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—Letters f'm Bolton to-day —good weather, warm—I have just made my supper—some string beans & a dish

Mary Davis makes very nicely, tomatos stew'd with onions & crumbs of well toasted bread—(a dish my mother

My idea for the scheme of y'r full book w'd be— a rambling free art: by you another by Horace Sarrazin

1war and hospital notes and memorandaloc.00373xxx.00118[Farewell my brethren]about 1873poetry1 leafhandwritten

[Farewell my brethren]

A.MS. draft.loc.00088xxx.00236Returning to my pages' front oncebetween 1871 and 1876poetryhandwritten1

Returning to my pages' front once

if that were not the resumé; Of Histories—As if such, however complete, were not less complete than my

poems; As if the shreds, the records of nations, could possibly be as lasting as my poems; As if here

if that were not the resumé; Of Histories—As if such, however complete, were not less complete than my

poems; As if the shreds, the records of nations, could possibly be as lasting as my poems; As if here

Camden April 20. '87 My dear Major Mr Gilder of the Century has just sent me Andrew Carnegie's check

for $350 for his box—Making my remuneration $600 for the lecture — Walt Whitman Walt Whitman to Major

This will be my last utterance, my final message: in it, then, I must aim for the utmost excellence compatible

with my financial means and physical condition."

Ashton has spoken (at my instigation) to Mr.

Horace, I've had God's own luck with my friends no matter what my enemies say about me."

Sidney—my poor fellow!—there you are wrong—wrong!

Though away at the moment of my coming, W. was not long in making his appearance.

I have made up my mind that Harry and Buckwalter should have copies—so as Harry was here, I thought he

"It is not my funeral, you know!"

I have often taken to wondering lately, if my Quaker habit of waiting for the spirit or Socratic demon

I find anyhow that a great many of my readers credit my writings with things that do not attach to the

Told him my facsimiles had not arrived yet. "That is too bad, and yours the most important of all!"

condition, "He is undoubtedly on the down road again: I detected impairment in the few days between my

Give her my love & sympathy, poor dear girl!

It is my intention to mount and frame it, and have it on the most conspicious wall of my house where

Tom spoke of Hodgins as a friend of Bucke, W. calling Bucke "my best friend."

A.MS. draft.loc.00248xxx.00236[(Returning to my pages front once]between 1873-1876poetryhandwritten1

[(Returning to my pages front once]

My dear Mr.

Wood, I write to solicit from you $2, for helping my soldier boys to some festivities these holiday &

152yal.00146xxx.00866Walt Whitman's Last—Good-Bye My Fancy1891prose1 leafhandwritten; A draft of Walt

Walt Whitman's Last—Good-Bye My Fancy

hill, fifty yards from the house, where my books and papers are, and where I spend most of my time.

I have theories of my own."

How considerate, gentle and generous my British friends are!

L. and my New England friends.

world dont mourn forme my beloved sons and daughters farewell my dearbeloved Walter" Sunday, April 7

Then: "I can easily see that what you say is true: for my part these things have little value: but I

Especially now do I need other fodder: my mind is in such a state I need food which will frivol it.

I want to frivol my evening away." He was very earnest.

companion in my delinquency!'"

Though we have never met personally, I have heard of you from my mother and sister.

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

Not in this beating & pounding at my temples & wrists, O pulse of my life!

See the pastures and forests in my poems.

My children and grand-children—my white hair and beard, My largeness, calmness, majesty, out of the long

stretch of my life.— I will duly pass the day, O my mother!

hottest day of the season—but I have got thro' fairly with it—& have just finish'd & quite enjoy'd my

Not yet left my room for down stairs— Walt Whitman Walt Whitman to Mary Whitall Smith Costelloe, 4 August

April 13 '79 My dear Sir To break the tedium of my half-invalidism—& as an experiment—I have come on

and good: if not then I shall run the risk and keep the sheets in my own hands."

book is of another order: it is the collected statement of my life— of my work: a statement of what

"It probably is a whim—my whimsicality—but so it must be."

Insisted on my taking the nickel for the paper.

This will be my birthday gift to the world, my last, my parting, gift: the world has made many birthday

He sat in his armchair reading the Press, but at once took the Herald out of my hands.

