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To my knowledge it is understood by Col. Mulford, Major John E.

In my opinion the Secretary has taken and obstinately held a position of cold-blooded policy, (that is

Major General Butler, in my opinion, has also incorporated in the question of exchange a needless amount

In my opinion, the anguish and death of these ten to fifteen thousand American young men, with all the

greatest and profoundest truths are often most plain to the senses of men—in the same resemblance, my

The scene of the meeting was the school house; and having no other means of employing my time, I determined

"You are whimsical, my dear," said the matron, as she took the paper; "why do you desire so needless

"My son," she cried, in uncontrollable agony; "my son! you die!"

Whitman reused this sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My son," with minor revisions, in " The

.; Whitman reused this sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My son," with minor revisions, in "

From the first I found it necessary to systematize my doings, and, among other things, always kept little

note-books for impromptu jottings in pencil to refresh my memory of names and circumstances and what

But before entering on my personal memoranda of the war, I have one or two thoughts to ventilate before

ABRAHAM LINCOLN—MY FIRST SIGHT AND IMPRESSION OF HIM.

It reads: 'I cannot survive the loss of the liberties of my country.'") THE EVE OF A LONG WAR.

men and their maneuvers that I was now gazing An invalid-looking man came slowly up the hill while my

The man, at my request, showed me one of the globules which he was in the habit of taking daily.

I shall remember that dinner to my dying day. We pulled up stakes, and put for home.

I made my bed in the furled sail, watching the stars as they twinkled, and falling asleep so.

An indescribable serenity pervaded my mind—a delicious abnegation of the ties of the body.

As she mentioned the course of her walk, I started, for a dim fear took possession of my mind, to which

"Did you," gasped I faintly, as the name struck my ear, and a feeling of deadly sickness crept over my

I was almost out of my senses with agony and alarm.

But time pressed, and lifting that form so dear to me, in my arms, I bore her into the planter's residence

I shall not think it worth while for my story, to give a minute account of the lady's illness.

Now I, who so love to see my neighbors happy," the hunchback grinned, "could not bear that the pretty

I approached, and told him my errand.

He took my letter—and then asked me into his hut; for it was near at hand.

He put before me some drink and meat, and then, though he spoke not, I saw he wished my departure.

"And now you have all of my story—and I must go, for it is time Peter Brown received his answer."

They have taken up my principal time and labor for some months past.

I always carry some, cut up in small plugs, in my pocket.

I thought I would include in my letter a few cases of soldiers, especially interesting, out of my note-book

, but I find my story has already been spun out to sufficient length.

Nor do I find it ended by my doing some good to the sick and dying soldiers.

My Departure

Queries to My Seventieth Year

My companion, the moment he saw her, directed my attention to her by a peculiar movement of the head.

female—though I could hardly divine what or who she had been—and when we left the place, I reminded my

He then went on to give me the particulars of this celebrated mutiny, which I had read in my own country

when a boy, but which had nearly escaped my memory.

intentions, and that G OD will receive me into favor: and I sincerely hope that my death will be the

They will ask me of news about my brother: Let me not say, I left him weeping like a girl!"

"Tell them," rejoined the chief, "that I met my punishment as a hunter grasps the hand of one he loves

When I came hither, not many days since, I was near to death, even then—and my fate would have happened

monk when he could safely walk the distance of the village: "Though judging by the cool kindness of my

"Patience, my son!" said the holy father; "tomorrow I will myself accompany you thither.

And I would not have my wife come hither, at least at present—for I think of no good she can do.

Tell me, Father Luke, how long do you think will be the duration of my illness?"

But judging from the best of my knowledge, I may be able to recover you in three days, so that you can

At this very moment you are falling into a fever which will require all my watchfulness.

Now, my son, compose yourself to sleep."

So with wool-hat crushed in my hand behind me, for the sundown breezes felt good, there on old "Clover

I took my time, and expanded to the glory spread over heaven and earth.

It seemed as if all that the eye could bear, were unequal to the fierce voracity of my soul for intense

His feelings were not returned. with all her blandishments, never touched my heart in the least.

I write as I feel; and I feel that there are not a few who will pronounce a Yes to my own confessions

Upon the distraction which filled my breast, when it was found in the morning that the widow had died—and

If you leave me, my heart will crack!" Then in a whisper: "O, never tell me of her kindness.

Never in all my life did I receive such a shock, as when authentic information was first brought me of

I shut myself up in my room for several days, waiting the conclusion of all these horrible circumstances

I have already dwelt long enough, and too long, on this part of my history.

I am convinced of one thing, (I must say my say out,) that even cleaning and salting fish for a few hours

I've no idea of losing my dog by a darned shirk!"

