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rascally publisher in New York named Worthington has been printing and selling a cheaper edition of my

, as to be sued—then it cost money— —I am jogging along here about the same—keep pretty well, & eat my

allowance every time—went over to 41st st: Phila: Philadelphia to eat my Thanksgiving dinner, with an

there the good weather middle of November—it has been bad enough since, some bitter cold—I have got my

I enjoyed my visit so much I would to go to Camden often.

Governor will be our next President. if the Democrats get up a muss I am ready to sholder shoulder my

Give my respects to Frank Post Please accept my sincere thanks for the present you sent me.

Dear Walt, Just a line or two, while I have an opportunity to convey my daily message of loving good

At one o'clock he drove me down to the Railway Station with my trunk & did one or two errands in town

Am full of thoughts of my old chum Fred Wild. It is on his account that I come out here.

Twelve months ago, he revisited the old places, & he will be delighted to hear of my visit.

I sent you yesterday a copy of my paper containing the lecture Keep off the Grass.

The whole edition of my paper is still held at the Post Office awaiting decision from Washington as to

As in my next number I shall have the whole history of this infamous impertinence and audacity in print

I am however loath to intrude my self on public personages— as I know that much of their valuable time

I had, in my years of loafing, forgotten how sweet toil was.

I had quite lost any interest in literature & was fast losing my interest in life itself, but these two

months of work have sharpened my appetite for all things.

I think I can make some money & may be renew my grip upon life. I was glad to see Kennedy.

New York June 1/70 Friend Walter I now take my pen in hand to write to you I am in good health at Present

not want to lend me the I asked for, why Did you not write and say so—not to make out you Did not get my

of it when you was I though thought I would put you in—mind of it if I would be man Enough to keep my

I would not mind if you would give me my Clothes now as I need them very I cant can't go out any wear

. /70 Dear friend Walter I now take my pen in h and to let you know how I am getting along.

received your letter of the Eight & was very glad to hear from you. we have been Stoping stopping at my

I am going to buy a fraim frame for your Picture I have it up in my room I wou ld like to see you very

Boss Mr Hawkins is going to leave the firm the first of march & my friend Oliver Allen & I thought we

living near a railroad— —I am well as usual— WW London Ont Ontario Canada, Nov November 28– 83 1883 My

I am up in my little room writing this while my patients are sadly pacing up and down the hall.

Have 42 men in my charge. Will have to close for the present so good-bye.

sense & mellowed & ripened by five years your 1883 book (biographical & critical) about me & L of G—& my

—the text, O'C[onnor]'s letters, the appendix—every page of the 236 left as now—This is my spinal and

business in another sphere & land—Your letters come & are always welcome—As I close I am sitting in my

big chair in my room 1½ p m quiet & measurably comfortable— Walt Whitman Walt Whitman to Richard Maurice

Bucke replied on September 28, 1888: "I note all you say about my 'W. W.'

My dear Poet: I spent last evening in fighting for you, in reading you, and, in a feeble way, expounding

up the balance, and that moreover, adulation would as soon turn the head of Moosilanke Moosilauke , my

My friend Baxter sent us his copy of your big book with notes, one or two, from you, pasted in.

I send you my heartiest wishes for the prolongation of your noble life in content and in as great a measure

Tom Harned here last evn'g—full of business—a roast apple for my breakfast—am reading " Holland , its

is ab't 3 & I am feeling in fair mood—dark & damp out, mild, looks like more strom— very uneasy ab't my

sister at Burlington Vermont—She is sick & old & nervous & in a bad way—my niece Jessie (Jeff's daughter

) at St Louis is getting along fairly—my brother Ed is still at the Blackwood institution (we pay $3½

fund which provided Whitman with nursing care, Richard Maurice Bucke observed to Traubel on April 1: "My

idea is that the 'Fund' should pay Dr Longaker and I increase my subscription to meet this [by $5],

My life now seems very pale & poor compared with those days.

which I derive any satisfaction, Julian & that bit of land up there on the river bank where I indulge my

is developing into a very happy, intelligent boy, full of enthusiasms, full of curiosity, & is about my

I hope I can see my way to go to W again to see him. I shall not stay here in P. much longer.

After the dazzle of day is gone, Only the dark, dark night shows to my eyes the stars; After the clangor

of organ majestic, or chorus, or perfect band, Silent, athwart my soul, moves the symphony true.

." ***** "O despairer, here is my neck, You shall not go down! Hang your whole weight upon me."

My moral constitution may be hopelessly tainted or—too sound to be tainted, as the critic wills, but

, Earth of the limpid grey of clouds brighter and clearer for my sake! Far swooping elbowed earth!

The damp of the night drives deeper into my soul."

———Under Niagara, the cataract falling like a veil over my countenance ."

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

a great deal of it in.If, ever since I have been here, I have not had the worst cold I ever had in my

this point as time has passed and the sweet country air and relief from labor cleared and refreshed my

poor boiled brains.On my way through New York I enquired at Harper's for Curtis and found he was out

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

There was a time—not long ago, either—when the mere pleasure of locomotion—of having my arms and legs

"I do not think so, though I do not remember all my callers.

