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I expressed my high value put on the poem, and spoke of its "power." This appeared to strike him.

In the Herald days, though they presented on to fifty of my pieces, never but once or twice—probably

It is evidently drawn to my order—intended for me—I ought to have it."

I said, "In reading of the terrific loss there—ten millions or more—my first wonder was, that a town

I feel I must return to my first love. The summary is brief, yet always definite and satisfactory.

He appeared in quite a lively humor, though saying: "This has been one of my bad days and I have done

"But I was out—got my trip with Ed—just came back a little while ago."

"But my contention is for the whole man—the whole corpus—not one member—not a leg, an arm, a belly alone

and have been condemned by your own argument," he laughed heartily and said: "That is so, too: all my

Upon my expression of opinion that I supposed from the tone of the letter he had enclosed a draft, W.

Called my attention to fact that the Courier of Friday printed his poem in full.

"It was before my eyes all the time I was writing."

Stopped in to see W. on my way home. He remarked my early coming. "You drop in en passant?"

"I wrote him yesterday—yes indeed—and told him that if the draft was sent for me, drawn to my order,

A young fellow called my attention to it on the boat. I related this to W.

Another of his expressions to me was this: "I do seem to have taken up my pen again.

My plan is to have my father oversee a good photographing of it—then to let it be photoengraved.

On my entrance was reading a newspaper. Started a considerable hunt for a copy of the Transcript.

I, for my part, rejoice in the opposition—in the whole turmoil—it evokes declarations from the other

But this is not my view—not at all.

s credit in the office, and W. said: "I hope my 50-centses and whatnot always go direct to the men?

Suggested that instead of "Then, Postscript" I say, "Last Words"—but I prefer my own choice and shall

admitting that impurity is not a quality of dirt.Handed me a picture of Tolstoi out of Book News—remarking my

As he examined them he said: "I see you did not take up with my suggestion, 'Last Words.'"

Sarrazin is made in one place to say my father was a great lover of infants.

John Burroughs always beautifully said my father was a lover of children—and that is right—children is

Speaks in warm terms of my Liberty piece on O'Connor. W. very susceptible to cold.

Gilchrist was examining a copy of my entrance. W. asked me: "Well, Horace—what's the news?"

My sympathies are all against him."

Brinton refrains from stating himself positively, I notice—writes somewhat in the Captain Cuttle vein—of

Captain Cuttle, who said"—here W. assumed a voice and position of vehemence—"if the ship comes safely

This replying to my question if such a language would not be developed.

How many's the argument I had on this very point with my friend Mrs.

I could never do that—my whole make-up is opposed.

seventy-first year—to review my habits.

W. then added with a laugh: "That is a part of my quarrel with Horace here about Emerson.

Davis—"My friend"—he called her—and to Ed also, in a similar phrase.

Tom read Clark the Symonds letter upon my recommendation.

My wonder is, is Brinton the man to write a book on that subject?

And my doubt of Brinton would be, not that he could produce a valuable study, but that he would produce

If he has not the book, I should be glad to have him use my copy. Tell him so."

In my time, usually thinner than this—this already is fat."

He promised to write it and send the book to my house by and by by Ed.

I had the Swinburne book under my arm. He asked—"What have you there?"

Again said: "If you are going to Germantown give my affection and best love to Clifford"—adding as he

And on my assent—"Did you know his brother Johnny?"

he continued—adding thereupon—"This letter here on my lap is from the brother Johnny—as I knew him, a

Kennedy—Sloane's wife—happened in today: came about eleven—that was one of my changes of garments."

only wrote me the flattering note yesterday—sent the book—but came up like a man long ago and asked my

Dear as the principle of free trade is to me—near as it is to my heart—fully as I am convinced that in

And when I said: "Walt Whitman at 70" was one of my suggestions of a title, he said: "Yes, that is very

I asked if he wished a set of sheets of my own little book. "Oh yes! and then I can write Dr.

"I have told you I knew Stedman at Washington—he had my position before me.

When the Secretary of the Interior cut my head off—I went over to the Attorney General's office—took

W. in his room—not appearing extra well, nor feeling so—for he said: "This is one of my bad days: I have

I promised to leave it with him in the morning on my way to Philadelphia.

Today, finishing my 70th year, the fancy comes for celebrating it by a special, complete final utterance

And for testimony to all (and good measure), I here with pen and ink append my name.

He read it at once, putting on his glasses and saying when done, in answer to my question, "Yes—it is

But W. himself said: "My sight, like my hearing, is gradually going: I feel it from time to time markedly

Then he continued—"I freely give my consent to the use of the Gutekunst portrait if you care to use that

And turning to the pictorial cover—"This is my design—I conceived it—it has a good familiar look, after

As it is now he is in my power: I could clap down on him in an hour—stop him outright.

My personal feeling is strong against a precipitate step, as this would be.Ed says W. woke up in just

To my question, said: "You will find Bucke's book in the statistical, geneological way—as far as that

That has been my experience."

"That is from my Marlton friend, who was also here today."

the noon mail—delivered about 2—and I was sitting here—felt particularly in the mood—had a pencil in my

"I am sure I haven't the least idea—that was not in my mind at all—not till you mention it now."

I don't know whether this would be my elaborate opinion, made up of malice prepense for print, but it

I do not see my idea spoken of at all: yet it seems to me the first necessity of judgment."

these will ease my days here!"

group rose to leave, and W. said: "Hearing the little girl had come to see me, I put this big apple in my

I noticed that he said of my expression—but that does not worry me."

Evidently recognized my step, for no sooner than had I opened the door but he exclaimed—"Ah!

