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despise the Copperheads, irrespective of who they are, their fame—what-not: but aside from that, all my

My impression of Julian as I met him here at the dinner was a good one—very good."

I wrote of it in my letter to Doctor—that you had such a letter—that it was not to be publicated, at

I also feel sure that he also felt that my home would be with my dear sister Mrs.

don't know who will be my guardian now!

"Exactly—exactly: so do I: this man says neither in a way to excite my admiration.

I admire a good many of my enemies more than I admire some of my friends.

"I have a dim notion of the truth in my brain but I am not confident I know.

Tell all the boys what I have said to you about that—give them my love."

I pricked up my ears. Was the revelation about to come? He saw my interested face.

He endorsed my set of plate-proofs as follows: First proof-sheets of November Boughs—to my friend Horace

But what mystifies me about it is, where the devil he got my sitting, my superscription, and when the

If you like, and I can put my hands on them, the letters may be transferred to your collection.

words, Whitman [or Walt Whitman or Walt]—mark my words, put them down: I want to say them now because

W. was lying down on my arrival but got up at once and hobbled to the chair, asking me what I had to

my friends, the sky: thinking life away from, outside, all appetites."

W. said: "That all goes to corroborate my argument—it confirms my own experiences—my own excursions everywhere

That was exactly my case.

in my optimism, my democracy."

I am greedy—never satisfied: their house is an oasis in my domestic desert."

He took my hand. "I feel somehow as if you had consecrated yourself to me.

That entails something on my part: I feel somehow as if I was consecrated to you.

He took my face between his hands and drew me to him and kissed me. Nothing more was then said.

I went back to my chair and we sat in silence for some time.

November Boughs will be my good bye." Friday, May 25, 1888.

My dear Sir,I hardly know through what a malign series of crooked events—absence chiefly on my part in

This is now framed and hangs in my bedroom.

My sister, Tom's wife, sent him a spring chicken.

It printed my Grant piece."

All my own tastes are towards books you can easily handle—put into your pocket.

Washington, giving you my new address, as yesterday came the Conservator, with the 112 M St. on it.

My love to Annie, & to you. I hope that you are both well.

He took a slip and his blue pencil and wrote at my dictation. Where was the address book?

Finally at my urging said, "Well, a dozen, then."

"I forgot my copy—lost it here—fully intended to send it."

of Grass" imperfect enough (which of course enters another phase of the subject).I had Poet-Lore in my

My "Lowell, Holmes & Whitman" was well received.

My lecture is with my sketches, about 2 hours long—1/2 hour to each part, & about 1/2 hour to the sketches

My sculptor's art begins at 8. and gets done at 10. or 10 1/2—just as the people feel.

Traubel last night giving her some of the particulars she asked for of my voyage.

My yesterday's telegram to Ingersoll was: "Slightly favorable change. Will write."

My opinion now is that January will put an end to all this business."

"Of course I will keep my promise and speak at the funeral.

Give my love to all—my love to all—all," and seemed exhausted, adding after a slight cough, "The great

But you know I am not my own master—that I have duties." "Yes, Maurice, I know."

I don't know what it indicates—but my spirit is getting into rebellion.

Repeated to W. the purport of my discussion with McKay.

W. instantly said, "No, my disposition is immediately to say no, to negative him.

I have waited long and long and long to pronounce my determination.

O'Connor has called my attention to this: Washington, November 24, 1868. My dear Mr.

He started up instantly on my quiet entrance. "Oh!"

You have touched a chord that always induces my sympathy."

I looked at my watch. He asked: "Haven't you time?"

over the manuscript to my colleague.

I wanted to send Minden my translation of Starting from Paumanok, with my preface to the work and Freiligrath's

Egins is strongly pressed upon my attention as justly requiring the interposition of the Executive clemency

I should not take the liberty of again referring the subject to you, after your reply to my former reference

examination of the affidavits presented to me, on behalf of the prisoner made a considerable impression upon my

I am unwilling however to proceed upon my own impression in this regard, notwithstanding my respect for

Told him of my message to Reeder. "I am glad. I want him to do it.

anticipate me—and so I feel a singular, long-prepared reliance upon you—as if in fact you had become my

—though these formal, conventional weapons, even an inkstand, do not lend themselves to my habits, taste

That was always my impression: buoyant, light, loving."

