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Also said: "I have great faith in my power of endurance.

I have no doubt now but I shall hold out my time—that is, I shall not hasten my death by anything I do

cause—make my cause theirs: quite a cluster.

It was a tempting offer—it pulled at my heart-strings: my friends over there all said, come, you will

Even some of my friends here said, go: and some were angry when I decided not to: but my own heart never

"That sounds shady enough to be my report: no mail, nothing at all. Yet let me see."

"I'm worse than an old woman with my complaints.

That man Law mentioned in the letter excites my affection but I do not seem to connect him with Pfaff's

The Herald, Boston,Aug. 2, 1887.My dear friend:I enclose for the cottage $285 in two checks of $50 and

Well, it is now past midnight, pretty well on to one o'clock, and my sheet is mostly written out—so my

Osler made light of my condition.

I am as the boys say 'an old rat' and must be left to die in my own way."

I shook my head over the reply.

I don't agree with him but I let every fellow have his day, then have my own opinion anyhow.

I always trust my own feelings: they don't delude me."

If he could find them wished my father "to go over them and report."

My father is reading Bucke's W.W.

They are a rest to my mind—are always fresh, new—give me the quiet, the peace, I crave."

My friends may say that to me when I say hello to the Colonel, but I say, damn my friends if their friendship

He said: "I carry it about in my heart—carry it—yes: and William, too.

He put Carlylean fire into my mouth—made me saturnine: said things for me I didn't say for myself.

I know I am different: there is no smell of preparation about my conversation: I would disdain that.

I called Billy and said: 'I'm nearly tired to death: take me somewhere—anywhere: take me to my room.'

He was born and raised in my town, and is well known as a literary man, and to me and to the citizens

"No—the alternative is enough to make me shudder: I'll have to go unsworn until something worthy of my

This will be my last utterance, my final message: in it, then, I must aim for the utmost excellence compatible

with my financial means and physical condition."

Ashton has spoken (at my instigation) to Mr.

Horace, I've had God's own luck with my friends no matter what my enemies say about me."

Sidney—my poor fellow!—there you are wrong—wrong!

"My—your sleep must have been a soothing one!" He laughed with me.

I said: "I have often explained my adhesion to you in almost the same words." "Is it so?

off for my own use.

my notion in its favor."

What was my impression of it? "You like to see all that's going on?

It is one of the strongest of my good-humored pictures.

Some of my pictures are strong but too severe—don't you think so?

I was looking fixedly at the portrait in my hand. He noticed it. "What's the matter?"

"On the whole, I'd rather not: if I do I won't have enough for my own purpose."

So I put my stuff together and came to Camden. That was in the first period of my paralysis.

My sister sent him in a jar of the clams recommended by Burroughs when here.

I was to take this to my father who was to make a design for it.

He answered: "I still ask my old question: did it ever go?"

Philp starts from Washington this evening so I must cut short my letter.

dear sir, please accept with my trust in the success of the enterprise my kindest respects to yourself

I laid my hat down. We shook hands.

I showed him the title page my father had drawn. He looked at it quietly—was greatly interested.

In this case the wives were on my side. Alma, the present Mrs.

That's the way of some of my friends." Kirk had written of Charles the Bold?

My dear Walt—I most cheerfully write the note that you request to Gen.

Carried on my shoulder twenty copies of November Boughs, which I put down on the sofa. "Books, eh?"

queried W., as he shook my hand. At once began to question me about the day.

"I prophesy its success," said W., "though, as you know, prophesy is not my long suit."

"Horace, I understand that—I understand:—it removes all my doubts."

Give my love to your mother.

Still, I know my own condition—don't need him to tell me about that—can't be fooled."

He still insisted: "I know my condition better than any doctor."

I fell to-nighttonight—had a cup of water in my hand."

He is as dear to me as my old clothes!"

W. waited for my reply. I said some things.

there's not more to be known: I don't absolutely adopt his theory—in fact, any man's theories, even my

W. said: "That is exactly right—that is my time." Prepared today to insure our sheets.

Whitman my kind regards and hopes for his returning strength.I remain, yours,G. M.

