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Wednesday—I am better than I was last week—not as well as I would like to be, but well enough to keep on with my

It is beautiful weather here to-day—I have got my new trowsers—$20!!—only think of that!

—it is lucky I wear my clothes a long while— Walt.

Camden NJ—US America Nov: 1 '91 Just a word anyhow while I am waiting for my supper—y'rs last rec'd is

have progressive paralysis , wh' is eligible to have a fatal termination any hour—so you must all take my

letters & conveyances of friendship & affection (strangers as we are face to face) as my last missives—write

328 Mickle Street Camden New Jersey U S America Aug: 26 '86 My dear Edward Dowden Herbert Gilchrist has

I think of collecting together my prose & verse of the last five years, & printing a little Vol: under

the title of "November Boughs"—also of bringing out a complete budget of all my writing in one book.

Russell, which came to us through my sister Miss Stevenson.

is pleasant to know where one has excited an interest, & in asking you to acknowledge its receipt, my

My direction is to care of Charles P. Curtis, Boston. With regard, I am, Margaret S.

(For what is my life, or any man's life, but a conflict with foes—the old, the incessant war?)

painful and choked articulations—you mean- nesses meannesses ; You shallow tongue-talks at tables, (my

resolutions, you racking angers, you smoth- er'd smother'd ennuis; Ah, think not you finally triumph—My

My friend, Jules Laforgue (who died only too prematurely) has already given to the public two of your

In expectation of your kind reply, Sir and dear poet, permit me to assure you of my sympathy in art and

of my profound admiration.

[I approve of your attempt to translate certain of my poems into the German tongue.

Indeed, arrogant as the statement may seem, I had more than my own native land in view when I was composing

I had also in mind, as one of my objects, to send a hearty greeting to these lands in America's name.

My dear Sir: Would you be willing to entertain a proposition to cross this Autumn to England and deliver

From facts in my possession I am quite sure that you would be very successful for the cultured class

My friend and yours, R.

(For what is my life, or any man's life, but a conflict with foes—the old, the incessant war?)

painful and choked articulations—you mean- nesses meannesses ; You shallow tongue-talks at tables, (my

You broken resolutions, you racking angers, you smother'd ennuis; Ah, think not you finally triumph—My

TO the leaven'd soil they trod calling I sing for the last, (Forth from my tent emerging for good, loosing

vistas beyond, to the South and the North, To the leaven'd soil of the general Western world to attest my

Northern ice and rain that began me nourish me to the end, But the hot sun of the South is to fully ripen my

TO the leaven'd soil they trod calling I sing for the last, (Forth from my tent emerging for good, loosing

vistas beyond, to the South and the North, To the leaven'd soil of the general Western world to attest my

Northern ice and rain that began me nourish me to the end, But the hot sun of the South is to fully ripen my

It had made W. read 'Old Poets' again, as I found him doing on my entrance.

My laughing question, "Do you never get tired reading your own articles," seemed vastly to excite him

Said to me, "I have a new idea about the portraits—have changed my mind: will get several envelopes made

I shall bind it in my volume with the lecture.

Looked over [Harper's] Young People.W. had written me my "dedication" as follows. Would it do?

Dec. 30, 1874 I see, my dearest Friend, I must not look for those dashes under the words I thought were

going to convey a joyful confirmation of my hopes.

I believe my dear love that what you need to help on your recovery is a woman's tender cherishing love

are very bright & cheerful—she & indeed all my children enjoy the cold much provided they have plenty

you are well, and that you have felt the warm grasp of many loving friends this wintry cloudy time my

1869 Feb or March Not March tuesday Tuesday 30 My dear walt Walt i have just received your letter i was

would when he wen t away if he could leave) i am pretty well only last sunday Sunday morning i hurt my

knee i catched caught my foot and struck my knee and it got so lame in the coarse course of the day

soon i have been trying to get things straighened straightened up a little prepa tory to moving when my

knee was so lame i thought what would i if i was so i walk but i can walk quite smart to day if i keep my

By this time you will, I trust, be in possession of my printed notes and of the numbers of Great Thoughts

I feel to him just now as though he were my grandfather or an aged uncle; as though I once knew him but

my remembrances were like an infant's."