As to the farewell reception to Clifford at Germantown this evening: "Give him my love, respect, admiration

Leaves of Grass, "Who Learns My Lesson Complete?" WHO learns my lesson complete?

as every one is immortal, I know it is wonderful . . . . but my eyesight is equally wonderful . . . .

and how I was conceived in my mother's womb is equally wonderful, And how I was not palpable once but

thirty-six years old in 1855 . . . . and that I am here anyhow—are all equally wonderful; And that my

London Earls Colne Aug. 28. 1875 My dearest Friend Your letter came to me just when I most needed the

comfort of it—when I was watching and tending my dear Mother as she gently, slowly, with but little

I do not need to tell you anything my dearest friend—you know all—I feel your strong comforting hand—I

I had all my children with me at the funeral— O the comfort your dear letter was & is to me.

My children join their love with mine. Anne Gilchrist to Walt Whitman, 28 August 1875

I thought I would just drop you a line for yourself—but no doubt you keep fully posted about me by my

letters to Pete, as I am willing you or any of my particular friends who wish to, should read them.

afternoon—altogether they make up a show that I can richly spend a month in enjoying—for a change from my

Thompson, conductor, you would say I sent him my love, & have not forgot him.

I wish you to tell John Towers, conductor, I sent him my love, & we will see each other again one of

Y. on a visit to my mother, but I am now back here again, and am well as usual, and working in the same

There is nothing very new in my affairs.

—it is quite pleasant—mostly young people, full of life & gayety—then I go to my work at 9, & leave at

I wish you to give my love to your father & mother. They do not seem at all like strangers to me.

And now Alfred I must bid you farewell for the present, my loving boy & comrade.

Whitman I was away from England when your volumes reached me, & since my return (during the last six

This must account for my delay in writing to thank you for them & to express the great pleasure which

I intend to put into my envelope a letter to you with some verses from one of your great admirers in

It is my nephew— the second son of my sister who married Sir Edward Strachey, a Somersetshire baronet

My Dear Walt, As you see by my address I am staying with a great friend of yours.

I posted a copy of my book to you about a week ago: I hope that you will read it and tell me how you

As yet, I have not taken my passage, but I hope to come early in May, and to spend a nice slice of my

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

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]

Whitman; Dear Sir My desire to address you springs from a question addressed me by a member of my class

to secure a volume of Leaves of Grass, which I understand are your earlier poems— I should feel that my

Should you pardoning my presumption, and my candor, be kind enough to explain the points to which I have

431 Stevens Street Camden Sunday afternoon Jan: 16 My dear friends You havn't haven't sent for the two

I was out once or twice sleighing—my brother took me—his mare Nelly is in fine condition—pretty lively—makes

things fly sometimes I have been in all day reading & writing—I have put up two sets of my books, to

farmer—well if he is satisfied, it is about as good as anything, I don't know but better— There comes my

call to dinner, & I shall go for it without delay & finish my helter-skelter letter afterwards.

My dear Rudolf Schmidt , As you have rec'd received my letter of April 25, you know that the copies of

Commencement Poem to a College near Boston city—the College is the headquarters of the Universalists—my

I intend to send Kristian Elster a copy of my poems, & my photograph—how shall I address him?

I have changed my back room to the front room, & have my meals sent up by the landlady—She gives me very

very pleasant & sufficiently cool—after the melting hot summer—I am writing this in the office, by my

Well, my dear comrade, how are you, & how does it go?

I send you my love, & God bless you, dearest comrade—Write soon, dear son, & give me all particulars.

write as often as I sh d like—but you will be far away wrong if you think there is any other reason for my

My only feeling in the matter is one of intense curiousity.

Give my love to Horace and say to him that I will write him soon.

