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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.

From the medical point of view they tell me I'm getting on all right, but from the point of view of my

"My head is no good tonight. Last night I felt extra strong." Had not read much proof today.

You'll find in one of John's letters that he talks to me like a Dutch uncle about my health.

Tell them I cannot write myself—describe my situation: tell them how helpless I am.

I think it would lengthen my days to see you once more.With loveJohn Burroughs.

I suppose I have been called crazy at least a hundred times to my own face!"

W. thereupon saying, "Give me my money back, Maurice!"

My piece appears in Post, making a stretch of a column and a half.

O'Connor, my father and Anne together.

My father and Bucke especially at it.

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.

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

"I have been out of my chair today—had a delicious trip—the day fine beyond words.

I went up to Tom's—knocked at the office door with my cane—but evidently nobody was in." Alex.

Directed my attention to a French paper in the chair. "It comes from Bartlett's son, now in France.

"The paper contains a translation of my 'Bravo Exposition' piece, whether good or bad I do not know.

I have now told my publisher to send another copy to your correct address.

I formerly sent you some of my poetry, but it was early work.

My debt to you is great. Would that I could express it in person!

I'll send a copy too of my last book, "Songs of the Heights & Deeps" see notes June 28 1888 Roden Noel

Oct 2 Dear boy and Comrade You say it is a pleasure to you to get my letters—well, boy, it is a real

write to you—I just write off-hand, whatever comes up, and, as I said before, mostly about myself & my

Dear Pete, with all my kind friends here & invitations, &c., though I love them all, & gratefully reciprocate

Take care of yourself, & God bless you, my loving comrade. I will write again soon.

feel well enough to come on to Washington & make out several weeks—& we'll have a good time together, my

chicken for his dinner—then went to a nice reading room & library we have here, very handy—then home to my

own dinner chicken & nice roast potatoes—& now (2½) up stairs in my room writing this, & feeling very

what you wrote about your mother—Every thing about fellows' old mothers is interesting to me— —Give my

England Mar 16. 92 My Dear Walt, How fares it with you, tonight? Better I hope.

My heart is with you and I send you its best and warmest love.

My heart ached for it.

God bless you dearest & best of Earthly friends My love to you now & always Yours affectionately J.

there also, but I do not go myself at present—it is probable that the hospital poison has affected my

system, & I find it worse than I calculated—I have spells of faintness & very bad feeling in my head

, fullness & pain—& besides sore throat—my boarding place, 502 Pennsylvania av, is a miserable place,

written to George since—I shall write again to him in a day or two—if Mary comes home tell her I sent her my

My dear Sir: A short time ago while on a visit to New York I happened one evening to find your Leaves

Bayard Taylor's library: and taking it with me to my room at the hotel I spent a night of glory and delight

purchase a copy (which please mail to the above address) I cannot resist the temptation to render you also my

the person which your pages so unreservedly make, yet I feel sure that I understand you therein, and my

subject that offers itself—making a compact, the-whole-surrounding, National Poem , after its sort, after my

especially with the literary classes, to make it worth your while to give them a sight of me with all my

I reserve the use of the piece in any collection of my poems I may publish in future.

Should my name be printed in the programme of contributors at any time it must not be lower down than

No 321 High S t Newark New Jersey June 15th / 91 My Dear Friend Walt , I see by the papers that a short

Just reaching up to my Three score. I have been thinking how long since I saw you.

I have in my mind one, that is George Storms as you used to ride more with him than any one else: but

I hardly think I will find many of them but I will try my best to find some of them. in the meantime

I had to come back to look after my farm. The heavy rains came near washing it away.

I & my man live alone in the old house, I am chief cook & bottle washer I keep well & busy, & am not

In a couple of weeks my grapes will be all off (only 1/2 crop this year) & I shall take another holiday

I wish you were here to enjoy this view, & this air, & also my grapes & peaches. Drop me a card.

Who said when I invited him to hear my lecture upon your work—"I shall come by all means.

I gave two evenings to your work before my class at New England Conservatory.

My class is composed of about fifty bright young girls studying music.

I shall have "Specimen Days" in my class during Spring term.

Dear Pete, Here I am yet, in my big chair in the parlor—I am up & around, but not very well—I am having

O'Connor— I have no doubt I shall feel better—my sickness comes & goes—& my relief spells the same—I

me a long time, & which I had quite given up—which puts me in better spirits—good bye for present, my

Toward sunset Had a good thorough bath this afternoon, hot water—my "cold" has not altogether withdrawn—I

day—I almost envy your having such lots to do, responsibilities & strong & well & energetic to do 'em—My

lassitude is one of the worst points in my condition—but whether Sidney Morse's man's answer (when reproach'd

probably say)—Well I will adjust myself for dinner, & hope you & Mrs B & all are having good times—& send my

My dear sir, I have been much interested in a letter from you to Mr.

