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I have a great deal of pain in my head yet—no let up.

Farewell my loving son, till next time. Walt. I send a small bundle of papers.

makes it just right—I have been out just a little, but was glad to get back—I am feeling tolerable, but my

out, in a few minutes' walk—I have had two or three quite good spells this week,—sufficient to arouse my

My appetite still holds out—& my sister cooks very nice, gets me what I want— Pete your letter of 8.

My brother Jeff has been on here this week from St. Louis—got in a car in St.

desk, from what I hear from my substitute —He writes me now & then—does my work very well, & more work

My dear Hiram Ramsdell: Mr.

—In respect to Judge Kelly, & his matter, I had already formed my opinion & made out my Report several

I hope it may happen one day that I may have him near at hand, that we get to be friends—such is in my

—There is nothing new in my affrairs—all goes on as usual in the office. I am well.

My condition is still what may be called favorable—that is I still keep up without having any of those

Yesterday, & yesterday evening I felt better than usual—but am not so well to-day—the worst of my case

My walking does not improve any at all.

My boy that had his eye hurt is doing rather badly too.

Good bye for this time, my loving boy. Walt Walt Whitman to Peter Doyle, 16[–17] October [1873]

My head has some bad spells, & a touch or more nearly every day, & my locomotion is still as clumsy as

am happy in not having any of those spasms of three weeks since, & indeed I have glimpses again of my

Louis, from my brother Jeff—I am very fond of it for breakfast, can eat it every day—(My appetite is

my love to Wash Milburn—I am writing this up in my room, 3 o'clock, pleasant weather, sun shining, window

Good bye for this time, my loving boy. Walt. Walt Whitman to Peter Doyle, 24 October [1873]

October 31 . 1873 1874 or 5 Dear boy Pete, My condition remains about the same—I don't get ahead any

to notice—but I hold my own, as favorable as I have stated in my late letters, & am free yet from the

Besides I think upon the whole, my general strength is the best it has been yet—for an interval every

Eldridge that he had paid Godey, my substitute, the money I sent on for his October pay.— Washington

Good bye for this time, my loving boy. Walt.

I am still about the same as when I last wrote—am no worse, & not much better—though I perceive my general

strength is at least as good as any time since I have been sick—My head still troubles me with pain

thinking that every thing with me might be a great deal worse—I can put up with all but the death of my

mother—that is my great sorrow that sticks—affects me just as much now, or more, than at the time.

cut out the piece below from a Philadelphia paper, thinking it might interest you—As is I sit here in my

sinking nor getting worse—I have had some very bad times, & have some pretty bad ones yet, mostly with my

head—& my leg is about as useless as ever—still I am decidedly no worse, & I think now I am even getting

myself—something like what I was before mother's death—I cannot be reconciled to that yet—it is the great cloud of my

unfurnished rooms, or top floor, somewhere on or near the car route—Pete if you see Charley Toner, give him my

Good bye, my dear loving boy. Walt. Walt Whitman to Peter Doyle, [14–15 August 1873]

morning—have something of the kind pretty often—Still it seems certain I am improving, generally,—& that my

rec'd a letter from Chas Eldridge—& another from Walter Godey, the young man who is working for me as my

to-day—nothing particular—send the Herald Did I tell you that a doctor I have talked with here says my

Philadelphia—it is hard work, especially as I have no one to go with me—but I put a bold face on, & my

easily do if I would I should like much to go on the trips so handy & cheap, right as you might say from my

is to have every thing wanting—(Pete, dear son, there was $89 coming to you, of the money you put in my

love—also my love to Mr & Mrs.

Nash the next time you go there—so good by for the present my darling son, & you must keep good heart

Camden New Jersey U S America July 28 '78 — I have to-day today forwarded by mail Two sets of my works—four

Whitman: "Because you have, as it were, given me a ground for the love of men I thank you continually in my

endorsement of your friendly enterprise, translating and publishing in Germany, some of the poems of my

It has not been for my own country alone —ambitious as the saying so may seem— that I have composed that

One purpose of my chants is to cordially salute all foreign lands in America's name.

