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Eats now, sleep— "have my very bad hours, of course"—but on the whole is "out of danger."

Again: "Beecher once said to me: 'I thank my good fortune that nature almost from the first possessed

but if I had the path to go over again—knowing what I know now—I should put that among the first of my

I said: "That 'sThat's my idea for Leaves of Grass—that 'sthat's the book I mean."

I shall keep my eyes wide open; and the volume with O'C.'

Very bright: talkative: voice vigorous: stayed on the bed during my visit.

Said; "I hold my own: I am a shattered man: but I keep my head up, which is a great thing."

He described himself as "relapsed to what I call my shaky half paralytic condition. Dr.

I remarked: "If he keeps my letters, they alone must fill a trunk."

On my getting ready to go out he said: "The last thing to be done is to put down the light."

When I was in New York—the trip seven or eight years ago—he called on me, put a cab at my disposal: was

to take in the character of our work: they want their sonatas, songs, odes—yet I would not turn on my

I helped him across the room: very poorly on his legs: leaned heavily on my arm.

One of my chief delights in it is for this—that here is a woman who shows a capacity for diving down

I turned the bundle over in my hands. "It 'sIt's an important looking package of papers," I said.

My greatest loss will be in you, my dear Walt, but then I shall look forward to having you up here a

I hope you are well and will write to me, and will go up and see my wife.

Next best is your admiration of my lightnings.

I think John will be delighted with my swordplay.

My task is to do this, and thoroughly, the first time. No afterclaps.

I quoted John's phrase: "Try life my own master."

I had the letter in my pocket. I said: "I want to read a line or two from O'Connor's letter."

My eye got open at last but is still bleary and bad.

My present trial is a festered penfinger, sore as death, and preventing me writing.

It is one of my afflictions, though without pain.

s on my way to the city. All well there. W. and Ed sleeping. Ed had not gone to bed till one.

On my entrance he had taken my hand, I resisting a little, and objecting: "It is cold: I have just come

"My personal cleanliness—the washedness—so bad has been my state, has for the present to be post-poned

W. held my hand a long time to-nighttonight as I said my "good-bye" and was about to start off.

I have such a good bed,—and my stove does very well—it is a little bit out of the way in location—My

Rossetti.No. 4Washington, Dec. 3, 1867 My dear Mr.

of the full volume of my poems.

I cannot and will not consent, of my own volition, to countenance and expurgated edition of my pieces

My Prefatory Notice explains my principle of selection to exactly the same effect as given in this present

I had previously given it a title of my own, Nocturne for the Death of Lincoln; and in my Prefatory Notice

My first glimpse of him by sunlight this week. Face pale, eyes bad—a generally haggard aspect.

W. again: "I for my part accept the cheap cover just as it is: it has a meaning."

My dear Mr.

have read was a mere newspaper exaggeration, and in sending you this wish I send the assurances of my

Shall let my Rossetti questions hold over.

s at 9.30 on my way to Germantown.

He knew me, dark as it was—called my name.

Harned in during a part of my stay this evening. I met Michael J.

all: I feel I have lost what I call my grip."

way back to my central thought again—my spinal conviction: I resent my resentment—am ashamed of my questions

Thoreau, in Brooklyn, that first time he came to see me, referred to my critics as 'reprobates.'

somehow as if none of the changes should have been made: that I should have said, take me as I am: my

bad and my good, my everything—just as I am: to hell with all cuts, all excisions, all moralistic abridgements

W. said again: "Conway could never understand my stony attitude towards expurgations: he at once flew

My dear Walt: I introduce to you Mr.

my neck about: but my brain gives out: I feel sick and dizzy—unsteady."

slinging off my overcoat.

Have I fulfilled my ambition? God knows.

I am well, weigh nearly 200, and eat my rations every time.

I look at my three children and think what a work I have yet to perform.

.: "I have a note—buy my note refers me to yours." He put on his glasses without a word.

vellum is one of my lady's chairs, pretty to look at, carved, delicate, polished—but for heaven's sake

Then as he read on: "Ed, you rascal—why don't you appear with my letter?"

My expectations for it are not pecuniary—not at all.