A similar occasion last year on my birthday Dec. 8 suggested the enclosed "Snow Thought" It is now a

glistening road & through the keen, frosty air has exhilirated me & sent the warm blood tingling to my

out—(George turned 'em out for impudence to mother)—I write every other day, & send papers & stuff—My

like to come on, according to your invitation, & pay you a good visit, but it is doubtful this time—My

But I should like to have a good long visit home, & be with mother—my getting leave does not work yet

as I hoped—but I expect to fix it somehow, & go home before very long—I am very well this winter—My

Dear sister Mat, & Hatty & California, love to you all—I am writing this at my desk, toward noon, very

SCENTED herbage of my breast, Leaves from you I yield, I write, to be perused best afterwards, Tomb-leaves

O blossoms of my blood!

O I think it is not for life I am chanting here my chant of lovers—I think it must be for Death, For

Grow up out of my breast! Spring away from the concealed heart there!

Do not remain down there so ashamed, herbage of my breast!

Wonderfully cheerful in the evening on my arrival, talking most freely for more than an hour.

My last thought confirmed my first: it seemed like supererogation to impose such a statement upon the

"But Washington, New Orleans, Brooklyn—they are my cities of romance.

He asked me some questions about my health.

I could not stand before a Millet picture with my hat on." Monday July 23, 1888.

My ground is a peculiar one: I know nothing on the other side of the question—the side of statistics,

I build up my conviction mainly on the idea of solidarity, democracy—on the dream of an America standing

I have kept quiet through practically my whole career—almost utter silence—and have never had occasion

and then upon my saying "yes": "Well—give him my love: tell him I know as little about that Herald author

I set up some of it myself: some call it my hand-work: it was not strictly that—there were about one

W. was greatly interested in my repetition of this.

I was on my way to Philadelphia to hear Tom Davidson's lecture on Aquinas.

W. inquisitive—greatly "tempted" by my description of D.'

My details few, but he evidently a good listener.

He was amused with my account of nervousness preceding.

Oh, my God! my God!"

Oh, my divine Redeemer! Oh, my Friend, my Saviour!"

own husband, my first, my only love, my love forever!

"O my God—my boy George!"

boy, my George; my saved and ransomed George; my son, my son!

Indeed, all through those years—that period—I was at my best—physically at my best, mentally, every way

Once during my stay got up to urinate but could not.

I said something about the birth of the boy at Harned's: my sister's courage and physical sanity and

I told him that my sister had sat up reading Robert Elsmere last night.

It reminded him of a kindred experience: "When I had my great attack—my great paralysis—I was reading

My dear poet: I wrote you from N.

s at 9.30 on my way to Germantown.

He knew me, dark as it was—called my name.

Harned in during a part of my stay this evening. I met Michael J.

all: I feel I have lost what I call my grip."

way back to my central thought again—my spinal conviction: I resent my resentment—am ashamed of my questions

—adding with the same fire: "My 'verbal' suggestion would be for him to stop the whole thing at once.

Insisted on my taking Burroughs' Pepacton to read.

My few friends are a great host—my many enemies are a few."

Dear Walt:I have sent you the MS. of my letter to Bucke.

Do you see my dilemma?

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.

Yet we want very little from him—very—simply a copy, in which my corrections are duly made.

My idea is, to ballot for Brinton, science, liberty—against the minister." How did he feel?

"Well, it is all I can do to hold my head up.

I am so faint, weak, merely to keep straight, to be on my feet at all, is a victory.

Adding to my "no"—"Well, I suppose after all that is provided for in the nature of things.

—However, with all my deep chagrin, I c but laugh (long & well), over little Stedman & Holmes (I suppose

You say in it "as to my alleged opinion of Stedman: I have no such opinion.

My feeling toward S. is one of good will & thanks markedly—O'C says he is a good fellow, & I say so too

Stedman w never forgive my trying to comfort him . Ha! ha!