16 '81 Dear Sirs I have been down in the Jersey woods the last ten days—just returned —have finished my

be new or substantially new long primer —I sent on the proof page for a little change, last night on my

It will be the whole expression of the design which I had in my mind When I Began to Write.

Now, that is the way it has been with my book. It has been twenty-five years building.

"My poetry," continued Mr.

But I have accepted it all as a part of my work.

Many of my friends have no patience with my opinion on this matter.

Street Camden New Jersey Jan: 19 '85 Dear Sir In hasty answer to your request asking me to specify over my

This, with my course on another matter, the securing to public use of Washington Park (Old Fort Greene

thirty-five years ago, against heavy odds, during an editorship of the Brooklyn Eagle , are "feathers in my

enough—I get down to the river side at sunset in wheel chair & if the evn'g is pleasant stay an hour—had my

tea—(eat only two meals a day)—miss Alys a good deal —sell a book occasionally—am sitting here now in my

den in Mickle St. in my big chair all comfortable quiet out—my last poem piece was rejected & sent back

As I write the mocking-bird is singing over the way, & my canary—Love to A and L — Walt Whitman Walt

Camden March 10 Evn'g I am getting better—slowly but decidedly—my young friend died yesterday at noon

passed, & that I shall be better in a day or two—I feel so today already—& soon about as usual— No my

I wish dear Alys would take This side the earliest convenient opportunity to give my excuses & love to

very lonesome here—If I had not been born with a happy-tending natural disposition (I inherit it from my

heaviness to me—As it is, the ennuyeed hours have been the rare exceptions— Then about the shows of life & my

strong, with weightiest animality & appetites, or I should go off in a balloon—Well luckily for you my

Emersons are your own—except that I should like one of the medallions to go to Mary & her husband with my

hot spell here —It is clouded over a little to day—, —some relief—I have no news to write you ab't my

Camden NJ US America April 22 '89 Y'r welcome letter has come & Mary's word—my best love to all, not

henceforth not the least among the objects of our interest— —Showery here to-day—I tho't of getting out with my

is welcomed—Nothing specially new with me—I have stood the hot weather pretty well & have just eaten my

—I am here coop:d up just as closely & helpless as ever—don't get my health or strength an atom more—Sit

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

good oak fire—Am still imprison'd in the sick room—Keep up spirits pretty fair, but weak as ever in my

friends from seeing me)—& for a month or so I was in a horrible plight—a nuisance to myself & all—but my

here in the room—Mrs Davis has just been in & wishes to send her love to you, & says come up & see us—my

is well, & seems to be well off & satisfied—young Harry Bonsall died there three or four weeks ago—my

sisters at Greenport L I and Burlington Vermont are ab't as usual—my brother & sister Lou are well at

Whitman: "Because you have, as it were, given me a ground for the love of men I thank you continually in my

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

D and Ed Wilkins (my nurse) are good & so far I get along fairly with appetite, grub & sleep wh' of course

hear from him often—I had a letter from Ruth enclosed, (tho' I suppose she has written to you)—I send my

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

Herbert was here last evn'g very good visit—Hot weather here—Am pretty ill—one of my worst spells—now

a week—half the time stretch'd out on the bed—half the time in my big chair as now—Love to you all—glad

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

All goes much the same in my affairs—Write me soon & tell me how George gets along—Love to you all God

day—feels Spring—but I am suffering from the grip —it has caught me at last—am sitting here alone in my

how—it is pretty heavy here crippled here this way, week after week)—write a little—expect to speak my

Camden June 19 1890 My dear friend & all It is a wonderful fine day, cool enough & I am feeling fairly—every

was glad to see him—he looks well—I hear from Dr Bucke f'm Canada, & f'm Edw'd Carpenter —he is well—my

Whitman: "Because you have, as it were, given me a ground for the love of men I thank you continually in my

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

usual—havn't been anywhere (though several invitations)—I keep good spirits, but grow clumsier & clumsier, & my

Cloudy & rain & dark weather to-day & looks like snow out—has been a rather gloomy week past with me—my