Mead was satisfied wih my suggestion of the Gutekunst portrait. Wished also a picture of the house.

That has always been my impression." I had a little volume with me containing Socrates' "Phaedo."

And on my response, "I don't like it—I don't think it supplies any want," he laughed.

I supposed so—felt it in my bones. It is too warm here now?"

It was my idea that he should make this his headquarters—then stretch out some—see more of the States

To my notion that we must not have a reader of books, W. laughed out an "amen!"

My impression not strongly favorable. I advised Ed to take them to Walt and let him question.

"The past 3 or 4 days," he said, "have not been my worst, I have not been in my worst condition: so that

Three or four days will tell the tale—I shall soon know my man.

He will have to learn the ways—my ways, the ways of the place, people. We'll see, we'll see!"

"Happily, I am spending one of my good periods now—until the man, any man—he or any other—gets into the

Called my attention to a postal from The Epoch office reading—"Your attention is called to an item in

And on my "no,"—"Well—it is not much—not a positive quality—a sort of after-dinner letter, for reading

That is my arcanum!

I spoke in my usual strain of Salvini, and W. listened and questioned as if it were all new to him, evidently

I showed him a crayon of Morse my father had made for me.

I am given a chance again to quote my phrase from Dr. Johnson about the credibility of history.

W. said: "That answers to my own observation, I have known a number of cases.

My own explanation was, that somebody or other plagued him for a piece—offered him 50 pounds, guineas

To my idea, "Arnold is not discriminate' W. returned, "I don't know—I should hardly say it that way:

of his demonstrations—his praises; perhaps the fact that I was so addressed tended to excuse him in my

My brother George was there, and they sat together and had quite a chat.

had many such espousers in Washington [some] time ago—perhaps have still—these fellows belonged among my

I have met Fields—his wife particularly was, is, my friend—Anne Fields.

He responded: "And that is a great deal my own feeling—is to be considered—considered carefully.

My disposition towards it now is, to say—if he uses it, well; if not, well again.

suppose I can have proof, so that when the matter comes up that way I can suggest changes—in fact, put my

To my remark, "I do not think Hawthorne could take Lincoln's measure," W. assented: "No indeed—it is

I had a couple of pears in my pocket for him, from my sister Agnes.

It is seriously a question, whether I want that given to the world as my estimate, summing up, of Whittier

I was on my way to the opening meeting of the Unitarian Conference in Philadelphia.

It taught me my own definiteness of address—what my friends call my superfluity.

If my memory serves me, I went that day.

Harper's Bazaar, and W., at the name Harper's exclaimed—"That reminds me—did I tell you that I got my

today, that last night you brought me palpable evidence of the book's completion—that I held it in my

For my own part, I would not rise out of my chair here to go into the fight—to cast a vote."

and having my "yes"—he quizzed, "What is it all about? What is it all for?"

Took an absorbed interest in my account of Clifford's noble speech—its unwelcome—its courage.

After awhile noticing my interest, he asked: "You find it attractive, do you?

"To My Seventy-First Year" he said, "is the name of the Century piece to appear next month.

other irons in the fire—leaves all that part of the work to Jo—and it has always been Jennie who was my

W. remarked: "I am in no hurry to read it—in no hurry for my copy—I can very easily wait.

So I read, he intent upon my word and my face, as I saw in several times looking up.

Ed carried the bust there from Harned's, and my father superintended the job. W. "Glad it is done."

My stay but brief. Ed reported W. as "quite bad" today.

"I have friends: some, who think my notions of Chase do me little credit—but do what I will, evidence

For one thing, it gives me a wedge-shaped head—yet my head is not wedge-shaped—nor is the bust: if anything

, my head is rather chunky."

The Herald brings back one of the good stories of my dear Daddy: there was a man named Smith, or something

, who ran off, owing a lot of money, among others to my father—perhaps a hundred dollars or so to him

"I am more and more confirmed in my dislike of it.

Tennyson is old, sensitive, my friend,—many reasons why this should not appear in such connection.

Some fellow—I think in the New York office, too—seems to possess a persistent ignorance about me—sends my

In order finally to settle about Bonsall's speech, W. thought my idea "good" that he should hear the

My mother used to tell us often about my father—that his love for the youngsters and for cattle was marvellous—simply

then explained, "I have a spice of wickedness in me—a vein that makes me rejoice to tell Bucke of my

—"It was to distinguish me from my father originally and then the name held.

Whitman does not surprise or startle me: I take quite naturally to that, too—though my friends, young

I had no bars up against my freedom—always went whither I list.

But in reply to my question, without at all enlarging, he said his condition was "only so-so."

use Carpenter's previous letter (to W.) except passage giving amount of draft, in the little book.To my

Ed," he called out (Ed sat out towards the door), "Ed—go upstairs—on my bed you'll find a little package

The other day, when my sister Gussie stepped in (it was Sunday) to see him, he gave her an envelope thus

inscribed— The Fair Pilot of Loch Uribal.One of my favorite storiesW.W. and inside, some sheets torn

gloomy'—and every time it sets me up"Walt Whitman"it was "By an Idle Voyager"— Said W.: "They copied my

was along-shore at about that place I had learned to swim as a boy, and W. was greatly interested in my

My dear Mr.

to grasp your hand on your birthday.Yours very truly,William Carey "I guess I'll have to let you do my

was all right: Johnson said the advertisements of pictures for autographs were honestly put forth, in my

W. was not at home on my first arrival. Had gone out, they told me, full two hours before.

I said, "They have more grit than stuff"—and both at once took in my idea.