for the frontispiece in my hands: "I leave it all to you fellows to do right with: if you

of my own make."

Asked about the weather: urged me to throw my coat off: altogether most cordial.

He added: "My first doubts are my last. I think the little woman (was it Lucy Larcom?)

Then I would re-examine my premises. Yet each attempt was fruitless."

Changed his cover design at McKay's and my suggestion.

I keep it among my records. Monday, November 26, 1888

To Tucker: "He has thumped me some for my emperor piece but is still my friend as I am still his friend

To O'Connor: "He, too, fell afoul of me for my emperor piece.

W. said to a visitor in my hearing: "The American people wash too much."

Whitman,I thank you heartily for my share in your Custer poem, which I have just read.

but I don't believe I deserved my friends."

Called my attention to several matters, and as I sat down and read he pored over the papers—patiently

him what I had heard, but that as he was flitting all along the road I should be compelled to take my

If it has come into use, it has come lately—for in my time there was no exaggerated emphasis.

Adding after my assent: "That is my conviction too. Here was Leaves of Grass in gestation.

"It is better," he said to my assurance, "better beyond a doubt.

W. replied: "Considering the condition of the rest of my body the immunity enjoyed by my topknot is marvellous—even

W. said: "It is one of the admonitions of my Doctor not to see people—not to talk: but then I am a disobedient

W. gave me what he called "another tidbit" for my "archeeves."

"My body is a splendid barometer." Gave him today's Herald containing the Sheridan piece.

I never wrote one, never even got it laid out, but never forgot my intention.

of my book?

I always decided against it—always came round to one conclusion—always planted my heel on the temptation

"I see what it all means—it is in accord with my own experience with me: a man of heart often suffers

He watched me closely as I worked: I was on my knees on the floor: the room was in a sort of half light

"It was my grandfather," he remarked, "who best knew Hicks: they hobnobbed together in their young days

: but my father had met him—known him—also, as he did Thomas Paine: I myself saw Hicks: what is more,

Here he paused an instant, then he said earnestly: "Had I all my faculties now, my literary power, the

Am laid up just now with a kick from my horse—luckily nothing very bad—he struck me (accidentally in

My dear Whitman,I have your kind favor of the 11th with the enclosed poem—or series of poems, rather.

It did my eyes good to look away from him towards Tom—Tom, who is a normal man, gruff, honest, direct

"My opinion is that I have no opinion!

My dear Sir,Yours of 27 January, and Leaves of Grass, received.

and therefore my allusion to it.

I had told Dowden of my not having received any reply to my cards or letters and my apprehension that

That's all there is to my hoarding up these records—as you call it.

"I was in Washington at the time—the early years of my stay there—was feeling pretty well—the paralysis

To my question he said: "Yes, Wendell Phillips thought very well of it.

As I was going he waved his hand—"My best wishes attend you, boy!" Did not stay long.

My heart foreboding much, I rang the bell, Mrs.

my boy I have gone far under!

Then: "I have done nothing to-daytoday: for the first time my appetite has positively, wholly, given

I reached down, kissed him: he kissed me, saying thickly: "Bless you, my boy! bless you!"

It is my nephew—the second son of my sister.

My impression of W's appearance at this date is a favorable one: though it is clear enough that his recent

Often he points me about the rooms: "Poor as these are, they are a comfort to me—my own—giving me freedom

My only uncompromising friend in the family is probably Watson—he swears to me—not everything in me,

When I was in Denver I spent my longest hours in contemplation of the mountain ranges."

I took off my hat to the compliment.

W. took it from my hands and held it off from himself, regarding it with immediate approval and fondness

Millet is my painter: he belongs to me: I have written Walt Whitman all over him. How about that?

My word was not law, of course: they could have done anything they chose about it: but they asked my

Take my own method—if you call it that.

This does not mean that I am not careful: it only means that I try not to overdo my cake."

Symonds' piece reminded me, reminds me, of Captain Cuttle—the queer Captain Cuttle."

"The Captain would say in his own inimitable style: 'If the ship has gone down then she has gone down—if

My hope is, as the boys say, that it 'gets its roots in': you have heard that expression, eh?

My friends could never understand me, that I would start out so evidently without design for nowhere

"All my life here," he said, "is made up of pathetically little things: yet I don't know but all life

W. saw a copy of Unity in my hand. "What have you got there?"

I spoke of the absence of sun from this room—my regret that it was so.

He feels so well just now, he accepts my confidence.

And he added, "my sister-in-law was here today.

W. then: "Well—Baptist: it is the same thing for my purposes.

"I mean counted my pulse, questioned me—went through all the technicalities: but—!"

When I said: "Should you ever need a Secretary, let me serve," he fervently responded: "Bless you, my

Captain: Could you give me a little further information about my brother Capt. George W.

—Was my brother really well & hearty—was Lieut. Sam'l Pooley, 51st N.Y. there, & how was he?

—Do you know whether my brother got letters & boxes we sent him?

Bucke today referred to my letters in writing to W. This was a mistake.

But my first impression was a bad one and I have not moved from it.

"My half is in seeing you tickled," he replied.

My friends were fewer than my enemies but they blew a trumpet loud enough for everybody to hear."

That fits my intentions to a t—describes my ideal absolutely.