W. remembered that this is my birthday.

He "at last understands better" my very "frequent association of" his own name "with Tolstoy's."

Yesterday was my birthday.

"I would as lief regret that I had not murdered my mother."

To-dayToday he turned up a Gardner letter which he brought to my notice before I left.

My dear Whitman,I received this morning from an old friend (Mr.

"I had my swear out about it: I hope there was no risk run: so far I feel all the better for it—have

[This was money in my possession belonging to Walt. J. B. 1912.]What a blank there in New England!

I sent you my last report.Faithfull,W. D. O'Connor.—Emerson gone! The world grows darker.W. D.

tissue which I do not seem to get in my own established environment.'

Considerable talk followed my return to him of Bucke's letter spoken of yesterday. "Oh!"

I had never had him break loose so about my work.

He wrote my name on it. "That dismisses it for good."

Often I would read my proofs at the hotel.

W. gave me my personal copy—the complete W. W.—to-nighttonight.

I left it at the house this morning on my way to Philadelphia.

Then of my trip. Always brightens up when so humored.

He said to-nighttonight playfully: "You must always answer my questions even though I don't always answer

I said: "You don't answer my questions—that 'sthat's true.

Every day or night I spend four five or six hours among my sick, wounded, prostrate, boys.

Some of my boys get well, some die.

Harned was present part of the time of my stay.

W. said: "I am fortunate: now I can make sure of all my possessions.

Congratulated me on my possession of the picture.

the letters extra meanings: I am passing many of them over to you: I want to sort of fasten them in my

I don't well know when my American Selection will be out: my work on it is done, and the rest depends

Luckily the stroke did not affect, such as it is, my power of speech, or my brain: up to the time of

"My bete noir," he said, "is indigestion."

"Thanks to my dear father and mother, I have been wonderfully fortunate in my constitution—my body."

My honest thanks to you, Hugo for your letter posting me up not only about yourself but about my dear

That 'sThat's often my little way of celebrating the death of my friends.Dear Hugo, you speak of your

W. lying on the bed but did not stay there long after my coming. Greatly interested in the weather.

Called my attention to Lippincott's. "I want you to take it along.

Asked about Tolstoy's My Religion and My Confession: did not know but he "might read them"—at any rate

Harned—my love—my greetings of the season—enough for her, for the baby—then for all the rest?"

Horace, think of having a doctor settled down on my doorstep!

W. added: "I sent away a number of the papers this evening—to Doctor, Kennedy, my sisters, brothers,

page is perfect—I cannot conceive anything finer—and the little notes (opening and closing) are (to my

Bucke.W. had pinned the original proof with his blue-pencilled corrections to my sheet.

I advised: Wait till we are sure: I will open the box and make my count in a day or two.

best friends—one who leans my way, who I in turn may lean upon."

I reminded him of my original favor.

"Is my time at last here? Alas!" Was he curious to see the book?

I had and yet have a sort of idea that my books (I am getting ready, or about have ready, my completed

But my means, meagre at best, have gone, for my expenses since, and now, while not hitherto actually

bodily ills would seem to leave me—then I'dI would feel almost like my complete self again: what my

I have made up my opinion from our frequent talks: it seems to explain and justify you fully."

I had read the paper on Poe on my way over in the morning. I was very vehemently against S.'

I said: "I alluded to Stoddard in my letter to Doctor this morning." W.: "Did you?

I feel that my work is to carry on what you have begun.

You have opened the way: my only desire is to go onward with it.

I had Tolstoy's My Confession with me. I gave it to him.

He rose from the bed—went to the chair with my assistance.

"I have had the books—or my mother—I think since '41-nearly fifty years.

In the final sense they are not records of my life—of my personal life—of Walt Whitman—but scripture

To have had my book and my cause fall into his hands, in London, in the way they have, I consider one

"It states my position—lets me state it in my own words: then lets the reader answer for the rest."

C.December, 16, 1888.My dear Sir:I should like, if I can do so without impertinence, to send you my grateful

Of the portrait sent by Smith: "That was my prime—that was the period of my power—of endurance: the period

"I always expect you to know a lot about me without my having to say it to you—about my feelings: especially

my feelings towards you."

