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s again on my way home.

"I know a place there—the Aldine Cottage: several of my nieces stayed there a season: it is good—I know

Again—inquiring what papers I had in my hand, he looked at Harper's Weekly and Young People—remarking

Though how a fellow can be a Leaves-of-Grass-man and fall into such a ditch defeats all my explanations

"I have thought, how much can be done with stained glass—how much has been done: have thought of my own

I want to come—it is part of my duty yet while living, if I can.

My hope has been diminishing little by little, but not yet to a total negative."

The last few days has habited himself to my reading his postals and mailing them for him.

"They'll give you about the kernel of my health affairs."

He wished to read Morse's "My Grandmother's Religion."

"I will give my ultimate in the morning—wait till then!"

On the 14th I always read the Lincoln poem and the description of the murder aloud to my grandchildren.Greet

place beside the three or four great death-chants of the English tongue; while his shorter poem, "Captain

, my Captain," which he will also read, is a pathetic tribute to the same noble name.

"This will be my last public appearance, without a doubt: it is not in me to make a trial again: at least

In my own work—in Leaves of Grass—I have known no anxiety greater than to keep abreast of these results—not

Spoke particularly of "wishing Agnes [my sister] to be present—and Mrs. Harned, too."

Bucke tomorrow, I must save all my strength."

s on my way home, at 5.15.

W. exclaimed on my repeating it—"Oh! damn Higginson!"

it is here—in my pocket"—clapping his hand there.

"They are too strong for my old sight."

After he had finished the address, he read "O Captain!"

My own feeling was, that in such a place, on such a platform, where the usual man comes, grammatical,

looking, singing, reciting, reading, ruminating—and one fellow there—a splendid sapling—I would take in my

It is a very good picture—one of the best in its way—that is my verdict.

It is a long story of woe—a catalogue of impecuniosities—this record of my printed labor!"

Looked rather pale, and on my remarking it, said: "It is true, I guess: I am not feeling well: these

A curious letter (dated 3/12/90) starting off—"Dear Walt, my beloved master, my friend, my bard, my prophet

I have not entered into the details of this subject—but my main conviction is clear. Oh!

Thursday evening, upon my questions, he had said: "I should have gone out, to be sure—but was stagnated

W. smiled—and to my hope that T. might somewhere have put himself so on record in his own hand, W. remarked

"At my instance they published the Transcript piece: I shall send out a number—some at home, some abroad—Sarrazin

Now—hardly half a decade after, comes a multitude: comes cry and cry—after my power to respond is gone

own accord—looking rarely benefits in here,"—and he laughed heartily: "I see you have touched one of my

In talking with Thomas Sergeant Perry last night we fell to discussing your work, and to my delight I

Howells and he were two of my most honored friends."

understand: why, I am as much as anybody a weigher, investigator—questioning significances—anxious to get at my

Adding, as I edged towards the door—"Give my love to any of the boys you meet: tell them I still sit

"He is quite willing to pay my price for the poems, pieces, I sent him the other day, but suggests that

But," he added, "as this is a good paid-for piece, let me follow out my custom—credit the poem where

—And after a pause: "But first I want to find my 'last will and testament'"—laughingly—"it is here somewhere

Called my attention to an English catalogue, rehearsing rare and autographed Whitman books for sale—prices

He afterwards added in a similar strain: "I have read my own Century piece over today, and like it well—am

But my aim has been, to so subordinate that, no one could know it existed—as in fine plate glass one

My determination being to make the story of man, his physiological, emotional, spiritual, self, tell

Adding—"If that should go up, my world would go up with it." Aldrich had a poem in the Century.

Curious when he learned I was on my way to Philadelphia to hear Von Bulow play.

Replying to my query, said he felt "damnable." Had read Bucke's proof, which he returned to me.

Monday, May 5, 1890I at 5.40 on my way home.

I shall have my Waterloo, no doubt soon, but till then?"

—As to having Bush and others who have never met him come to the dinner—"If I were asked my own preference

, I should say, no—I'd rather they did not come: I do not like to make my first appearance in such condition

But the Century folks treat me well—very well; I find they humor all my eccentricities."

Joking about my increased salary: "You must look out—you will be in danger of growing rich: riches are

"I am improved, I think—so to call it—but my improvements as a rule are not very radical."

when I was a young man—I knew a man in New York named Holt: a curious, interesting man who excited my

He had come from Cold Spring, Long Island—where, by the way, my mother might be said to have come from

And John—though I should not call him a don, yet is my friend, seems unaltered towards me.

man as William O'Connor—so born critic he was—warned me in those early years in Washington, to put my

I wished to show this to my father.

"My friend John Reed, himself an Englishman, used to pass here daily, but now that I want to see him,

Thought I should take Schmidt's portrait also to show my father.

My father had asked for the latter but I would not leave it with him, regardful of my promise to W.

"I cannot find my loose checks." Gave him memoranda about Queen Victoria's birthday.

knew somewhat of him, then of his interest in the Single Tax—adding—"and that to this day goes beyond my

went to the parlor first, remarking: "Warrie—let us go in here: I don't know whether I'm standing on my

head or my heels."