Well, give him my love: that is real: and if he is satisfied to be the happy owner of my love he owns

New Haven, Conn.,July 1, 1885.My dear Whitman:I see by the papers that you may be going to England.

Yet had to have the papers: "They are as necessary as my food."

I know these people are my friends—respect the work I have tried to do.

I will amend my prayer: God help us not to want to get rich!"

poems, Leaves of Grass, in England under my sanction.

Yes," I said to W., "that's rather on my side.

As he saw my big bundle he asked: "What have you got there—what is all that?"

W. acquiesced in my disposition of the various business matters.

"I, for my part, am satisfied—fully satisfied: would let it go at that.

A thousand thanks my dear Walt Whitman for all you have written.

"It would take a good deal." said W., "to persuade me from my conviction—my old conviction, born at the

Yes indeed: as Burns says somewhere of the birds, 'they flit from place to place,' &c: which is just my

Stedman wrote that piece for The Century: it was not satisfactory to my friends, but was in fair spirit

you think I'll get over my kink about Oldach. Well—maybe!"

Look what Herbert did with my face when he got it over in London: look how he dressed me up—put the barber

at work on my hair—put it up in curl-papers and flung me abroad in the exhibitions as a social luminary

Botolph Club years ago to arrange for my lecture in Boston—my lecture on the murder of Lincoln.

There will be no more occasions like that: my time is gone—my time for gadding about on speechifying

"He prints editions each time upon my special grant," explained W.

purpose—was within my means: so here I came, have been ever since."

I shall mail you my latest piece in a magazine to be out presently.

Had kept letter open in order to include my Philadelphia address.

My eye is now under battery treatment (assault and battery treatment, you would think to look at it!)

and just as soon as I can recover my sight a little better, I will plunge into the volume, which now

you have turned my memory back to an old story. Did I ever tell you?

Well, that day, with Dana: the instant I saw him, I made for him, talked my loudest, saying: 'What in

My ground is a peculiar one: I know nothing on the other side of the question—the side of statistics,

I build up my conviction mainly on the idea of solidarity, democracy—on the dream of an America standing

I have kept quiet through practically my whole career—almost utter silence—and have never had occasion

and then upon my saying "yes": "Well—give him my love: tell him I know as little about that Herald author

I set up some of it myself: some call it my hand-work: it was not strictly that—there were about one

implied: I honor them: I know they are probably working in their own way to produce what I working in my

My general position is plain: the people: all the people: not forgetting the bad with the good: they

Ain't that my program?"

"He complains of the irregularity of my letters.

I am always statistically careful about the dates of my letters.

All of us well, especially my two little boys, who enjoy the country life very much.

My dear Mr. Whitman:Please excuse me for not having answered your letter two months ago.

Of my German-English anthology I have no proofs; but my publishers will bring out a new edition (revised

friend—has sworn his big oath in my interest and battled for me without reservation.

"Oh my yes! it tickled him immensely.

Then: "I can easily see that what you say is true: for my part these things have little value: but I

Especially now do I need other fodder: my mind is in such a state I need food which will frivol it.

I want to frivol my evening away." He was very earnest.

companion in my delinquency!'"

Though we have never met personally, I have heard of you from my mother and sister.

W. reading Stedman's Poets of America, which he put down on my entrance.

Then he said: "If you write to Stedman to-morrowtomorrow, give him my love: tell him I still keep my

but cheerful, inclined to accept all things as they come: reading some: writing some: spending all my

My Dear Friend. W. H.

Piper, using my name.

What had been my feeling?

He probably got hold of my piece—knew I had been present at the concert: my habits, enjoyment: inserted

My book is my best letter, my response, my truest explanation of all.

In it I have put my body and spirit.

I wrote to Stedman for W. to-daytoday: sent the message out of my sheet of notes.

He listened attentively to my descriptions of going about and said: "Good! Good!"

McKay smoking his cigar—I with my book under my arm. Beguiled the time with talk.

It was always my impression that he did—that he was the first.

My dear Walt: I duly got your letter of May 5th and was glad to hear from you.