I think I shall now pitch overboard fr my book the Hartmannian lading (supplement) entirely.

Ballacooil Dalby Isle of Man Aug 2nd 1891 My Dear Walt Whitman— We (i.e. my wife, my brother a friend

from Fleetwood brought us to Douglas—the favourite Isle of Man resort but now too noisy & rowdy for my

geting out into the open air now & then & at all events keeping your usual good heart God bless you my

Friend It is with Pleashure Pleasure I take the oppertunity opportunity of writing you a letter As my

written. they Are Splendid. their There is a Preaspeterian Presbyterian Minister Liveing living with my

My Mother & Father was My Mother Is very old I dont don't Suppose She will Be with us on the 4 day of

In the Comeing coming year Well I hope you will get your Health Better, you Will Please Excuse this My

your affection or curiosity, and that there is in your present situation a tedium or sameness which my

At any rate my writing can't hurt you unless I write foolishly and lessen your pleasure in my warm appreciation

Still Walt, he assured that causes with high an Walt, I never in my life sought or would have an office

Let the war pass away, us to of fools place not quarrel with my great friend.

Your books and portraits have in the last month circulated amongst the ladies of my acquaintance, for

Never had I thought in my days (during life-time) to get a spirit (or ghost, none of the expressions

signify exactly our stand) for my help—from America.

I thank him and thee from my full heart.

At present you will understand my meaning! Good by.

Clausen, who Rudolf Schmidt called "my old friend and countryman," corresponded with Schmidt after he

October has been with me some little while, during wh. which my leisure has been of the scantiest.

You say: "I suppose you got my postals on sending the books to J.A. Rose."

To the best of my recollection I never did get these: I am aware however that as a matter of fact Rose

I feel ashamed for my colleagues the English men of the press that the Editor of the Examiner sh d .

all that he says about you: the rest of the book I have had to leave unread as yet, in the press of my

Whitman referred to Rossetti's edition as a "horrible dismemberment of my book" in his August 12, 1871

time fanning away the flies &c—not down ill but not far from that—some blackberries & a rare egg for my

breakfast— Sunset —Have had my supper & relish'd it—send this hence Camden (to Phila) 8 P M July 13—

July 12, 89 Dear Walt, I write you briefly this morning before starting on my 2 week vacation to Delaware

At that time I was having one of my streaks of insomnia, & was very wretched for two or three weeks.

I go about all day with two balls of twine at my side, training the young vines in the way they should

yo and i was glad to here from yo i am not very well and have not ben for some time i have pain in my

head and breast i think the clorform that i have taken is the caus of it my hip is very painful to day

i was exasamend i think that i will go before the board in a day or two i may get my discharge i have

hurd that my ridgement is going home for the winter to recruit thair is only 17 men left inny more for

could get detailed in washington at some thing that i coud do i woud be very glad and would try to do my

seen them, they are quite creditable) has gathered a variety of biographical information—criticises my

a volume ( It at least will not be liable to any District Att'y Attorney episodes—) comprising all my

be three Volumes gyrating together, the L of G—the S D & T—and Dr Bucke's book— Upon the whole, & as my

English stock & birth, but grown up in Canada and the California regions of America, & combining in my

Walt Whitman My last three letters to you have been One of March 8 (or 7) " " 19 & the present one find

Feb 16/81 My dearest friend, At last I am beginning to feel myself again after a four months spell of

I feel as if my usual good health has made me obtuse & unsympathetic towards the ailing.

It was very hard for us to be sundered during my illness—but was the right thing to do, she was so much

My letter seems all about myself but then I want you to know why I have been so long silent.

