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temperature—ab't as usual with me—bowel action this mn'g—stew'd oysters, Graham bread, apple sauce & coffee for my

this season hereabout—you must have a splendid show of them—the yellow (canary) & white in a bunch are my

with a friend in Phila—I am sitting here as usual—no letter mail yesterday & this forenoon, (except my

pretty dull with me these days—yet I think I keep fair spirits (a blessed hereditament probably fr'm my

furnished me by the printer after all, & I will send you 15 copies —The cards in the little envelope are my

Tom H. comes every day—my brother George also—my sister Lou has just visited me this mn'g—Y'r letter

treatment applied to himself—it is autobiographic of course—pathologic— It grows cloudy & cooler—have had my

Osgood and Co of Boston for the publishing of my poems complete in one volume, under the title of "Walt

Nothing very new otherwise—you must have kept posted about my Boston jaunt, for I sent you papers—it

My forthcoming summer movements are not exactly decided—probably go on to Boston for two or three weeks

, as I like to keep a sharp eye on my proofs and typography—then I must go a month in Canada—I will keep

431 Stevens St &c My dear friend, Enclosed I send you a piece printed here to give a true statement of

My friend, I must still put off for another letter some things I have had in my mind for months to say

Your letters past—what John Burroughs told me—(and your book)—have grafted you more on my good will &

knows, aught of them;) May-be seeming to me what they are, (as doubtless they indeed but seem,) as from my

from entirely changed points of view; —To me, these, and the like of these, are curiously answer'd by my

lovers, my dear friends; When he whom I love travels with me, or sits a long while holding me by the

appearances, or that of identity beyond the grave; But I walk or sit indifferent—I am satisfied, He ahold of my

Ere, departing, fade from my eyes your forests of bayonets; Spirit of gloomiest fears and doubts, (yet

steps keep time: —Spirit of hours I knew, all hectic red one day, but pale as death next day; Touch my

mouth, ere you depart—press my lips close!

Let them scorch and blister out of my chants, when you are gone; Let them identify you to the future

I am having good times here, rather quiet—My book is being printed—gets along rather slowly.

almost every afternoon—then sometimes a sail on the river or bay—so you see I am enjoying myself in my

way—with three or four hours work every day reading my proofs, &c— Andy, I suppose you are all getting

along as usual—I enclose a line to Mat, which please give him—I send my love to you, Frank, Mat & Lewis

"I seem to have improved this afternoon and evening: my mind is clearer than any day yet: less sore—with

If I keep on fooling with one will and another I won't know which is my last.

"In a general way Dana was favorable to my work—not in any thorough-going fashion.

I slipped out, avoided the beaten paths, tried a way of my own—that was my experiment.

My impressions regarding this literature I have published in various works.

Left him my written notes of the talk with Stedman on 27th.

office alone with my books and pen.

Told him however of my possible sale of "Two Rivulets."

Found my copy in the next room, but it contained no portrait.

Hurry him up—tell him I want my grog." I went downstairs.

I commence my fourth series by PORTRAIT No. 10.

I approach the next picture in my gallery of portraits with no little anxiety.

For my own part, I am not blind to the fact that my subject is a better friend to himself than to anybody

man is richer than you, and from this, no doubt, a good deal of envy and enmity has been excited by my

PORTRAIT No. 11 A certain antagonism between the men leads my ideas from the above to my present subject

I went first of all from Brooklyn to Washington to nurse some of my friends.

Well, I went just like that: I went 'on my own hook.'

"From Long Island I went with my parents and settled at Brooklyn.

For my part, I said, I thought Mr.