I can honestly say that I like to hear all that is to be said in criticism of my work, my life: but you

My vehemence amused him.

That will be my good-bye to the letter.

The world must move on without my fighting for it."

had enclosed in our letters a little slip, containing the following letter: Cambridge, March 13, 1877 My

The truth is my affairs here demand my constant presence.

One of my men has left me & cannot yet find another.

Then he said: "My advice to the boys would be, let it be a local affair if it must."

But he has not been well—"My head troubles me a great deal.

As to leaving this place just now—it is impossible—out of the question: my legs would not take me if

If I went off somewhere into more complaisant surroundings—had servants at my beck, the best of food,

I might be tempted some——I could not be tempted enough to go—my decision would be finally reverse."

"I like to get all my relations with people personal, human.

Whitman.Some days ago came my parcel—many thanks—Mr. Grosairt's books included. That for Mr.

When I get better or well enough—on my feet again—I shall have him come over and talk while I listen.

it again: "I did a lot of that work in the hospitals: it was in a sense the most nearly real work of my

farewell for [the] present, and I pray that God may be with you, and though we are strangers I send my

As to L. of G.Leaves of Grass: "It does not seem like my book—it is your book, too: anybody's book who

I guess something—a lot—can be said on the conservative side: my contention is not that much cannot be

Give him my cordial sympathy.Yours sincerely,W. D.

"Well, when you do need, do not neglect me: I want to be called on for my share."

I shall cherish to my dying day as I wd. my choicest heart's blood.

Nor ever, I believe.Am pegging away at my Whittier.

W. remarks, "You can hardly imagine how much my curiosity is aroused.

First thing that struck my eye in Press were these notices:Obituary.Thomas J.

Of course he will laugh, but that is my way of describing it."

I told W. frankly my view and he said, "I so understand it, too—so from the Colonel.

Did not say a word about my manuscript nor did I ask him.

But it set my head whirling round like the worlds. I could not stand it—stopped.

I can look ahead—see the whole transaction laid out before my mind.

My greatest interest now is to know how Doctor fared with Tennyson.

He then, "That was right—I do wish it as kept—it is my final request.

All my close friends have taken a lick at this chronological business—Mrs.

I put in, "One of my arguments was, I don't know any reason why an epilogue should come at the head of

Said of his condition: "Till this evening, my day has been very poor—a poor one indeed.

That has been my course from the first—to write what I must write—not hesitatingly but decisively—and

But I found no change from my first impression.

I have been recommended by quite a dozen—and a dozen of the best fellows—my fellows, friends—to read

I have often felt, my good luck with the women has been phenomenal!"

W. listened to my detail of this with apparently intense interest.

I am very careless of my possessions.

The fact is the subject was so august to my mind that I never got courage or time to sit down to it.

Now about my obligation on November Boughs, I despair of doing what I wish to do.

I like once a year, when I can, to give my people a good thorough dose of some noble works.

Referred to it: "Yes—my piece appeared today—and today came the proof of the other piece, too—'Old Age's

It was indeed a striking piece of work, and on my remark that it was the best Century page for a long

The noble breadth of page seems to lend itself to my lines."

W. taking my repetition of this thus: "I feel it is true.

Clemens) for Walt Whitman.I write from my bed. Where's the book?SincerelyR. W.

Spoke of my trip to New York.

Traubel:I am glad you called my attention to the Contemporary Club bill.

He was so new in every way and I shocked my wife by saying—"He reminds me of Jesus in some way."

My impression was of a new force introduced into life, and because it killed a lot of sacred prejudices

My judgement has and will confirm.He is deep in life and I love life.

Dear Pete, According to announcement in my last, I have made a movement & change of base, from tumultuous

I suppose you got my last letter, 14th, from N. Y. I expect to return to N. Y. about the 22d.

Last night, when I went up at 11 o'clock to my room, I took up three great bunches, each as big as my

It is quite a change here from my associations & surroundings either in Washington or New York.

I send you my love, dear Pete. So long . Will write from N. Y. soon as I return there. W W P.S.

, I wrote you a two-page letter (with scrap codicil ) on August 14 1875, giving you the " theory of my

have prompted me to ask you if it would be necessary for my theory to be abandoned "!

