Search Results

My Father died May 2 nd and was buried on the 4 I was in Syracuse a few days before he died to see him

My Mother is not very well this summer Little Walt and the rest of my family are all well. he is quite

I am a married man but I am not happy for my disposition is not right.

21, 1867, Wilson acknowledged Whitman's reply of April 12, 1867: "I do not want you to misunderstand my

motives in writing to you of my Situation & feelings as I did in my last letter or else I shall have

to be more guarded in my letters to you.

I wrote so because you wanted me to write how I was situated, and give you my mind without reserve, and

My dear friend, I am here a while on leave—am in good health as usual—have been engaged in electrotyping

a new edition of my book in better form—You sent me word a year or more ago of some Boston publisher

, or bookseller, who was willing (or perhaps wished) to sell my book —Who was it?

biography, The Ferry Boy and the Financier (Boston: Walker and Wise, 1864); he described their meetings in My

O'Connor in 1867: "Every year confirms my earliest impression, that no book has approached the power

Nothing very new or different in my affairs.

here in Atty Gens office—same posish position —have good health—expect to bring out new editions of my

books before very long—how is the little boy—I send my love to him, & to your wife & parents.

wrote but then deleted: "O if we could only be together now even if only Dear Boy, dear, dear friend, my

In 1888 Walt Whitman commented to Horace Traubel about this letter: "I can't live some of my old letters

well as usual—still work in this office—still board at the same house in M Street—& I suppose hold my

I will not write a long letter this time—but send you my love—& charge you to write more regularly in

branches, I came home from Washington and applied myself, as soon as possible, to school and to study…My

It arises in my mind, as I write, to say something of that kind to you— I am not a little comforted when

I learn that the young men dwell in thought upon me & my utterances—as you do—& I frankly send you my

I am numbed with the frigid manners of the Christians; barbarism has given me the fullest joy of my life

previously published in Leaves of Grass, "Passage to India" was Whitman's attempt to "celebrate in my

Whitman referred to Rossetti's edition as a "horrible dismemberment of my book" in his August 12, 1871

life, my thoughts, my feelings, my views— my self in fact, in every way, you seem to have permeated

my whole being.

My friend Mrs.

It is good to have my love for you then rounded by knowing you, and finding my feeling and thought about

Jeannie sends much love to you, so does my sister Jeannie.

My Mother, brother George, & all, are well.

baby boy, now about a month resident in this mad world—(I write about the baby for Nelly and Jenny)—My

I am quite busy flying around—the printers & stereotypers commence on my immortal work to-morrow—My dear

, dear friend, I hope you are well & in good spirits—I send you my love—also to Charles Eldridge, if

best love—in which I am joined by my Mother.

Ned Stewarts Stewart's —When you write tell Ned I am here in Brooklyn, loafing around—& that I send my

fine—warm through the middle of the day, & cool mornings & nights— I fall in with quite a good many of my

you & me—no women in the house—he is single—he wants me to make my home there—I shall not do that, but

that night—My dear loving boy, how much I want to see you—it seems a long while—I have rec'd a good

loving son, & give my respects to any of the boys that ask about me.

There is nothing new or noteworthy in my own affairs.

I keep fashioning & shaping my books at my leisure, & hope to put them in type the current year.

You speak of my prose preface to first "Leaves of Grass."

I am writing this at my desk in the Treasury building here, an immense pile, in which our office occupies

From my large open window I have an extensive view of sky, Potomac river, hills & fields of Virginia,

I gaze at the Sea while I eat my food and think of thee. . . . and often while I gaze thereon I think

March 30th 1870 Dear respected friend Feeling assured that any information of my doings and whereabouts

will meet with only the kindest reception from you, I venture once more, after my long silence, to address

If any excuse be neccessary necessary , let my respect and esteem be that excuse.

himself"; but I note telling you facts) and have just entered upon the study of Law; In conseq uence of my

Though we enjoyed our homeless life in Washington I think I have enjoyed my more wandering life since

Nov 5 18 70 My dear Mr.

