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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

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

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

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

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."

"It states my position—lets me state it in my own words: then lets the reader answer for the rest."

C.December, 16, 1888.My dear Sir:I should like, if I can do so without impertinence, to send you my grateful

Of the portrait sent by Smith: "That was my prime—that was the period of my power—of endurance: the period

"I always expect you to know a lot about me without my having to say it to you—about my feelings: especially

my feelings towards you."

He picked up my hand and pressed it.

"You are my one vital means of connection with the world—the one live wire left.

I shook my head. "No?" "No.

I said: "Perhaps my father can do it: I'll ask him."

I want to be generous: I'll share my possessions with you."

I loafe and invite my Soul, I lean and loafe at my ease, observing a spear of summer grass.

The smoke of my own breath, Echoes, ripples, buzzed whispers, love-root, silk-thread, crotch and vine

, My respiration and inspiration, the beating of my heart, the passing of blood and air through my lungs

The sound of the belched words of my voice, words loosed to the eddies of the wind, A few light kisses

Our poet goes on to say (105): I know I am august, I do not trouble my spirit to vindicate itself or

"My—your sleep must have been a soothing one!" He laughed with me.

I said: "I have often explained my adhesion to you in almost the same words." "Is it so?

off for my own use.

my notion in its favor."

What was my impression of it? "You like to see all that's going on?

My impression of W's appearance at this date is a favorable one: though it is clear enough that his recent

Often he points me about the rooms: "Poor as these are, they are a comfort to me—my own—giving me freedom

My only uncompromising friend in the family is probably Watson—he swears to me—not everything in me,

When I was in Denver I spent my longest hours in contemplation of the mountain ranges."

I took off my hat to the compliment.

"I am getting more and more satisfied with my bed and chair, which is suspicious."

Explains: "The fall in my pulse is getting more and more evident: I've got no time to lose."

In talking about signatures W. said: "O'Connor once took one of my signatures to a clerk in the Treasury

I have about made up my mind to live another year: why not?

You will see that he harps on the Calamus poems again—always harping on 'my daughter.'

W. said: "My brother Jeff, from St.

My dear mother had every general faith in me; that is where she stopped.

Expect to stay in the neighborhood another week, when I shall shift my diggings as my bedroom window

My feeling about him is not condemnatory—only indifferent." I told W.

This is not the general view: it is my view.

Friday, March 4, 1892W. slept easily on my morning round (8:20 A.M.). Looked a trifle flushed.

I recovered my footing, and Mr.

My love to him—it's all I have of use.Mrs. B. & I talk of you & Mrs.

"Yes, to my sister" (and had enclosed money).

And to my negative he answered, "It is odd—you have heard from about everybody else."

demonstrative of his cordiality.I gave W. the following extract from letter from Stedman to Morris: "Do give my

Think of it: think of that as a reflection of my work, of my life, of my own dear, dear mother!

And still in the same line: "There are liars by inclination—born liars—and I seem to have had my share

I put in, "Yes, to say: I am in the hands of my friends."

In the points wherein we differ I think my work makes our difference plain and sets me up in my own individuality

I threw my valise upon a bench, and my over-coat upon it.

The good landlady's further inquisitiveness was cut short, by my taking the driver out to his wagon,

for the purpose of making arrangements and settling the price of my passage.

My neighbor by the side of the country woman, was the only exception to this.

Turning around a moment to look at Colby, who called my attention in the room, the next minute my hearing

W. said: "The reference to Hawthorne brings back to my mind a story once told me by a friend in Brooklyn

W. said again: "For myself I consider A Backward Glance my right bower."

alone: this will be my book."

would thoroughly express my idea."

My previous notes show his earlier experiments.

My letter to Hay comes back from someone in Cleveland with his London address added; too late to reach

my big tree.

I am sure I shall want to do if I ever reach my 72d.

Give him my love.

As to his health, "I am by no means gaining—I seem to stick in my low estate—no lift any way."

"What's all this about, my boy?"

"Is it a patent of nobility, or is it an address from a lot of my young friends?"

My paralysis has made me so lame lately that I had to give up even my walks for health, let alone my

rambles in the country, and my constitution has suffered for exercise.

TO EASE MY DECLINING YEARS.

s on my way to Germantown, as he expected.

Then I remembered that he was my mother's son, my brother—not my counsellor.

Now my voice is stronger. I ask—why will you not speak to me?

For the first time I act as my nature prompts me.

Farewell, my dear friend.

I should have a number of copies—for my friends, for my family.

Said W.: "I have sent my usual postal—told him you had forwarded the paper."

My God! will my friends never know me for what I am? Of course if I chose—then I would choose!

you have quite taken the wind out of my sails: I feel helpless."

Edward lectures: that should have been my business, too: if I'd gone direct to the people, read my poems

reading an account of it: and of Mars and Jupiter and Venus: I never used to miss them: often spend my

I would sometimes try my eyes on the most distant visible stars—the familiar stars."

outdoors: that's the worst aspect of my confinement."