Gladstone's policy; and my wish, my desire, my animus, would certainly be on the side of the just, wise

daughters, sons, preluding, The love, the life of their bodies, meaning and being, Curious, here behold my

cycles, in their wide sweep, having brought me again, Amorous, mature—all beautiful to me—all wondrous; My

wondrous; Existing, I peer and penetrate still, Content with the present—content with the past, By my

daughters, sons, preluding, The love, the life of their bodies, meaning and being, Curious here behold my

cycles in their wide sweep having brought me again, Amorous, mature, all beautiful to me, all wondrous, My

wondrous, Existing I peer and penetrate still, Content with the present, content with the past, By my

daughters, sons, preluding, The love, the life of their bodies, meaning and being, Curious, here behold my

wide sweep, having brought me again, Amorous, mature—all beautiful to me—all won- drous wondrous , My

wondrous; Existing, I peer and penetrate still, Content with the present—content with the past, By my

daughters, sons, preluding, The love, the life of their bodies, meaning and being, Curious here behold my

cycles in their wide sweep having brought me again, Amorous, mature, all beautiful to me, all wondrous, My

wondrous, Existing I peer and penetrate still, Content with the present, content with the past, By my

words of Two Veterans for musical publication—& also give permission for further musical adaptation of my

pieces—Am curious to see how they go—Am sure I sh'd should be impress'd impressed and pleased—My western

trip has worked well—My health is about the same as of late years— When the music is printed—(if printed

Caranne, 153, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris. 11 Juillet 1891 Reached Paris, exceedingly tired, but my

Send me papers and works: my permanent address is my uncle's, in the country, as follows: M.

the Attorney General that in any changes in the Solicitor Treasury's office, I be not disturbed in my

position as clerk in that office—all my duties to the government being & having been thoroughly & regularly

performed there, by a substitute, during my illness.

Washington Feb. 8;—noon— (sitting up on the side of my bed.)

dear, dear sister Matty — O how I have been thinking of you, & shall all day—I have not now the use of my

Louis—I can but send you my love, dear, dear sister— Your unhappy, sorrowful, loving brother Walt Walt

daughters, sons, preluding, The love, the life of their bodies, meaning and being, Curious, here behold my

cycles, in their wide sweep, having brought me again, Amorous, mature—all beautiful to me—all wondrous; My

wondrous; Existing, I peer and penetrate still, Content with the present—content with the past, By my

O MY children! O mates!

O my body!

, Or that touches my face, or leans against me.)

songs in sex, Offspring of my loins. 13.

voice—approach, Touch me—touch the palm of your hand to my body as I pass, Be not afraid of my body.

"After completing my poems," then, writes Mr.

"That I have not gain'd the acceptance of my own time; that from a worldly and business point of view

I had my choice when I commenced.

"The best comfort of the whole business is that I have had my say entirely my own way—the value thereof

No one will get at my verses who insists upon viewing them as a literary performance."

To Tucker: "He has thumped me some for my emperor piece but is still my friend as I am still his friend

To O'Connor: "He, too, fell afoul of me for my emperor piece.

W. said to a visitor in my hearing: "The American people wash too much."

Whitman,I thank you heartily for my share in your Custer poem, which I have just read.

but I don't believe I deserved my friends."

Had written nothing—"not even letters to Bucke, Burroughs and Kennedy—to whom I owe my biggest debts.

Some one in that discussion over the river presented my 'standpoint'—but suppose I have no conscious

That may be my fault.

McKean has no place—no room—no call for me or my kind." "Did he ever express himself to you?"

have no interest in him—when I look about in my world he is not in sight."

MY DEAR WALT: You don't write me a letter nor take any notice of my magnificent offers concerning "Pond

My mother is away staying with Beatrice in Edinburgh city, recruiting her health, which has most sadly

advice or opinion of a drawing connected with my father's book.

My cousin Sidney Thomas is, or was, in America, a good deal lionized, I understand.

Interested in those Boston scraps you send my mother.

Walt Whitman— Dear friend— ui gust (of a degree) with my sur take write what may yet be of entertain

make previously plowed d for g and hoeing, (the first in months,) I went to our p a view writing to my

So as I had to pass by there way to in law's home (where my d I stop k to show to my own folks No father

I left him with a statement your work, and the wond chan ge in my estimate of it change.