I send you a photo of my little grandson. Anne Gilchrist to Walt Whitman, 16 February 1881

not received the letter  I hope wen those few lines reach you they will find yo well i am quite well my

friday i was exazamend by the beast of dockters i would not go in the invalid corps so they send me to my

ridgement i am willing to go and try and do my duty thair and if the Rebs hit me a gen all rite i will

thair i have ben home sence i left Washington i wish yo would see dockter blis and have him to send my

write and let me know how yo are geting a long and how the boys is gets a long tel them i am going to my

hours every day (sometimes I think it as good in its way as the Creek)—I go about nearly the same, my

lameness no better (occasionally pretty bad, worse) but my feelings of comfort & strength in general

know him) — Sunday 14th Rather cold, the feeling of snow, but dry & pleasant in a way—I sell some of my

Do you see any thing of my friend Josiah Child?

office, London General Post Office) has written to me twice in the interest of publishing a Vol: of my

It is that part of my endeavor which has caused the harshest criticism and prevented candid examination

Still I have gone on adding, building up, persevering, so far as I am able to do, in my original intention

"I am not embittered by my lack of success.

My last volume is in response to the interest of my friends abroad."

Who is he that would become my follower? Who would sign himself a candidate for my affections?

don'd abandon'd ; Therefore release me now, before troubling yourself any further—Let go your hand from my

those know me best who admire me, and vaunt- ingly vauntingly praise me, Nor will the candidates for my

love, (unless at most a very few,) prove victorious, Nor will my poems do good only—they will do just

Who is he that would become my follower? Who would sign himself a candidate for my affections?

doned abandoned ; Therefore release me now, before troubling yourself any further—Let go your hand from my

it, Nor do those know me best who admire me, and vauntingly praise me, Nor will the candidates for my

love, (unless at most a very few,) prove victorious, Nor will my poems do good only—they will do just

Who is he that would become my follower? Who would sign himself a candidate for my affections?

be abandon'd, Therefore release me now before troubling yourself any further, let go your hand from my

acquire it, Nor do those know me best who admire me and vauntingly praise me, Nor will the candidates for my

love (unless at most a very few) prove victorious, Nor will my poems do good only, they will do just

beget superb children, To speak readily and clearly—to feel at home among common people, And to hold my

Let me have my own way, Let others promulge the laws—I will make no ac- count account of the laws, Let

charged against me, half as bad as the evil I really am; I call to the world to distrust the accounts of my

friends, but listen to my enemies—as I my- self myself do; I charge you, too, forever, reject those

Who is he that would become my follower?

Who would sign himself a candidate for my affec- tions affections ? Are you he?

doned abandoned ; Therefore release me now, before troubling yourself any further—Let go your hand from my

it, Nor do those know me best who admire me, and vauntingly praise me, Nor will the candidates for my

love, (unless at most a very few,) prove victorious, Nor will my poems do good only—they will do just

Who is he that would become my follower? Who would sign himself a candidate for my affections?

be abandon'd, Therefore release me now before troubling yourself any further, let go your hand from my

acquire it, Nor do those know me best who admire me and vauntingly praise me, Nor will the candidates for my

love (unless at most a very few) prove victorious, Nor will my poems do good only, they will do just

my body against his.

My God! has my love of life survived? have my dreams survived?" A sob burst from his throat.

"Horace: you must return as my delegate to Walt: take my body and take my soul, with you: set them down

God was on my side after all.

I run my pennants up up into the air and fill the skies with my cry: Victory is mine forever!"

What do my shouts amid lightnings and raging winds mean?)

Give me the drench of my passions! Give me life coarse and rank!

self myself from my companions?

songs in Sex, Offspring of my loins.

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

I wrote to Han yesterday, (before I received this letter of Heyde's), I wrote a short letter of my own

new ones, I could not find any one to do them as I wear them, & it would have cost such a price—& so my

they were too thick & more still because they were worse gone in than any I ever yet wore I think in my

life, especially the trowsers—wearing my big boots had caused the inside of the legs just above the

same as what I always wear, (pants pretty full,) so upon the whole all looks unusually good for me, my

My dear Walt: The article you sent Nelly from the London Leader is in my possession. Good!

If, ever since I have been here, I had not had the worst cold I ever had in my life—a cold which has

made me really sick and spoiled the pleasure of my visit—I should doubtless have ere this sent off the

On my way through New York I enquired at Harpers for Curtis and found he was out of town.

My wife returns your friendly remembrance and yours, I hope, has not forgotten me.