I gave W. the cards sent from my sister: "Herbert Spencer Harned—Dec. 2d." "Ah!

It seems to me just the day—these days of days: I have never known in all my experience such a series

W. said: "I only ask you to take care of that thing for me—to supply for my shortcomings."

Then to my look of inquiry: "I don't mean anything negative by that: it 'sit's mainly the slow maturers

Walt Whitman.Your card of the 24th came two days ago, not a little to my relief.

W. has at last started reading Tolstoy's My Confession.

If I could only know that it has pleased you I should bless my stars fervently.I have been in vain trying

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

"One thing is gone utterly and forever—my agility," he said as we walked across the room. Sat down.

Gave me Herald containing the review: again approved "its excellent good judgment in letting me state my

"That is something that is often said even by my friends: I do not appreciate it: I have made my decision—must

as it was laid on my arm."

My mother spoke to me: she said (laid her hand on my arm): 'I know what you are thinking—I know you feel

My dear mother was wonderful wise and cute.

Whitman, that my idea is not that there is evil in the book: my idea is that by taking certain things

But I had The Ethical Record in my pocket (January issue).

I said: "I usually get my copy Saturday anyhow."

own possibilities, probabilities: reckoned up my own account, so to speak.

All this time I held the Redpath letter opened in my hand.

It is a waste of breath for my friend to tell me I am healthy when my pulse records the circumstance

I took my seat again (had been around looking over his shoulder) when he started again.

My personal meetings with Kennedy were mostly here: he came over often to see me: little trips, talks

"I shall write out my ideas: make a memorandum of them: but say at the same time, throw these overboard

I repeated my idea of a cover.

W. said: "Yes, I am in favor of calf: anything rather than vellum: the order of my instructions would

Stopped in on my way to the city. All well there.

But he resented my explanation. Insisted that the cords were short.

It is your very worst habit: it gives my vanity, complacency, many a jar!"

The affair" (my dismissal) "was settled upon before I knew it."

What instinct ever drove him to my desk?

I am glad you brought a few: I can enclose them with my letters."

I say to my friends: Don't be so sure of my innocence: all the bad is there with all the good, only needing

Dana quoted me copiously in his book—was my genial friend."

of my paragraphing being changed.

"Jeannie's death was the tragedy of their history—and a tragedy in my history, too.

As usual, having to answer my question, he spoke first of his health.

They would come over to interview me—insist on knowing my sensations!

(my book). Glad to hear of your new books. Am still reading proof.

But read the letters: I'd rather refresh my memory a bit with 'em." 36, Marlborough Hill,St.

Not that of 1855; for I hear that can be had for three or four.When at my friend Mr. W. B.

Spoke of Gilchrist's life of his mother: "You should read it—read my copy: Karl Knortz has it now, but

It's my secret until the next fellow catches on by himself—then it's his secret, too.

why I like or don't like but I am quite firm in my preferences."

Well—give him my love—tell him I have all sorts of faith in his success.

Some of them say my face there has a rogue in it. O'Connor called it my sea-captain face.

Said to me concerning it: "It marks a new epoch in my life: another stage on the down-hill road."

W. said: "A Symonds letter is a red day for my calendar. This is one of them—an old letter."

My dear Sir.

My dear Mr.

My letter from him seems wholly sincere.

"My health has only been so-so, neither much good nor much bad."

I talked to W. of my Japanese friend Tatui Baba.

Of course my report would be forty years old or so.

I don't intend it for cant when I say in my book that my best lesson is the lesson by which I am myself

Robert Buchanan's new volume of essays placed in my hands.

Again: "I never commit poems to memory—they would be in my way."

It excites my curiosity.

I look round the circle of my acquaintance for her equal.

He said: "Charles Aldrich is my good friend: he has ideas, faiths, which lead him affectionately my way

A great change has taken place in my life since I saw you.

When I exhibited my prize he exclaimed: "Handsome!

My blood, your blood, went to the making of this book!

"My main thought?

My last, my final, my conclusive, message (conclusive for me) is in A Backward Glance: the steel of its

It's a chapter in my personal history that must not be lost sight of.