—My trip is agreeing with me and I am as well and hearty as possible Best love to you R M Bucke P.S.

this moment to hand am well pleased that you seem to keep about the same—no worse I judge anyhow—Give my

I did not received my reporter's notes till this morn: They are quite well, & afford me ample basis on

which to build my account.

—Morris is sweet, sane, quiet—one of the best fellows so far swept into my arcana.

patients this time, & have picked up a vast lot of odds & ends of alienist information which I missed in my

I will tell you about this on my return. Longaker writes Doctor a letter—very favorable.

My Brothers James & Joseph are both well and in the Regt and wish me to return thanks for your kind remembrance

We finished our march to this place last Thursday afternoon and as soon as we halted my Regiment were

My heart is to full to write anything about him, for I cannot tell how well he was liked by the Soldiers

I am pained to say that many of my company secretly rejoiced when we received the news of the assasination

There are a large number of my comrades buried there and I should like to have the satisfaction of seeing

As I know you would like to hear from me, my dear friend, I will not yet go to bed—but sit down to write

to you, that I have been here in Boston, to-day is a fortnight, and that my book is well under way.

I was going to put into the book—just took me to the stereotype foundry, and given orders to follow my

It will be out in a month—a great relief to me to have the thing off my mind.

I send my love to Helen and Emmy. Walt. Walt Whitman to Abby H. Price, 29 March 1860

My Dear Old Friend, Another dear, good letter from you was received yesterday for which I send you my

Will you please give her my kindest regards & my sincere sympathy in her trouble which I trust may be

I am wondering often & often about my dear friend Wallace & his doings.

My dear friend, Your letter, & the two accompanying, came safe. I saw F. P.

Nothing new among my folks, or domestic matters.

purchasing property, or rather becoming responsible for the same — William, you needn't send any more of my

I shall return within three or four days—I shall write out & finish there, as my leave extends two weeks

appreciation of your literary genius, & a special request that you write for the John Burroughs, I send you my

be careful of yourselves—it is very healthy here this summer—I havn't been troubled by the heat yet—my

have half a dozen—so you see I am coming out—had quite a clearing out the other day, collected all my

duds & socks, & boots & slippers &c &c. into a great heap—and when Sally, our black girl, brought up my

em all off home—there was nothing but what was all give out, though— There is nothing new with me in my

much—I think he would find it pleasant to come here for a few days, even this season—Well, dear mother, my

intended for the lady (if I may be permitted to send it her)—and will you please accept the other with my

but I hope you will not dislike it, for I confess myself to a (perhaps capricious) fondness for it as my

My p. o. address remains the same, here. I am, & have been, quite well & hearty.

My new editions, considerably expanded, with what suggestions &c.

I send my love to Moncure Conway, if you see him. I wish he would write to me, soon & fully.

My impression is that hitherto she has cared very little about poetry.

June 17 John, I have just been reading your Galaxy article, seated by the open window front room in my

entire lines in the second column of the page about me (which finally please me best)—& had made up my

very decidedly as aforesaid—then when I did read them, you can imagine they didn't hurt me much—nor my

estimation of the piece— I have much to write—or tell you—about my own concerns—things in England—here

Lou are well—baby only pretty well—hot weather, & teething—(but behaves like a little hero)—expect my

I have excellent health, eat my rations every time, and am I suppose full as fat and brown and bearded

While here I spend much of my time with my dear Mother, in Brooklyn—she is hearty & cheerful, though

My address, for some four weeks to come, will be as at the heading of this letter.

Byron, I send you my love & friendship, dear soldier boy—and now that we have found each other again,

with him" &c &c— Aleck , the ferry man thought, was her husband)— I am selling quite a good many of my

Then upon going to look where I had my bound books boxed & stored away, up in the garret at Mr.