What I said about my and my wrecking us, was immediately occa apparent ect and danger of a severe inistered

Opened my bundle and showed him what I had.

I shook my head. Then he asked: "Does it betray eccentricity?"

My ways are very methodical: I have been much criticised for that: but my ways are mine and are necessary

It is from my sister—I have been worried about her.

Look at my own great strength.

"My first feeling about Howells' piece," he said, "is wholly indifference."

"That depends: I am not at all settled in my own notions on the subject as yet."

If I say it's not in my line then it's not in my line: that's the end of it: that settles it: do you

"Perhaps I would: perhaps I wouldn't: not my line: that's my say: let's stop right there."

I think you will like it as well as my first letter.

"I went silently, so as not to disturb Mary, but I realized my exhaustion."

—and on my shaking my head: "Well—I intended to: it escaped me."

own way—not to be unnecessarily interfered with even here, even in my incompetencies."

faith—in the end my faith prevails.

"Yes—just that: though I don't get into a boil over it I keep up a devil of a thinking in my corner—my

THE SLEEPERS. 1 I WANDER all night in my vision, Stepping with light feet, swiftly and noiselessly stepping

I stand in the dark with drooping eyes by the worst-suffering and the most restless, I pass my hands

He whom I call answers me and takes the place of my lover, He rises with me silently from the bed.

. 2 I descend my western course, my sinews are flaccid, Perfume and youth course through me and I am

darn my grandson's stockings.

THE SLEEPERS. 1 I WANDER all night in my vision, Stepping with light feet, swiftly and noiselessly stepping

I stand in the dark with drooping eyes by the worst-suffering and the most restless, I pass my hands

He whom I call answers me and takes the place of my lover, He rises with me silently from the bed.

. 2 I descend my western course, my sinews are flaccid, Perfume and youth course through me and I am

darn my grandson's stockings.

Besides, is not the verse-field, as originally plann'd by my theory, now sufficiently illustrated—and

—(indeed amid no loud call or market for my sort of poetic utterance.)

defiance, to that kind of well-put interrogation, here comes this little cluster, and conclusion of my

collated, it is worth printing (certainly I have nothing fresh to write)—I while away the hours of my

72d year—hours of forced confinement in my den—by putting in shape this small old age collation: Last

I received a answer to my first letter stating that you wer at home sick.

I have got my discharge from the Hospitals about 3 weeks ago & am now employed in the Provost Marshall

I had a very pleasant time only I broke my leg just as I got ready to come home & had some little difficulty

in getting home without my cruches I got so I could walk quite well on my leg only last week my stump

there has bin two small pieces of bone come out but I think in a little while I will be ready to wear my

Now List to My Morning's Romanza NOW LIST TO MY MORNING'S ROMANZA.

NOW list to my morning's romanza; To the cities and farms I sing, as they spread in the sunshine before

And I stood before the young man face to face, and took his right hand in my left hand, and his left

hand in my right hand, And I answer'd for his brother, and for men, and I answer'd for THE POET, and

to the President at his levee, And he says, Good-day, my brother!

I always have enough to supply my daily wants, thanks to my kind friends at home and abroad, and am in

My friends in Great Britain are very kind, and have on several occasions recollected me in little acts

"Regarding the insinuation of my being in want of the necessaries of life, I will state that I make it

You can see for yourself my present condition. Yes, I will say I am not in want.

My health is reasonably good.

see notes Dec 2d 1888 Lapierre House Philad Philadelphia Friday My dear Poet.

the chief figure in a box with Childs Dayton and self on the eve of the 24th inst at the opening of my

My dear friend are you not well enough to come? Longfellow was ith with me at Boston .