Be satisfied with my general assurance.

My heart is with all you rebels—all of you, today, always, wherever: your flag is my flag.

"I did not enjoy it: it was too sudden a change from my passive life in Camden: it was too much the New

Some of my best friends, coming into the suite of parlors, seeing the crowds about, with me in the midst

Bucke sent me my foot note, and I have made the change (Page 100).

He laughed over my phrase "prosaically poised."

"That is my sufficient reward.

"That is so: I was just in my beginnings then—just coming out."

I owned up to my suspicions of Carnegie.

"The Bible: my black book—the English Bible." We found it.

"If I could get out, this thing would better adjust itself—but my getting out is wholly uncertain."

I know, Tom, you are able to set that into order without my help."

He was not unmindful of the good-feeling intended—"only, I am an invalid—all knocked up—careful of my

As to photos mounted—he came nearer my own fears. "This card will never get out straight.

I wish he had followed my own hints on this point—chosen a board more like that I sent him.

With my help went over to his chair, turning up the light, sitting down heavily: legs of little value

The War was on, I was strong in my strength—superb of body—I had much to give: there were thousands,

conviction against it, my contempt for it, grows stronger and stronger."

"I have been singularly fortunate in my doctors," he said: "I often think of Dr.

I spoke of my going to Germantown to hear Brinton lecture. W. inquired: "What will he speak about?"

experiment: I would no more force my reading than my writing.

there are points here which I have not considered—which are not quite familiar table-talk to me—but my

first impression, my original instinct, (I can only give that) is adverse, critical, though not, of

have known so many yet so few—so few with the full equipment—one or two (not more than two) in all my

I said to W.: "I've still got the Rossetti letter in my pocket."

Day by day, in these older years of my life, I see how lucky I was that I was myself thrown out early

I was in a sense a boy of the farm and the streets; it was my fate, my good fate.

Sometimes I do my duty: not always: not because I live by any special method. Duty, duty.

They talked about matter of fact things in a matter of fact way—about their aunts and uncles and my aunts

When I got up to leave and went across the room to W. he took and held my hand and said very seriously

W. said about himself: "I still have trouble with my head but it is no worse."

W. said: "But my point of view is also O'Connor's—or, rather, his is mine."

Clifford wrote today: "My love to Walt. 'Dear Walt Whitman!'

A bandaged hand prevents my writing, and everything is in arrears with me.W.S.K.'

As soon as I get the free use of my hand, I will write to him, as you suggest.

All my intimate friends who have known me for many years—know well enough that that appearance of age

Some have said to me that I look younger now than I did in my youth.

Ingram came in and stayed about fifteen minutes during my stay.

That is my surmise only—of course—but I am willing to bet on it.

W. said: "You have my card?—make use of it!"

"Then my displacement occurred: then I came to grief: there's nothing but my old hulk left."

He smiled over my latest skepticism.

I certainly fell over my own feet that time.

My memory never played me such a mean trick: I've had horrible experiences to meet, endure—but my memory

I took the note out of my pocket again and offered it to W.

adverse.Got up heavily, I helping him: stood there with his blue gown on, tall, massive: turned back my

my boy!

I could get about on my feet then: I don't know if I did not head the march."

been in my mind, although I have lost time in sending you an answer to your letter.

And so, having written my article I have drawn back, and don't now return again and again to V.

He sat in his armchair reading the Press, but at once took the Herald out of my hands.

I can honestly say that I like to hear all that is to be said in criticism of my work, my life: but you

My vehemence amused him.

That will be my good-bye to the letter.

The world must move on without my fighting for it."

me—it is urgent, persistent: he sort of stands in the road and says: 'I won't movetilluntil you answer my

I have had my own troubles—I have seen other men with troubles, too—worse than mine and not so bad as

This is my permanent address.

Yet I felt that if you liked my poem [See In Re Walt Whitman] you would write.

to you to have arrogantly confounded your own fine thought and pure feeling with the baser metal of my

As to what should be the nature of the flap—"I am unable to make up my mind.

Of course I am always glad to see my friends. It is to my interest to put my best foot forward.

I think some of my friends imagine that my condition bites—that I feel the bite of poverty, inattention

I explained my talk with Oldach today.

It used to be my delight to get the youngsters, the very young ones, take them in my arms, walk them—often

I remember that a doctor said to me once down in Virginia, when I shook my head: 'What?

I showed him my letter of the 16th, received today.

think of it: I have sent him my pieces, put my price on them, been paid that price: an important item

And I wish to put in my best greeting to Mrs.

He noticed my interest. "Do you like it? then take it along."

Once during my stay got up to urinate but could not.

I said something about the birth of the boy at Harned's: my sister's courage and physical sanity and

I told him that my sister had sat up reading Robert Elsmere last night.

It reminded him of a kindred experience: "When I had my great attack—my great paralysis—I was reading

My dear poet: I wrote you from N.

hasn't my prosperity walked on its uppers almost from the start?"

In any event, I hope to hear your address and to see you at my office.

I am anxious to have one or more contributions from you for my Cyclopedia for which we pay ten dollars

I'm afraid my pen let loose would have seemed out of character in such a place: my pen tied up I haven't

I tell you, Horace, it's no fun for words when they get in my hands, though the howlers may not know