—the missing letter not there—I am convinced it came to Haddonfield— 2.40 afternoon I have just had my

dinner & am up here in my third story room finishing this—it is a bright sunny day here, after the three

days' storm—I have been alone all day, but busy & contented—my room is just right for all the year except

fullest satisfaction (if not already—which I thought the case—distinctly, amply, legally secured by my

correspondence between us ante )—But the copyright of Leaves of Grass must remain absolutely & solely in my

I want to say over again that while I reserve to the fullest degree all my own rights & the means to

maintain them, you are to be, & I hereby make & confirm you, the sole issuers and publishers of my completed

strenuously & loyally in the enterprise—& to add that I do not fix any term or limit of years, because it is my

treated me kindly, and the young people made a great deal of me, but, perhaps, that was on account of my

printing-house, and superintended everything, even the type in which the book was printed, and they made my

"I spent considerable time in New York," he adds, "and a number of weeks on Long Island, my native place

S o many of my good friends are here that I must call it my home."

So says Walt Whitman in a foot-note to the little volume which he has just put forth ("Good-bye, my Fancy

Here is his poetical good bye:— Good-bye my Fancy! Farewell dear mate, dear love!

my Fancy.

Essentially my own printed records, all my volumes, are doubtless but offhand utterances from Personality

Indeed the whole room is a sort of result and storage collection of my own past life.

It has been my effort not to grow querulous in my old age, but to have more faith and gayety of heart

Several of the poems I wrote there if left out of my works would be like losing an eye.

Sometimes I think my Western experiences a force behind my life work.

I think it due to the fact that my work was divided equally among both opposing forces and my poetic

I think I combine that with the spiritualistic inseparately in my books and theories.

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.

CITY of my walks and joys!

nor the bright win- dows windows , with goods in them, Nor to converse with learned persons, or bear my

your fre- quent frequent and swift flash of eyes offering me love, Offering me the response of my own—these

I have abt 10 minutes a day to my self!

Wilson has my MS now. Am going to take a vacation in a month.

Do drop me a line dear & revered papa, & relieve my anxiety abt you. W. S. Kennedy.

Routledge In my note of January 17 last, sending "Whispers of Heavenly Death," I included a request for

If agreeable therefore, please request the New York house to send by express, at my expense, thirty copies

of the "Broadway" containing the piece, to my address, Attorney Gen's office, here.

day & clear evn'g, after snow-storm &c—I have the grip at last & quite badly—am sitting here alone in my

den—nothing very new—my eyes failing—Expect to give (& wish to) my "Death of Abraham Lincoln" memorandum

My love to Ed and Debby and the whole family.)

As I am going up & may not be down again soon, I wish Debby to take charge of my big pillow, as it was

made by & given me by my mother, & she slept on it & I shall want it again.

Camden Sept: September 8 '91 Dear sister Nothing very different—am ab't about same—eat my meals—was out

Friday afternoon an hour ride to cemetery—my friends Dr Bucke Mrs.

O Connor and Horace Traubel & his wife with me—it is my design to gather the remains of our dear mother

serene as ever & getting on comfortably—had a present of some plump sweet partridges —& half one for my

American sent last night—I believe the books, printing &c. are going to eventuate satisfactorily from my

point of view & plans—no cyclone of success—but no special mishap—wh' is a great victory considering my

Camden noon Sept: 26 '90 Am getting along ab't as usual—Some nice oysters (with a bit of lemon) for my

breakfast—cloudy & wet inclined to chilly to-day here—was out in wheel-chair last even'g—I enclose my

, (the piece in Trans[cript] rec'd—thanks)—sold a big book yesterday—have just lit a little fire in my

for the copy German rendering " Cradle Endlessly Rocking " & for all the other German renderings of my

you have sent me, & which I carefully keep, & prize—Dr R M Bucke has just published a book about me & my

poems—& having two or three advance copies (in paper) at my disposal I should like to send you one.

Oh my captain! called Whitman."

This is why I send you My leaping verses, my bounding verses, my spasmodic verses, My hysteria-attack

Hydraulic pump tearing out my guts and my feeling it!

My soul! .. . My ties and ballasts leave me ...

My Captain!," "Come up from the Fields, Father," and "The Singer in Prison."