Of the enclosed check, ten dollars of the amount is contributed by my sister, Mrs. G.W.

Briggs of Salem, to whom I read your letter, & ten dollars by my friend Edward Atkinson.

I hope you will continue in your good work, as I am sure from your letter, & from what my friend, Mr.

It appeals to my printer-sense too—is a handsome & generous piece of typography & mechanical book making

well—Mont is married —(I went down Sunday to G to take him Harry home, at his request)—I am still here in my

when I saw you last, but not much different—mentally the same—physically a sad wreck—I am reciting my

visit from Chas Rowley of Manchester yesterday—I am well as usual—Love to you—Spring is tardy here—My

I have had a slight stroke of paralysis, on my left side, and especially the leg—occurred Thursday night

last, & I have been laid up since—I am writing this in my room, 535 15th st as I am not able to get

out at present—but the Doctor gives me good hopes of being out and at my work in a few days—He says it

days, but am to-day eating better—I wrote to Mat early last week— Later —I have been sitting up eating my

my special word to thee. Hear me illustrious!

wood edge, thy touching-distant beams enough, Or man matured, or young or old, as now to thee I launch my

launch thy subtle dazzle and thy strength for these, Prepare the later afternoon of me myself—prepare my

lengthen- ing lengthening shadows, Prepare my starry nights.

my special word to thee. Hear me illustrious!

wood edge, thy touching-distant beams enough, Or man matured, or young or old, as now to thee I launch my

launch thy subtle dazzle and thy strength for these, Prepare the later afternoon of me myself—prepare my

lengthen- ing lengthening shadows, Prepare my starry nights.

I was looking through some of my scraps today—these were some of the results—I thought you would perhaps

I get from Walt by means of the newspapers, & new & then a postal.With very sincere regards to you, my

My dear Traubel:Here is postal note for the doctor's book—$4.00.

CliffordLove to WaltThank him for liberal terms to my doctor. W. exclaimed: "Good! Good!

Had written Morris' and my own names on the big envelopes, on the former's giving "respects and thanks

He seemed to see an inquiry in my looks. "It don't go very well," he remarked. "I am not up to it."

I took the two Ingersoll articles out of my pocket and gave them to him.

Give him my regards."

They set my head in a whirl—mixes me all up—and besides hurts my throat.

I am not sure but that is the point—and my deficiency!" Passing along, "Who have you seen today?"

through this paralysis pretty sadly disabled," but he always tells me (which he hardly needs to), "My

W. said, "Morris will be one of us yet," and to my, "Yes, don't you remember the walk I told you of only

Callingham has my everlasting thanks for this happy introduction.Below please find a copy of Mr.

Carnegie's letter on my new Year's Greeting to Whitman.Yours sincerely,James D.

I know nothing better—little as good—it fits in with all my theories of democracy. Mrs.

"I put my name in all," he explained, "yet in one or two it already appears several times.

I left with him a copy of New Ideal containing my paper on Parker and Johnson.

"It does my eyes good—is handsome." Had laid out American for me.

"You know—I pride myself on my inclusiveness—that I embrace everybody—and that must stand."

My friendships are my own—for Ingersoll or another.

I can describe it no better than by my old figure—that it seemed as if all the vital insides had fallen

A preliminary cable but does not know when he must sail.W. gives me [notes] for my "memoranda," to be

W. asked, "Did you notice this letter—that it was from my sister's husband at Burlington?"

I ignore him, never recognize him in any way—pity my poor sister—old, sick.

weakness—knowing the spot where I am sore—my love for my sister—ramming his knife in there!

New England Magazine piece), "I think I will get you to set out at greater length—more definitively—my

It is a thing which ought to be plainly said—which my books do not make naked, plain—which perhaps I

He told this once to Bucke (substantially) in my presence.

This time voice, all, strong, pictorial, eloquent.I told W. it was my mother's birthday. "Oh!

"It is a trifle," he said, "but trifles are indicative: tell her that my heart goes with it."

want more than two or three days)—I want to see George, (I have his photograph on the wall, right over my

probably George will come out & see her, & that if he does you will send her word beforehand— Jeff, my

best way to enjoy a visit home, after all—When I come home again, I shall not go off gallivanting with my

& more shaky—how they can make any headway against our new, large & fresh armies next season passes my

it was made to me only as there was no one else in hearing at the moment—(he is quite an admirer of my

Nov. 28 [1881] 29 Lange Strasse Dresden My dear Whitman Yesterday I received all your dispatches—viz,

Still I am very glad that I have it complete in my old .

This volume, with its new poems, etc. offered a field of "pleasant exploration" and renewed my sense

I have ordered my book to be sent to the American papers you mentioned.