"I quite understand that it is my business to watch my own dunghill."

November Boughs is my final word—my closing up thought.

W. commented in this way: "I'm honest when I say, damn My Captain and all the My Captains in my book!

A whole volume of My Captains instead of a scrap-basket!

I say that if I'd written a whole volume of My Captains I'd deserve to be spanked and sent to bed with

Harned said something which disparaged my politics.

, or, Give him my love.

Lots of my fish fight shy of my rod for a long time but I eventually game them all."

I keep freshening and shaping my books at my leisure, and hope to put them in type the coming year.You

I keep it in my prose volume.

Why, my boy, I didn't hear you at all!" He looked at my burden. "And what have you there?

I remember one of my last talks with Emerson.

, my Captain!

He saw my blank face.

Gave me a couple of sheets of manuscript containing original draft of My Captain.

Nothing that I can read seems to change my opinion of Carlyle.

The morning after my return some wretch poisoned my dog and the loss has quite upset me.

Alcott praised my Emerson piece, but Sanborn appeared not to know anything about my writings.

I did not feel like calling on him of my own motive. Alcott said he was well.

He evidently wanted to pitch into my Eagle, but was afraid of the claws.

For my part I thoroughly trusted Proctor: he was modest, made no claims for himself, went quietly about

I shall have to try my hand at a design or two."

For example, my parents lived to be more than ninety years old, and they drank wine; from my childhood

Then he said: "Them's my sentiments—every one of them: there can be no rule: every man must be a rule

My address is—Sept. 4 '76.R.

I find the My Captain manuscript W. gave me Thursday to contain some variations.

leave you not the little spot, Where on the deck my Captain lies—sleeping pale and dead. O Captain!

FIRST DRAFT MANUSCRIPT OF ONE VERSE OF WHITMAN'S "MY CAPTAIN" My captain does not answer, his lips are

My captain does not answer, his lips are closed and still, My father does not feel my arm, he has no

W. quizzed me: "I guess you like this better than My Captain."

I make no rule for myself about reading: I read what comes to my hand— what pleases my mood.

—rich with ore: finer even than the French to English renderings of my French friend in Washington years

My objection to them all would be that they take up verses centuries old, debate them by rule and measure

Perhaps to be around in case of my serious sickness—to watch, to care for, me: but that is provided for

W. called my attention to this in Bucke's note of the 14th."

The evenings are my best times." The Jane Carlyle lay open face down on the floor.

My dear and great Walt.As you did not come up yesterday afternoon I did not expect you today.I hope to

I could convey no idea to you how it affects my soul.

means the best, highest, most natural, most effective form of expression.I salute you as the poet of my

heart, my intellect, my ideality, my life.Yours,J.

I know how quick he always was to resent my exceptions.

Then suddenly, while we still "harped on" George, he reached towards the table saying as he did so:"My

W. entirely satisfied with my arrangement of bastard titles.

And he said: "Yes, I guess so: I am willing to bear my testimony to the old man—say a good word for the

He wants my book to be personal.

I'd as likely go back on my mother.

I hope he will accept my letter: he will some day see my position."

, period of my life, all told—in some ways possessing features not unlike my present experience.

My interest in the books and my consideration for you!

yesterday—"but only a very little—a shade better: though, as you understand, a little is a great deal in my

Linton once used his portrait in a book he prepared for Bohn—asked my permission, which I granted.

The minutes to a man in my straits are golden.

I seem to have only one thing in mind—only one: the book, the book, only the book—and you, who are my

"Yes I did: I never gave my assent to any abbreviated editions which I didn't live to regret.

It plainly reached my hands too late for this year.

Well—you told what was true: I wouldn't turn on my heel for it.

I closed my review with a wish that you might try a voyage across the Atlantic.

"The sentence, 'you annex your friends so closely,': that's my guess."

may be a little afraid of some of my friends.

"I feel a bit better today but you notice I wear no extra feathers in my cap."

I am not embittered by my want of success.

My last volume is in response to the interest of my friends abroad.'"

There were tears in my eyes.

I stuck them in my pocket.