"My darling darling mother!"

The O'Connor home was my home: they were beyond all others—William, Nelly—my understanders, my lovers

Take my darling dear mother: my dear, dear mother: she and I—oh!

oh my, hardly the Leaves!

general: they were my unvarying partisans, my unshakable lovers—my espousers: William, Nelly: William

so like a great doing out of the eternal—a withering blast to my enemies, a cooling zephyr to my friends

Expressed great pleasure over my hearing from Morse to-daytoday.

pleased with such comparisons: I have a face: it seems to make up fairly well in a picture: that is all: my

made up for Oldach, he said, looking at me: "You know I am very arbitrary: always determined to have my

But as my opinion is not worth anything, being a boy, I should not have intruded it upon you.

My folks were always worried about me—my mother especially: some of them regarded it as a crazy whim:

Jeff you need not be afraid about my overdoing the matter.

torments my best love.

Jeff give my respects to Mrs. Lane and Dr.

He laughed and took my hand. "Horace, what wouldn't my enemies say with or without provocation?

the check matter had turned out and he at once answered: "They report against me in the bank: it was my

believed that the check came, was endorsed, banked, never acknowledged—since then totally wiped out of my

I hardly know myself: I know I get my pay for it, and that is the chief thing as matters go now!"

, W. retorting: "Never mind, the expression on my face atones for all that is lacking in his.

hands—some of the funds of the department at my disposal—urging me to investigate, report.

trips up—my flying trips."

"I see you will have it so: but there are difficulties, too—my red, florid, blooded, complexion—my gray

As for me I think the greatest aid is in my insouciance—my utter indifference: my going as if it meant

I had a couple of Boston pictures of Morse in my pocket.

Whitman,Dear Sir: My friend and yours Mr.

Not up during my stay.

W. on bed this evening during my whole stay.

my printer's in N.

Y., & which I can send you an order for,) you now have all my books in the market.

The title page is very handsome, and the Lucretian motto delights my soul.

me about the fire last night: it was a lumber yard along the wharves; he was very much interested in my

But then," he said doubtingly, after a slight pause: "since that draft business I don't trust my memory

I blurted out at once so he should remain in no uncertainty: 'I 'mI'm afraid my friend that I hope it

, but when a sample like this comes along with his numerous arogances I am up in arms again full of my

I read it to him.>333 Liverpool Road, Apr. 11, '76 Dear Dixon: I forgot to acknowledge in my last the

—Dear comrade, I still live here as a hospital missionary after my own style, & on my own hook—I go every

I have cut my beard short & hair ditto: (all my acquaintances are in anger & despair & go about wringing

Then around my majestic brow around my well-brimmed felt hat—a black & gold cord with acorns.

I had to give up health for it—my body—the vitality of my physical self: oh!

My body?

: at least, in forenoon and part of the afternoon: but "gathered together again" later on: "made up my

My answer to it has crossed the letter enclosing yours.

He then said: "Well, it is sweet—it is helpful to my soul—to hear that from you: it is the best thing

For my own part, I cannot explain my faith in the book: my satisfaction, if I may say so, is intuitive—not

When he spoke to me I may have nodded my head: when people advise me I have a way of saying 'yes, yes

W. then added, addressing me: "Why do they all set to and curl my hair?

often my own price sent them with the piece.

I did not send them, of course—it is not my practice.

I did years ago do that thing for John Hay: copied My Captain for him: he paid me handsomely for it.

He saw the hat in my hand—thought I was impatient to go. I said: "You bet!"

I do not mean by that that The Century is my ideal of a magazine: it is ideal of a kind: that's what

I had my own way of looking upon the transactions of that exciting period: I did not want to see them

appetite—to spoil my supper."

My brother George was much more excited at that time than I was: George, now up there at Burlington:

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

"No—it has no such significance at all: it only means that it was my humor to lie down: that is the whole

adding after my answer: "Well, I never met him myself. What is the value of the piece?" M.

Dave says: "I'll bet you my cover won't cost more than a cent more than yours."

My own choice right through has been the one I call 'the laughing philosopher.'