LIPPINCOTT'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE Philadelphia, Sept 16th. 188 6 My dear Sir: Your article, "My Book and

I have been purposing to call over to see you, but my days are pretty well engaged and I am afraid of

431 Stevens Street Camden N J Dec 18 a m My dear Sir I want a nice standing ratan work-basket for my

baskets,—such as will probably cost 3½ or $4— Please call soon — Walt Whitman I am well as usual—I send my

11.27—1891 My dear friend Walt Whitman, I want, before you go beyond reach of such messages, to send

you my love and admiration and thanks.

Bless you, dear Walt,—& I wish that I might bear all your bodily pain & weakness upon my own strong young

cool—have signed & sent the contract with Rheinhalter Bros: 18 Broad st: Phila: architects &c: for my

burial house in Harleigh Cemetery —Ralph Moore to have control & charge under my name & be my representative

America Nothing very new or different, Alys comes often & is as welcomed as sunshine—I am sitting here in my

den as ever—dark & rainy to-day & yesterday—My Canadian nurse & friend has left me—(he had a good chance

along better than you might imagine—a bad physical brain probably catarrhal—& hopeless locomotion—are my

the still woods I loved; I will not go now on the pastures to walk; I will not strip the clothes from my

body to meet my lover the sea; I will not touch my flesh to the earth, as to other flesh, to renew me

and meat; I do not see any of it upon you to-day—or perhaps I am deceiv'd; I will run a furrow with my

plough—I will press my spade through the sod, and turn it up under- neath underneath ; I am sure I shall

transparent green-wash of the sea, which is so amorous after me, That it is safe to allow it to lick my

Dear Pete, Well here I am home again with my mother, writing to you from Brooklyn once more.

New York to visit the lady I went down to the ferry with—so you see I am quite a lady's man again in my

old days—There is nothing special to write about—I am feeling in first-rate spirits, & eat my rations

to-day—a stiff breeze blowing & the smell of the salt sea blowing up, (sweeter than any perfume to my

Pete—& I wont be so long again writing to my darling boy.

MY DEAREST FRIEND: Herby went to David Bognes David Bogue about a week ago: he himself was out, but H

His father was the publisher of my husband's first literary venture & behaved honourably.

Also my own longing is always for a chronological arrangement, if change at all there is to be; for that

Without these faculties at ready command my dear Gabriel would not have been himself."

Whitman with my love, or if you prefer to keep both, I will send her others.

Y., & remained home quite a long time—one of my brothers, (who had been a soldier & all through the war

My Mother, & the rest of the folks, are all well. I have had good health since I last wrote to you.

I send them my love, & a full share to you, dearest comrade.

My address is the same as you directed your former letters. Well, I must draw to a close.

Farewell, my darling boy, & God bless you, & bless the dear parents also. Walt Whitman.

.— Dearest mother— I am still troubled with a severe cold in my head—I suppose it is that which causes

is much chance for it—It looks as though we are going to have snow—feels cold & raw—I am sitting at my

in with a photograph of me—his mother had bought it at a place here, & sent it to me for me to write my

bright, & comfortable enough—I did not have any bad spells in the head yesterday—nor, so far, to-day—My

a present of the most beautiful red rose you ever see—I have put it in a little glass of water, on my

Since my letter of about three weeks since to Charles Eldridge—in which I wrote to you also —I have not

improved any—the distress in my head has not abated—some spells are very bad indeed—(but it fluctuates

Nor can I walk any better—some of the time, not so well—My saving points are pretty good nights' rest

gradually being pulled, and, though I have not at all given up hope of eventual recovery, I do not shut my

been waiting till I felt stronger, to go to Atlantic City (Jersey sea shore) or Long Island, but in my

Forney asked me to accompany him, and I embraced the opportunity of briefly visiting my brother [Water

Kansas celebration, if I feel as well as now, I shall go out to Denver before I return here to pay my

"Oh, yes; I still write, and this winter shall read my own poems in public and also lecture.

"Oh (smiling), that was my 'Leaves of Grass.'

Yes, I like my present life better—rambling about a little.

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 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.