I confess that my curiosity is slight, though I might like Frank at close quarters.

W. said: "Too much is often said—perhaps even by me—about my Quaker lineage.

From my young days, with Colonel Fellows, I determined I would some day bear my testimony to that whole

to-day I believe —is to be frontispieced by a photo (wh' I do not like but the others do, & this is not my

the wheel chair last sunset to river side (full tide fine)—nearly two hours —sat there by the edge in my

I am sorry to tell you that after all my careful economy & saving, the various things into which William

It is like taking my life to have to give up a home with no prospect of ever having one again.

So I said, I will keep you informed of my whereabouts. & with love always— Nelly O'Connor.

dreams of you, so distinct that all the next day I felt as if I had been with you; & I wonder whether my

As I sit writing here, sick and grown old, Not my least burden is that dulness of the years, querilities

, Ungracious glooms, aches, lethargy, constipation, whimpering ennui, May filter in my daily songs.

since, after the closest inquiry, "I find no sweeter fat than sticks to my own bones."

If I worship any particular thing, it shall be some the spread of my own body."

As for Mine, Mine has the idea of my own, and what's Mine is my own, and my own is all Mine and believes

in your and my name, the Present time. 6.

I lie in the night air in my red shirt—the pervading hush is for my sake, Painless after all I lie, exhausted

"That sounds shady enough to be my report: no mail, nothing at all. Yet let me see."

"I'm worse than an old woman with my complaints.

That man Law mentioned in the letter excites my affection but I do not seem to connect him with Pfaff's

The Herald, Boston,Aug. 2, 1887.My dear friend:I enclose for the cottage $285 in two checks of $50 and

Well, it is now past midnight, pretty well on to one o'clock, and my sheet is mostly written out—so my

trips up—my flying trips."

"I see you will have it so: but there are difficulties, too—my red, florid, blooded, complexion—my gray

As for me I think the greatest aid is in my insouciance—my utter indifference: my going as if it meant

I had a couple of Boston pictures of Morse in my pocket.

Whitman,Dear Sir: My friend and yours Mr.

I keep stout as ever, my face red and a great beard just the same.

I send my love to you, darling boy. Walt Whitman to a Soldier, early 1866

I shall keep it by me for my own reading, & to refresh my memory of those turbulent days.

W. out on my arrival—had gone to the river between 6 and 7.

I alluded to Clifford's question whether (as found in proof of my article) two t's were necessary in

W. said: "I should not wonder but that the question was valid—but if it were my case I should not crack

my skull to fix it—indeed, I doubt if it could be said that the t was wrong—only that it was unnecessary

It seemed to me the word was wisely used, and I told W. my idea of it: but he still persisted: "It is

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

ScovelI read it to my family last night. My father had traced some hidden sarcasm.

(My own books, poems and prose have been a direct and indirect contribution, or attempt.)

Seeing bundle under my arm he asked me at once, "What have you got there?"

—which, upon my opening, he examined with pleasure and relish.

have had a sculptor visitor—his name is O'Donovan—he is from New York—he has come on proposing to take my

Then I told him what S. had detailed and he laughed, "Well, I put my foot in it there, to be sure—for

He called my thoughts in another direction.

s room, he looked at it and confirmed my opinion, "I am inclined to repeat what you say—that it is better

He has "no word from the North American Review yet—yet I see that my piece on National Literature is

My warm response to this causing his pathetic reference to Jeff: "The good boy!

Do not usually mention my letters because W. is curious to see them and there's always something in them

"Tempting as it is, I have forborne—have stuck by my room."

I were nothing; From what I am determin'd to make illustrious, even if I stand sole among men; From my

The oath of the inseparableness of two together—of the woman that loves me, and whom I love more than my

warp and from the woof; (To talk to the perfect girl who understands me, To waft to her these from my

own lips—to effuse them from my own body;) From privacy—from frequent repinings alone; From plenty of

the right person not near; From the soft sliding of hands over me, and thrusting of fingers through my

I were nothing, From what I am determined to make illustrious, even if I stand sole among men, From my

The oath of the inseparableness of two together—of the woman that loves me, and whom I love more than my

, (To talk to the perfect girl who understands me—the girl of The States, To waft to her these from my

own lips—to effuse them from my own body;) From privacy—From frequent repinings alone, From plenty of

the right person not near, From the soft sliding of hands over me, and thrusting of fingers through my

My heart's best gratitude to you for it. It was indeed welcomed.

Tonight I have had two good hours' work upon my paper (on you) wh.

I have just returned from a long round of visits in my open carriage wh.

window as I write & gloifies the sombre brick building of the Lanc & York Ry Good's yard opposite—(my

I must now stop as my time is up.

Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Friday, September 13, 1889 and Saturday, September 14, 1889: "My

last July & August and then for the last two months have been in Boston, seeing to the printing of my

complete poems "Leaves of Grass" in one volume—which is all done to my satisfaction, & the book will

did have some jolly times I tell you— The Saturday evening before I came away I gave a reception to my

all right—I should be real glad to see them & Deb too—When Harry comes home Sunday tell him I sent my

—Well it is growing twilight & I must stop— Walt Whitman my address here for ten days will be Mott av

My dear Walt,— Your letter to Wm. of July 24. he forwarded to me in a letter that I got last evening.

Did you like my picture?

You told William you got my letter, so you must have got the picture enclosed.

It was in my first letter—I have sent you three, this is my fourth to you, have you got them all?

Just think, Walt, of my being a lion down here on your account, because it is known that I have the honor

In my opinion, the appointment of such an officer is desirable for many considerations.

Since my connection with the Department of Justice, I have had occasion to observe that a large proportion

in the views expressed by you to the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and have the honor to add my

The questions of law upon which my opinion is requested are not stated, and there is among the papers

I, therefore, feel under the necessity of returning the papers to you, and of asking that, if my opinion

of the claim, a statement of the facts of the case, and of the questions of law upon which you wish my

WalterGraffinHarris, Frank (1856–1931)Harris, Frank (1856–1931) Best known for his unreliable autobiography My

In My Life and Loves, he tells of hearing Whitman's 1877 Philadelphia lecture on Paine and being greatly

My Life and Loves. 1922. Ed. John F. Gallagher. New York: Grove, 1963. Pullar, Philippa.

Agnes designs a big charcoal reproduction of the Gutekunst picture by my father.

W. likes the idea, and proposes to send her a picture from which my father can work. The day cool.

Later in the day he sent proof up to my home. Added to it his Rossetti letter.

A SIGHT in camp in the day-break grey and dim, As from my tent I emerge so early, sleepless, As slow

Who are you, my dear comrade? Then to the second I step—And who are you, my child and darling?

MY spirit to yours, dear brother; Do not mind because many, sounding your name, do not understand you

I do not sound your name, but I understand you, (there are others also;) I specify you with joy, O my

divisions, jealousies, recriminations on every side, They close peremptorily upon us, to surround us, my

MY spirit to yours dear brother, Do not mind because many sounding your name do not under- stand understand

you, I do not sound your name, but I understand you, I specify you with joy O my comrade to salute you

- ousies jealousies , recriminations on every side, They close peremptorily upon us to surround us, my

MY spirit to yours, dear brother, Do not mind because many, sounding your name, do not understand you

I do not sound your name, but I understand you, (there are others also;) I specify you with joy, O my

divisions, jealousies, recriminations on every side, They close peremptorily upon us, to surround us, my

when you refer to me, mind not so much my poems, Nor speak of me that I prophesied of The States, and

I will take you down underneath this impassive exterior—I will tell you what to say of me: Publish my

name and hang up my picture as that of the tenderest lover, The friend, the lover's portrait, of whom

MY spirit to yours dear brother, Do not mind because many sounding your name do not under- stand understand

you, I do not sound your name, but I understand you, I specify you with joy O my comrade to salute you

- ousies jealousies , recriminations on every side, They close peremptorily upon us to surround us, my

A SIGHT in camp in the day-break grey and dim, As from my tent I emerge so early, sleepless, As slow

Who are you, my dear comrade? Then to the second I step—And who are you, my child and darling?

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, March 4, 1868 My dear Mr.

I can fully join in the same testimony, as he treated, as physician or surgeon, many a case under my

I send you, dear sir, my friendliest respects & well wishes, Walt Whitman Walt Whitman to W. O.

For the month of July my address is as above.

winter Were you pleased with the article and portrait of yourself which appeared in the sixth volume of my

not happen to have seen the work, I will take pleasure in sending you the sketch and illustration on my

The mere reading from some of your pages serving to open the eyes of my hearers.

I am perfectly certain that this will be my spring message as long as you stay here with us.— As for

Please give my regards to Traubel and other friends.

July 21 1880 My dear Sir: I have long been waiting for an opportunity to invite you to my house here,

I mailed you the programme program some days ago, and now write to invite you to come to my house for

dots shoots of spasms of pain (quite instantaneous) in abdomen—have the pain early morning, bed rising—my

—Dr Thomas came over & Fox subsequently with nice glasses wh' upon trial did not seem to agree with my

eyes—strained them, & less clear than my old ones, wh' I resumed & since prefer to use—but something

Louis, March 28th 1869 Wm O'Connor My dear friend I am anxious to obtain through you whatever copies

with me here, and when you can duplicate the copies we would both be thankful I must beg pardon for my

much when had) I am forced to secure as best I can the records of the experience of others Please give my

Niagara Falls, America September 28 '80 My dear friend I must write you a line or two—but it will be

a short letter—I am on my way back to Camden, stopping here only temporarily.

& affectionate—(Dr has several times spoken of you) —I rec'd received your letter of a month since —My