Ingersoll's lect: is being printed in a small book in N Y, & I will send you one—sell my books to purchasers

stronger—write soon & tell me ab't him, & w'd like to send him something for Christmas present—And my

enough for me to have him with me every day—I am getting more helpless than ever in legs and ankles—only my

Whitman's book Good-Bye My Fancy (1891) was his last miscellany, and it included both poetry and short

Thirty-one poems from the book were later printed as "Good-Bye my Fancy" in Leaves of Grass (1891–1892

For more information see, Donald Barlow Stauffer, "'Good-Bye my Fancy' (Second Annex) (1891)," Walt Whitman

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

Camden Sunday Evn'g Aug: 12 '88 Nothing very new or different—I am still in my sick room—Sit up most

Camden Saturday Afternoon July 21 '88 Rather easier to-day—am writing a little & at my proofs (the little

new book "Nov: Boughs" )—have just rec'd three letters, one from my English friend Ernest Rhys, friend

Camden Wednesday Evn'g: Aug: 22 '88 Still keeping in my sick room.

My brother Eddy that was at Moorestown is now at Blackwoodtown. Is well.

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

letter came in the noon mail & I will write a few lines—Glad to hear little Susie is well & send her my

bring the chicken for me—it will be acceptable—Herbert was here this forenoon but did not come up to my

(painting most likely) on the carpet—at any rate I tho't he looks hearty & well—I am still kept in my

I almost doubt if I ever will—weakness extreme—I have sold the mare & phæton—I sold her for a song—my

and one big 900 Vol. to contain all my works—you shall have them, when ready—Harry too—I send my love

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

suppose you know all about it & have had the same—I still keep well & in good trim, thank the Lord—eat my

—Mrs G appears to be about well again— It is now 12½ Sunday—it is moderated, & the sun has come out—my

London Ontario Canada July 13 p m My dear friends all I am still laid up here quite sick —last week has

been about the same as the previous one with me—I am up & drest, but dont go out—the weather is in my

beautiful with hay & wheat—they are just now in the height of harvest for both, & I watch them from my

writing a little to order—got up late to-day—had chocolate & buckwheat cakes with quince jelly for my

Camden pm April 26 '88 If it sh'd be quite pleasant weather Sunday my present intention is to drive down

No special news in my affairs—things much the same old way—Joe has stopt by the window a few minutes.

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

young folks (young ladies) & a small army of fine children—a large, quiet library—but the best thing is my

winter—yet every thing goes on comfortably with me—I am sitting here by the window down stairs, in my

big chair, writing this—(the sun shining outside, & my little canary singing furiously in his cage in

Susan I enclose a letter Herbert sent me some months ago—nothing particular—Ed I still wish to sell my

On this date Whitman recorded the following in his Commonplace Book: "To day I begin my 69th year—almost

but I expected to come down myself, or send word—but one thing or another delays the publication of my

coming week—I will bring you one when I come down—there is lots in about the pond & the old lane &c. and my

dark equinoctial storm—but I just wish I was down there this minute—a day there in the woods— —Where my

dictionaries &c. you can think of, & everything else— —Nothing very new with me—I still keep well—eat my

magazines—the more necessary now as quite a set-back & very bad piece of luck has happened to me in my

one's mind that no words or writing can describe—I wish Jo and Debby to see this letter—& I send them my

back here again by nine o'clock, in time to finish the piece I have under way—Tell Mrs Rogers I send my

pleasure the nice visit & dinner in Linden Street—I have not forgotten Jane either — Susan you speak of my

It was conducted by a gentleman and his niece, free—I tell you it opened my eyes to many new things—makes

stay here perhaps the ensuing week—The family, (& a fine one they are) are at Newport for the summer—my

combination of character from any you ever saw—& one I am sure you would like—And then the father himself, my

am only middling well—seem to be getting clumsier than ever, more loguey —rheumatic & other ailments—My

Whitman: "Because you have, as it were, given me a ground for the love of men I thank you continually in my

January 6 '86 My dear friend I am sitting here in my little front room down stairs writing this—a good