Huntington: I write to say I would like to postpone the pleasure of my visit to, & breakfast with, you

Walt Whitman I send the Galaxy with one of my last pieces —as I am not certain whether I sent it to you

My Dear friend Walt I now take my pen in hand to let you know how I am getting along I am in very good

health at present & I hope you are the same. my father is not very well at present he has been Laid

I bought some medicine for a freind friend of my fathers & he gave me the money to pay for them & I Spent

Robbins & then I will be Disgraced & Discarged Discharged I asked my Sister to lend three & she would

13 april 1870 My dear walt Walt i have received your letter to day the 13t i also got the papers on saturday

Saturday i am pretty well but my lameness that is bad enoughf enough my legs pains me real bad some

nights i cant can't sleep if i am on my feet much through the day i try to favor myself as much as i

My dear friends, N. M. and J. B.

you word, in advance—The picture of the dear daughter will be welcome—I should also like another of my

dear loving boy Alfred, as soon as he gets any late ones, if he does so— So good bye & God bless you, my

dear friends, & my love to all.

My dear friend, I have just received your letter of the 7th inst.

A new edition of my book will be printed this fall, with another small volume in prose.

I send you my love—Write whenever you can.

. /70 Dear friend Walter I now take my pen in h and to let you know how I am getting along.

received your letter of the Eight & was very glad to hear from you. we have been Stoping stopping at my

I am going to buy a fraim frame for your Picture I have it up in my room I wou ld like to see you very

Boss Mr Hawkins is going to leave the firm the first of march & my friend Oliver Allen & I thought we

New York June 1/70 Friend Walter I now take my pen in hand to write to you I am in good health at Present

not want to lend me the I asked for, why Did you not write and say so—not to make out you Did not get my

of it when you was I though thought I would put you in—mind of it if I would be man Enough to keep my

I would not mind if you would give me my Clothes now as I need them very I cant can't go out any wear

She makes a half barbarous life for herself, however and allmost almost baffles all my efforts at times

: Han could have done better and saved me great mortification, but her mother in Brooklyn, thwarted my

For my part I have as much care as I desire, and more than I ever anticipated.

I have just paid off the mortgage on my house and have sustained myse lf here, not so much upon the merit

or appreciation of my paintings, as by a certai n force of character, which has found sympathy among

Dear Son, I am sitting here in my room, having just eat a hearty dinner with my mammy , (who has this

month entered on her 76th year, but to my eyes looks young & handsome yet.)

c—he has one fault, & a bad one—that is he will drink, & spree it—which spoils all—True it is none of my

would give it up, & find his pleasure in some other way—Pete, should you see Allen again, give him my

duplicate printed copies of a poem I have written, "Passage to India," in which I endeavor to celebrate in my

price, time, selection of magazine, and in fact all the points of that sort, I leave absolutely to you— My

Nothing new or very different with my affairs. I remain in good health & spirits.

I am numbed with the frigid manners of the Christians; barbarism has given me the fullest joy of my life

If I could only know that it has pleased you I should bless my stars fervantly.

sure of your friendship and I should try to life live the real life there for your sake as well as for my

(my address always ) Charles Warren Stoddard to Walt Whitman, 2 April 1870

L OUIS March 30th, 18 70 My dear Walt I suppose you think strange that I hav'nt written you before but

work goes on well we have delightful weather here everything looks like Spring I am glad I put off my

been ample and I should have enjoyed a visit with Mrs O Conner very much indeed Please convey to them my

love and express to them my hearty thanks for their kindness—also say to Mrs O C and family that we

Take my hand Walt Whitman" "Lift me close to your face Till I whisper " "What you are holding is in reality

"Here take from my lips this kiss" "I give it especially to you .

Cooly, composedly, whilst the hot lava inwardly boiling, rages through my breast.

You are my child—Lord & Ideal.