On the same occasion there was the prettiest of marine exhibitions—prettier, to my eyes, than any New

in, and throwing out of those lines, and the rapid depositing of fish in the boats, which seemed, to my

My friends on sea-bass intent (they were waiting for a particular wind, or something to complete their

see also a letter Whitman writes to his niece, Jessie Louisa Whitman, on March 6, 1887: "Well I had my

see also a letter Whitman writes to his niece, Jessie Louisa Whitman, on March 6, 1887: "Well I had my

I shall remember that dinner to my dying day. We pulled up stakes, and put for home.

and ghost stories, and sang country ditties; but the night and the scene mellowed all, and it came to my

I made my bed in the furled sail, watching the stars as they twinkled, and falling asleep so.

right; but as for me, I fancied I felt the mercury dwindling down, down, down into the very calves of my

account of a wondrous and important discovery, a treatise upon which would fill up the principal part of my

Some years ago, when my judgement was in the bud, I thought riches were very desirable things.

But I have altered my mind. Light has flowed in upon me. I am not quite so green as I was.

Indeed, had there been a little hurrahing, we might (my companion and I,) have fancied ourselves some

Lighting his pipe very deliberately, he proceeded to catechise me as to my name, birth-place, and lineage—where

I was from last, where I was staying, what my occupation was, and so on.

He volunteered the information that he was a Universalist in his religious belief, and asked my opinion

now pretty far advanced, Aunt Rebby wended on her way towards the east; and the old man, with I and my

If in his barouche, I can see from my window he does not alight, but sits in the vehicle, and Mr.

"Shining Shores," also called "My Days are Swiftly Gliding By," was written by David Nelson in 1835,

My days are swiftly gliding by, and I a Pilgrim stranger, Would not detain them as I fly, those hours

We'll gird our loins my brethren dear, our distant home discerning.

The sounds and scene altogether had made an indelible impression on my memory.

.; "Shining Shores," also called "My Days are Swiftly Gliding By," was written by David Nelson in 1835

I expressed my desire at the suggestion, and he commenced his narrative: Both this original printing

"My child!" she cried, in uncontrollable agony, "my child! you die!"

This sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My child," also first appeared, with minor differences

He acknowledged in answer to my questioning, that he had indeed been relating a story, the hero of which

.; This sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My child," also first appeared, with minor differences

I cannot, of course, convey to others that particular kind of influence, which is derived from my being

I must hardly expect, therefore, that to those who hear it through the medium of my pen, the narration

times which marked our American Revolution that the incidents occurred which are the foundation of my

Again I ask pardon for my rudeness. Let me now be shown to this chamber—this haunted chamber.

He came to my very bed-side; his small hand was raised, and almost touched my face.

I sometimes found the man a corpse in the morning by whose side I laid my self down at night.

In spite of my efforts he would sometimes rise, and then I had to close in with him, trip up his heels

By one of these thrusts, more spiteful and violent than common, I had a narrow escape of my life.

No English physician, or any one from the city, ever to my knowledge came near us.

My constitution was less muscular and plethoric, and I escaped the fever longer than any of the thirteen

To such an one will I doff my beaver. Whitman here means to tip his hat.

For my part, I have had serious thoughts of getting up a regular ticket for President and Congress and

It is my impression, too, that we should poll a pretty strong vote. We number largely in the land.

equipages roll by—I see the respectful bow at the presence of pride—and I curse the contrast between my

The lofty air—the show of dress—the aristocratic demeanor—the glitter of jewels—dazzle my eyes; and sharp-toothed

Why: should my path be so much rougher than theirs? Pitiable, unfortunate man that I am!

to be placed beneath those whom in my heart I despise—and to be constantly tantalized with the presence

In a former part of my account, Dr. Wright Post's name was mentioned.

To be plain at once, and say my say about this, I do not think there is a public edifice in America—school

Broadway Hospital, the heating and ventilation are by steam; and I have to acknowledge that during my

I can count on my fingers, on one hand, all the good people who have bequeathed to the institution; and

For my part, as I stand in the presence of these fine and eloquent faces, I acknowledge without demur

My first personal knowledge of the Bowery Theatre was about twenty-seven or eight years ago, when I was

All these are among my hobbledehoy dramatic reminiscences.

At first, I remember, I used to go with other boys, my pals; but I afterward preferred to go alone, I

was so absorbed in the performance, and disliked any one to distract my attention.

From what I have gleaned of old stage-frequenters, here and abroad, I have made up my mind that in a

"You have worked hard to-day, my son." "I've been mowing."