"My rule has been," W. continued, "so far as I could have any rule (I could have no cast-iron rule)—my

My reading is wholly without plan: the first thing at hand, that is the thing I take up."

I hope you will continue writing me such notes as these, "My food nourishes me better."

My love to W.W.J. B.W. asked: "Is the postmark West Park?

W. says: "Maybe I've put my foot in it: maybe I'd better kept my mouth shut."

I had not repeated this to W., who today said to me: "Carpe diem is my motto."

Took the Carlyle book from my hands—looked at picture of Mrs. C.

"I don't know what from, but my head was struck by a strange qualmishness.

My dear sir:Please accept my lasting acknowledgements for the copy of November Boughs so kindly sent

I sought only through Tom Harned a line from your hand to place in my copy of Leaves of Grass.

If you ever come my way I know a place hard by where a bottle of the reddest Burgundy may be found that

The Brown habitues were more to my taste.

he came to Brown's studio though not in my time.

If my friends would understand me— if the group of my friends wished to recognize the salient meanings—if

My own choice would have been hard to tell—I embrace, include, all.

my proof-desk.

W. remarked: "That good news about Sidney rejoices my soul."

I find it hard to steady my nerves for it—it means so much to me, will mean so much to you, means so

Then he reached his hand out and took my own, holding it: "We won't go on with it tonight—not tonight

W. said: "The reference to Hawthorne brings back to my mind a story once told me by a friend in Brooklyn

W. said again: "For myself I consider A Backward Glance my right bower."

alone: this will be my book."

would thoroughly express my idea."

My previous notes show his earlier experiments.

He replied: "No—I don't need to: I have been worried for several days: one of my near relations is in

Called my attention to four memorandums he had made up for McKay.

After this he broke through his mock reserve: "I answered them—I kept no copy of my answer.

mean—as Stedman did occupy: for Stedman is showing more and more consideration—has shifted his affection my

"I count this one of my very best days, taking it altogether."

"That's pretty good for my book," he said. I had a proof of the title portrait with me at last.

The master asked him: 'Are you sure, now, that you have everything belonging to me—every scrap of my

and the man looked at him and answered: 'Yes, my lord—at least!'

Give my love to the O'Connors.Good bye. Your friend,J. T. Trowbridge. Tuesday, October 23, 1888.

Bucke calls this my 'bible.'

It is about my dear sister at Burlington.

It is written by a woman who helps my sister: my sister has jaundice—is in bed—can do little for herself

Conway always excites both my interest and my suspicion."

W. said last: "How can I ever pay my debt to you?"

I have it in my memorandum book here—the date: can get it if we need to.

I guess I made it evident I wouldn't turn a damned inch on my heel for any of them."

that's my method: I rarely write on the reverse side of the sheet.

"I see you know without my telling you. Well, do it that way.

In reply to my expressed suspicion that there was someone on the Christian Union interested in ignoring

This suggested my remark: "Garland asked that you send an autograph copy to Howells."

I wrote down what came into my head at the time—what then seemed required."

"No—I had my doubts the other night but they were only momentary doubts.

My surprise is, how they can receive me?

Your book, always to be handed down and transferred by my clan, reached me on my fifty-fifth birthday

W. said: "My day was bad but I came up smiling this evening."

My only thought has been, how could a man in West's position write so insipid, so stupid, a letter?

I remember: I had Bonsall tell me about it and was very strong in my denunciation of it at the time."

I waited for more but that was all he said—except that, seeing inquiry on my face, he concluded: "Not

get on my feet again."

Yet all my feeling was in good temper.

I have a constant bath in my own perspiration.

Only my brother is now upon the old farm.

my sleep a good deal.

My book, Signs and Seasons, will be out this month.

so long acknowledged his extraordinary genius it's not likely I'd take a turnabout at this late day: my

It is illustrated in my friend Mr.

made some personal reference to Smith as "a good fellow: hospitable, kind: level-headed, too—truly my

He said: "Whittier cannot be considered my enemy: he is friendly: not an early comer—among those who

Cartloads of 'em—cartloads—when I was younger: indeed, that was a most important formative element in my