I wish they could see my Soul. Would they deem it lovely. I do not bother much about the exterior.

tuesday Tuesday My dear Walt i received your letter on monday Monday glad to hear you get along so well

weather its it's hot to be shure sure but no use fretting about it well Walt i have been to day and had my

and one for myself i shall send han one in the package so you see walt Walt i bequeath something to my

It is likely that this will shorten my leave, & that I shall have to come back & do my work myself, about

I don't write, I thought I would send a few lines—they would be better than nothing— God bless you, my

My Discharge Papers are in the Hands of John P Hunt Attorney and Counsellor at Law 247 Broadway I wish

you would do me the favor of of of Looking up my Claim and Pushing it through for me as I have suffered

this John P Hunt and weather whether he is an authorized claim agent or not and about how Long Before my

the hot weather, & especially since I left Washington—so I read & write as little as possible, beyond my

printing matters, &c—as that occupies several hours, & tires my eyes sometimes.

distinction however—I admire & love the French, & France as a nation—of all foreign nations, she has my

is—to say nothing—only a good smacking kiss, & many of them—& taking in return many, many, many, from my

1870 Janry January 19 My dear walt Walt i am like you this week i dont don't seem to have any thing new

worst of it was they had two dogs and before they could get them away i thought they would have torn my

a stir about the small pox ordering every one to be vasinated vaccinated ) well walter Walter dear my

Milburn, or any of the railroad boys, or other friends that may inquire after me, that I send them my

best respects—not forgetting my friends Mr. & Mrs.

every thing lovely—It will not be long now before I shall be back—Till then, take care of yourself, my

up this way are very modest so I got off quite an Elaborate elaborate address in which I expressed my

Phellow fellow Phelinx to the best of my abilities & wished the cause of Temperance Everlasting progress

interrupted with "hear" "hear" and any amount of cheering & in the midst of the cheering I brought my

I am still improving in health getting more blooming Every day Day people who saw me on my way here &

you will know it Just to see if you will recognize the Boy who left Washington some time ago got over my

one night in passing off the platform of a Car, gave you a rose) I was compelled to many Car rides in my

I thank you Sir, with all my heart, and pray for you the abiding Presence and hourly Comfort of the divine

I go to my home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, tomorrow.

while said this morning—"Why Walt you are fatter & saucier than ever"— but I will close by sending my

love, to my darling son—& to him I shall always be the same old Walt.

5 April 1870 Brooklyn Apri l April 5 My dear Walt i have just received your letter and the order all

walter Walter dear its it's in your power to deal so generously to your mother) i am rather better of my

My dear friend, I shall return to Washington next Saturday, 15th—William, it would be a favor if you

I write this in my room home, early afternoon—Mother & I having had tete-a-tete dinner—so good & quiet

My life since we parted that July day upon the Treasury steps, has been one of hard work and little recreation

I have written so much of myself simply because you asked me of myself— My Dear Friend I hope and believe

16 th dear Walt i will resume my corresspondence correspondence again haint you missed my letters very

tea and i got it with such pain that i could hardly keep from groaning the matter is i have been on my

1870 June 1 My dear Walter i did feel so ansious anxious to hear from you and i cant can't help but feel

for a letter so bad thinking you will be better the next one but i hope you will not get discourage d my

Brooklyn May 11, 1870 Sir: The hurt on my hand has not healed.

My friends: I send you a page & a half piece—" A warble for lilac-time "—if available for the April Galaxy

My address is at this office.

Apl 13 th 18 70 My dear sir, I fear that the "Passage to India" is a poem too long and too abstract for

Brooklyn May 11, 1870 Dear William, My hand has been pretty bad, but looks more encouraging to-day.

I know I am glad that your selections were put into my hands first, so that I was lifted up by them to

As he told you, there is a chance—not as yet more than a chance—that I may make my way over the Atlantic

is dead i will write to george George i feel very sad of course if he has done ever so wrong he was my

institutionalizing Jesse because, according to her December 25, 1863 letter, she "could not find it in my

I was afraid of Ripley but Reid confirmed my impression that Greeley is or has been favorable, and he

highly esteem though I do not endorse or hold by all they teach two of the Books are connected with my

much mistaken in your love of Books, interspersed with fine stanzas of oriental Poetry, altogether in my

Louis, Mar 18th 1870 My Dear Mother Mattie arrived all right on Wednesday abt about 3 ocl —in the afternoon—We

for St Louis this afternoon he was very sorry that he could not see you. but I am certainly coming on my

that I will get there in the evening and I have no doubt when I call on Masons they will insist on my