W. asked him to "give my love" to Mrs.

then I've a good man on my side, haven't I?" Picked up the Bucke portrait again.

W. not home the moment of my call, so I sat down in the parlor, reading and waiting.

buildings which he could descry from his position on the wharf—"the big buildings—all gone up since my

My description appeared greatly to interest him, and he questioned me keenly in detail, as is his wont

Dave will leave it absolutely in my hands to arrange.

"You'll find it easily," he said, "say I sat in my usual place up there—my chair turned this way"—wheeling

Called my attention to an old letter in the Philadelphia Press describing a visit to Emerson with Louisa

You will see by it how that point staggers my friends as well as my enemies.

Dear Walt Whitman:Pray forgive my long silence. I have been deep in troubles of my own.

I know the purity and righteousness of your meaning, but that does not alter my regret.I think your reputation

When I tried to take those pieces out of the scheme the whole scheme came down about my ears.

W. took it from my hands and held it off from himself, regarding it with immediate approval and fondness

Millet is my painter: he belongs to me: I have written Walt Whitman all over him. How about that?

My word was not law, of course: they could have done anything they chose about it: but they asked my

Take my own method—if you call it that.

This does not mean that I am not careful: it only means that I try not to overdo my cake."

Whether because he saw my protest—inarticulate—whether I looked objection (which I hardly intended to

I have met him several times, and that was my impression.

And that reminds me to say, Horace, that there's one break in my piece—at least, one mistake—or not even

One place there you remember I spoke of my return to Washington and reception by O'Connor and his noble

I should not have permitted it—should have put my foot down on that.

said as I greeted him at the door, "Your hand is most frozen," and I remarked it to W., "Take care—my

The book to include my preface." I had offered to Mrs. O'Connor to read proofs.

"I was on my last man," he remarked, "and would have sent Warrie out to skirmish for them tomorrow.

I shall put them in my own drawer—keep them for mine own humor—and think of you as my messenger."

Would I stop to see him: "Drop a little reminder that I have not my copy of Reisser talk."

refreshing night the walks of Paradise, I scent the grass, the moist air and the roses; Thy song expands my

and for my sensuous eyes, Bring the old pageants, show the feudal world.

the terrible tableaus. 7 O trumpeter, methinks I am myself the instrument thou playest, Thou melt'st my

heart, my brain—thou movest, drawest, chan- gest changest them at will; And now thy sullen notes send

soul, renew its languishing faith and hope, Rouse up my slow belief, give me some vision of the future

refreshing night the walks of Paradise, I scent the grass, the moist air and the roses; Thy song expands my

and for my sensuous eyes, Bring the old pageants, show the feudal world.

the terrible tableaus. 7 O trumpeter, methinks I am myself the instrument thou playest, Thou melt'st my

heart, my brain—thou movest, drawest, chan- gest changest them at will; And now thy sullen notes send

soul, renew its languishing faith and hope, Rouse up my slow belief, give me some vision of the future

May 14. 1874 My dearest Friend Two papers have come to hand since I last wrote; one containing the memoranda

A great deal of needlework to be done at this time of year; for my girls have not time for any at present

May is in a sense (& a very real one) my birth month too, for in it were your Poems first put into my

My children are all well and hearty I am thankful to say, & working industriously.

Good bye my dearest Friend. Anne Gilchrist. Anne Gilchrist to Walt Whitman, 14 May 1874

July 14/72 The 3d July was my rejoicing day, dearest Friend,—the day the packet from America reached

I speak out of my own experience when I say that no Myth, no "miracle" embodying the notion of a direct

of the heart suddenly grow adequate to such new work—O the passionate tender gratitude that flooded my

breast, the yearning that seemed to strain the heart beyond endurance that I might repay with all my

to be so, now: that for me too love & death are folded inseparably together: Death that will renew my

"Democratic Souvenirs" (later "My Legacy") was included in Whitman's "Songs of Parting," which contained

That he obtained your goods & service under false pretenses is perfectly certain to my mind .

would let me have some property which he had no earthly use for viz some books which had once been in my

private library a $150 bookcase which had been in my library 5 or 6 years before I thought of going

pay you $200.00 (just what was due Dec 1st '74) In another place he binds himself to carry out all my

I have done for 3 or 4 years, day & night & sunday, to get justice out of this fellow for myself & my

Camden April 14 '89 Fine sunny weather—nothing special in my health—(if any difference am suffering less

My dear friend, I was glad to hear by your postal that you are getting along without an increase of suffering

My old enemy "melancholia" spreads its vampire wings still over my life and will I presume go with me

Gardner of Paisley, accepting my MS. "Walt Whitman the Poet of Humanity."

suppose his idea is that people will buy L. of G. more if they are not given the passages in question in my

(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

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

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.

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