Feel of my hands." There were blisters on them like great lumps. Tears started in the widow's eyes.

I'd as leive lieve be in my grave as there." And the child burst into a passionate fit of weeping.

"There, my lads," he said to his companions, "there's a new recruit for you.

"I've no occasion; beside, it makes my head ache, and I have promised my mother not to drink any," was

"You have worked hard to-day, my son." "I've been mowing."

So, curse me if you sha'n't have a suck at my expense."

"There, my lads," said he, turning to his companions, "There's a new recruit for you.

Besides, my mother has often prayed me not to drink , and I promised to obey her."

" My mother has often prayed me not to drink!

For two or three mornings past, on going as I usually do at daylight to take care of my cattle, and feed

them, I have missed something from the storehouse where I keep my grain and farming utensils.

"And lest I should oversleep myself," said the boy, "come to my window, which opens on the river, and

Wishing to make my parting bow to this worthy old establishment, by bringing things up to date, I took

The ward devoted to these cases was only sparsely filled at the time of my visit of last Wednesday.

One Sunday night, in a ward in the South Building, I spent one of the most agreeable evenings of my life

I see evidences of her having been there, almost always, on my visits.

At the time of my visit on Wednesday, there were several soldiers brought in from the 105th New York

Much like the bachelor narrator of " My Boys and Girls ," closely identified with Whitman himself, the

Also, like "My Boys and Girls," this story too turns to the fleeting nature of youth and childhood and

confidential friend,) of which the following is part: "——You may be tired of such outpourings of spleen, but my

* * * Mother, my throat chokes, and my blood almost stops, when I see around me so many people who appear

"I shall give up my teacher's place," said he to his mother, "and come to live with you; we will have

Barcoure was a young man—like my hero.

Indeed it may be found, before the end of my story, that the right of main personage may lie between

advance any farther, it were well for me to remind the reader that I seek to paint life and men, in my

"Why are you crying, my little son?" said he.

"My brother is sick," answered the child. "I have no father. He is dead."

"What is your name, my poor boy?" he asked. "Adam Covert," said the child.

From my very soul, I look with sorrow on the pitiable and black souled malice which actuates such men

the balmy coolness and the voluptuousness of the scene had led me into, being thus broken in upon, my

—This individual, my enemy, and I, had differed upon a matter of opinion; a sharp word had passed, and

I found he wanted to go part of the road in my direction, so we walked on together.

My boy was with the former, stepping along with the rest. There were several other boys no older.

were all of pleasant, even handsome physiognomy; no refinement, nor blanched with intellect, but as my

ball for Lincoln's Second Inauguration was held in the Patent Office on March 6, 1865. ) and write my

the music will sound and the dancers' feet presently tread—what a different scene they presented to my

But I forego that reception, and finish off with something I have on my mind about no more uncommon topic

I am under obligations to them both, for their courtesy during my visits, and for professional explanations

P. with gentle but firm hand, holding a pair of nippers, seemed to me larger than the end joint of my

yellow blue handkerchief around her head, and such an expression on her face, that I at once made up my

MY VISITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.

Looking from any eminence and studying the topography in my rambles, I use them as landmarks.

I have already distributed quite a large amount of money, put in my hands for that purpose by benevolent

I regularly carry a haversack with me, and my coat has two of the biggest kind of pockets. [ To be Continued

I would offer, as an illustration of my meaning, that, in times of peace, a slightly greater ratio of

Thorne, "it will be the best for Quincy to come with my party.

"Know you aught of this terrible business, my son?"

Boddo went on, "though to tell the fact, he did not know it himself for quite a long while—I, with my

"I went that way because it is on my road home.

Please to let me go to my seat—I a'n't well." "Oh yes; that's very likely;" and Mr.

are you, my young gentleman!"

By 1855 when Whitman wrote "I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass," he

countless thousands of people—I must here resume the thing, after a fashion, and tuck you, reader, under my

and also here asseverate, once for all, that when I do so specify, I do it to give definiteness to my

You traitor to my dead father—robber of his children!—scoundrel!—wretch! Whitman cut "—scoundrel!

"Why are you crying, my little son?" said he.

"My brother is sick," answered the child. "I have no father. He is dead."

"What is your name, my poor boy?" he asked. "Adam Covert," said the child.

Some of my readers may, perhaps, think that he ought to have been hung at the time of his crime.

Boanes' nephew, admitting that "the name of the person is burnt in welcome characters of fire upon my

his second letter to Hale, Whitman emphasized the success of his earlier fiction pieces, writing, "My

Even to my unscientific eyes there were innumerable wonders and beauties all along the shore, and edges