As to my "trinity of Americans—Emerson, Lincoln, and Whitman"—he laughed heartily.

say, that anyone, to get hold of me,—the bottom of the big book—all I have written—would see that all my

—as it had—though now, as he said, "there is a sweet breeze—I feel it on my head as I sit here"—gently

take it so near a neighbor has sure access to him), you would kindly inquire whether or no he received my

He laughed over it very much, but said, "My answer to it would be my answer to the telegraph boy—there

"This modern printing excites my unceasing admiration," he said.

I would not swear I had not acknowledged, for sometimes my poor memory plays me tricks in self-condemnation

Also, at my reminder, gave me a copy of the Gutekunst photograph for Hicks, autographing it also.

We talked freely together for 20 minutes or half an hour.He saw a book in my hand—questioned what it

My objection that The Vicar of Wakefield and Consuelo were books not to be compared, "not to be classed

The Quaker Traits of Walt Whitman," of which I spoke to W., who expressed so much curiosity I got on my

Speaks rather indignantly of the insistence of the papers that he has "gone out and selected his [my]

I have had my curiosity aroused on this point.

things mine these days I consider myself very fortunate—very fortunately situated"—with a smile—"even if my

is not for them I care, or their magazines, but the public ear—I wish to reach the public—to deliver my

is so, then I must take the first opportunity to clinch it—to make even more emphatic statement of my

He wished no one to have "any concern about my friendships"—they would, "take care of themselves."

"It is the same story with those fellows: pork and beans is my dish, therefore you must like it—but no

The way to do is, to put it all on my shoulders—that is the surest way out—I am the one who should have

It will be my last volume—my finale—without a doubt.

My head, my belly, my bladder—all are out of gear, and for what end?"

My dear Mr.

The failure to rhyme, I mean, for the poem itself—"O Captain! my Captain!"

Some words, all of us, with Captain Noell, who said, "This is possibly my last trip."

Called my attention to a couple of transposed lines in the Lippincott's galley proof—prose.

He spoke of my cold hand, "You don't know how grateful it is to me: an immediate flavor of out-of-doors

You have touched upon the subject nearest & dearest to my heart.This idea of having William's descriptions

, so I get my sister to make the copy of the letter.If the story comes out in April & May, it will soon

Give him my love. & thank you, too, for the papers.I am glad Walt is so well & able to do his literary

I had it in my pocket.

Had held my hand in his some time "to feel its out-of-door cheer, vigor: it has the warmth, smell, of

you into one of Whistler's nocturnes," etc. and he laughed, "Well, I was going to quote a saying of my

To my inquiries saying, "I did not know him personally—that is, to speak to him, but I have seen him.

I am ever to say has been said in the old channels—in 'Specimen Days'—in 'November Boughs'—and yet my

"From my very first days up I have brushed myself—had a flesh brush: it has been a source of refreshment—not

I like your idea much better—much: it more exactly reflects me, my mission."

"It helped me on my feet." Gave me letter, "I had it from Bucke today"—and another—an old one.

It's meaty and original anyway—like yr article.Thank Walt for the slips & give him my love.W. S.

that is so familiar a guest in my mind, and so loved and respected a guest too.

sound and that my prospects of life and vigor seem excellent for a man of my age.

Of course I would like to have my piece in and would overhaul it carefully 5.

I thank you sincerely for the honor & compliment in submitting it to my eye.

The "Good-Bye My Fancy" manuscript on the bed. Was it ready yet? I picked it up.

I have been busy with my pen, turning out pot-boilers, nothing else.

My opinion is that life is becoming pretty thin.

It will be my last volume—my finale—without a doubt.

So this will really be my good-bye!" Then into details.

My first point will be to get all the batch of copy—the poetry—into galleys at once: it probably would

I left Chadwick's (manuscript) reply to my "spirituality" paragraph in last Conservator.

And I can say amen to all that, too, it is my sentiment—just as you say it—and as you say it, it is conclusive

I say, go on—buffet it how you will: your buffet, your challenge, has my respect."

Says he "realized the weight of my argument against the extraneous matter" in "Good-Bye My Fancy"—but

for—but haven't the least remembrance of the other, at least, that is as I see it now, though I know my

W. said, "I am looking forward to my friends—to have them read all these pieces: there's a new flavor

These two months I am up and as strong as ever.I am now quite used to my new situation, and my opinion

In this way I secured my "bread and butter" and, now, can set to my intellectual task; I can read, write

The question comes up in my mind whether they have the Ingersoll pamphlets yet—any of them."

It will be my last—my last! I haven't the least doubt of it now."

My stay brief. Expressed his liking for the Dutch piece "as it shows up in the paper."

Take it to your mother—give it to her—it is from me, my love goes with it," etc.

W.: "That is just my question, but you have Chadwick—he can't answer you—that is enough."

8 Feb 1891My dear HoraceMany thanks for your kind note of 4th and W. your kind and deep interest in my

way—it is well for us to work anyway for our own sakes if not for the sake of others—therefore work my

W. advised him, "I want you to go see my friend J.

My dear Traubel:I received, and read with great pleasure, your tribute to Walt Whitman, to be published

And the reply came—'Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of these—my children, O my children!

And to Harned, "I think my difference with Bob would be this—that is, be in my assertion that back of

My surprise is, that a man like Huxley—superb in every way, making a mere noise of Gladstone—should ever

s essays, and it is my opinion that we should rattle it up. If W.'

I send you a suggestion for a title-leaf, and my idea would be to number the essays and not name them