You should have recd. received a copy of my Encheiridion by this. Thomas W. H.

My dear friend:I think that Mr.

Adding, "I do not think my friends understand the extent of my advocacy and approval of Ingersoll, of

my recent thought.

My mood was this.

The letter you showed me has been my surprise, my rejoicing."

My own position is the writer's, not the publisher's.

New YorkSep. 16. 1891.My Dear Traubel,Your tender letter of sympathy reached me in due course.

And thanks to the careful nursing of my dear wife, and the pure and healthful air of the mountains, my

My shattered right arm is still however a cause of great anxiety.

against me in the days of my worst struggle.

My appetite keeps at a high grade, probably three-quarters of the time, for about one-quarter it flunks

Told him I had read "An Old Man's Rejoinder" in Critic on my way over.

Perhaps your feeling is a little mixed with what you know of my criticism from the talks here."

It would be my argument still.

And this may account for my article; having these things in me, they were bound to come out."

Next best, is your admiration of my lightnings.

Of course, I was delighted, for my article puts the matter just in the shape I wanted it to appear—gives

I think John will be delighted with my sword-play.

pleased with me, and the poignant and perfumed little note of thanks I sent him after the appearance of my

My task is to do this, and thoroughly, the first time. No after claps.

I hope, therefore, my paragraphing may be permitted by the benignant printer.

I was horrified to learn that my footnote about Lowell was set as per copy.

The note, I guess, will have to stand as it is, for I am at the disadvantage of having left my annotated

My name is Promptness. Good printer-man, thou, too, be not obdurate, but grant me a revise!

I am rummaging my memory for an epigraph for the appendix, as you requested.

Now List to My Morning's Romanza.

NOW LIST TO MY MORNING'S ROMANZA. 1 Now list to my morning's romanza—I tell the signs of the Answerer

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

hand in my right hand, And I answer for his brother, and for men, and I an- swer answer for him that

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

"That is something that is often said even by my friends: I do not appreciate it: I have made my decision—must

as it was laid on my arm."

My mother spoke to me: she said (laid her hand on my arm): 'I know what you are thinking—I know you feel

My dear mother was wonderful wise and cute.

Whitman, that my idea is not that there is evil in the book: my idea is that by taking certain things

dear brothers' and sisters' sake, for the soul's sake, Wending my way through the homes of men, rich

words, mine only, Young and strong I pass knowing well I am destin'd myself to an early death; But my

charity has no death—my wisdom dies not, neither early nor late, And my sweet love bequeath'd here and

side, warlike, equal with any, real as any, Nor time nor change shall ever change me or my words. 4

Softly I lay my right hand upon you, you just feel it, I do not argue, I bend my head close and half

dear brothers' and sisters' sake, for the soul's sake, Wending my way through the homes of men, rich

words, mine only, Young and strong I pass knowing well I am destin'd myself to an early death; But my

charity has no death—my wisdom dies not, neither early nor late, And my sweet love bequeath'd here and

side, warlike, equal with any, real as any, Nor time nor change shall ever change me or my words. 4

Softly I lay my right hand upon you, you just feel it, I do not argue, I bend my head close and half

"My God, no!

"You may go along, to give my step a sort of certainty."

Just today I read Bucke out of my notes W.'

My God!" W. mockingly said: "Maurice, you shock me!"

and still my withers are unwrung!"

latest from our dear friend O'Connor not knowing whether you will get word directly —I am having one of my

bad spells, but it will probably pass over—I have had my breakfast, (two or three stewed oysters & a

piece of toast)—am sitting here in the little front room down stairs—the sun is shining & my bird singing—I

328 Mickle street Camden New Jersey U S America May 30 1886 My dear friend Yours of May 17, enclosing

which I indeed, indeed thank you, and all—We have beautiful sunshiny weather here, & I am sitting by my

I send best respects & love to my British contributor-friends—they have done me more good than they think

I was surprised & greived grieved to hear of my old friend Jeffs death.

boy, & I well remember the many long walks he & I had together.— He was a good true friend & often at my

With a heart full of love to you my dear friend, I am Yours truly Sam. G. Stanley. 323 Macon St.

as one who values your writings more than I can ever attempt to express, please allow me to express my

Your teachings rest always in my mind like gleams of sunlight upon the pathway of the future, & I may

write a leading article without trying, as much as lies within me, to hold your "Democratic Vistas" in my

Permit me to assure that such a motive was foreign to my mind.

My object in calling upon you was simply that of friendly interest which I had been encouraged to think

If my presence was an intrusion pray pardon it: but do not I beseech you attribute to presumption or

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.

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

For my own part I have just had a glorious dinner of roast turkey and plum pudding and feel well!

My great anxiety now is to put meter matters in such shape that I may get to Phila and see yourself and

Traubel and see with my own eyes how things are with you.