And now seeing how my laziness is growing on me so much, the question comes to me thus— will you let

me resign my commission ?

I tender you my resignation of the Lieutenant .

And on my remark that Tennyson certainly expressed more strength than—for instance—was expressed in Whittier

an essay—"The Relation of English to German Literature in the Eighteenth Century") was a friend of my

Brinton said in the course of a letter I received today: "Thanks for conveying my wishes to W. W.

W. exclaimed upon my reading: "That is certainly fine—fine—fine!

I am in any danger that people will think so of me, I had better watch myself more closely—for fear my

Looked rather pale, and on my remarking it, said: "It is true, I guess: I am not feeling well: these

A curious letter (dated 3/12/90) starting off—"Dear Walt, my beloved master, my friend, my bard, my prophet

noise of the world a rural domestic life, Give me to warble spontaneous songs recluse by myself, for my

excitement, and rack'd by the war-strife,) These to procure incessantly asking, rising in cries from my

heart, While yet incessantly asking still I adhere to my city, Day upon day and year upon year O city

enrich'd of soul, you give me forever faces; (O I see what I sought to escape, confronting, reversing my

cries, I see my own soul trampling down what it ask'd for.) 2 Keep your splendid silent sun, Keep your

noise of the world a rural domestic life, Give me to warble spontaneous songs recluse by myself, for my

excitement, and rack'd by the war-strife,) These to procure incessantly asking, rising in cries from my

heart, While yet incessantly asking still I adhere to my city, Day upon day and year upon year O city

enrich'd of soul, you give me forever faces; (O I see what I sought to escape, confronting, reversing my

cries, I see my own soul trampling down what it ask'd for.) 2 Keep your splendid silent sun, Keep your

world, a rural domestic life; Give me to warble spontaneous songs, reliev'd, recluse by myself, for my

excitement, and rack'd by the war-strife;) These to procure, incessantly asking, rising in cries from my

heart, While yet incessantly asking, still I adhere to my city; Day upon day, and year upon year, O

enrich'd of soul—you give me forever faces; (O I see what I sought to escape, confronting, reversing my

cries; I see my own soul trampling down what it ask'd for.) 2 Keep your splendid silent sun; Keep your

She makes a half barbarous life for herself, however and allmost almost baffles all my efforts at times

: Han could have done better and saved me great mortification, but her mother in Brooklyn, thwarted my

For my part I have as much care as I desire, and more than I ever anticipated.

I have just paid off the mortgage on my house and have sustained myse lf here, not so much upon the merit

or appreciation of my paintings, as by a certai n force of character, which has found sympathy among

Dear Son, I am sitting here in my room, having just eat a hearty dinner with my mammy , (who has this

month entered on her 76th year, but to my eyes looks young & handsome yet.)

c—he has one fault, & a bad one—that is he will drink, & spree it—which spoils all—True it is none of my

would give it up, & find his pleasure in some other way—Pete, should you see Allen again, give him my

My dear Mr.

As far as my own opinion goes, I would say that there is a certainty of success, a sufficient success

I need not say that if you would come to our house in Dublin my wife & I would be made abundantly happy

Each I assure you has been valued, (though my thanks are tardy); & your letter has been read or heard

My address is as before 50, Wellington Road, Dublin.

My Dearest Friend: I have had all the welcome papers with accounts of your doings, and to-day a nice

My friends told me I looked ten years younger when I came back from America than when I went.

missing the sunshine & working a little too hard, was feeling quite knocked up: so Bee insisted on my

that you step from the lawn into [a] winding wood-path, along which I wander by the hour: and from my

My friend is a noble, large-hearted, capable woman, who devotes all her life and energies to keeping

Whitman: "Because you have, as it were, given me a ground for the love of men I thank you continually in my

My Dear Walt: Your card to hand last night, with its sad account of dear Mrs.

Very glad, my dear old Walt, to see your strong familiar handwriting again; it does one good, it's so

John Burroughs was very violent against my intaglio; on the other hand, Alma Tadema —our great painter

My portrait represents him standing firmly, in a scarlet hunting-coat well stained with many a wet chase

I have long meant to build up something of you from my studies, adding colour.

20 Jan. 1867 sunday Sunday afternoon my dear Walt i must write you a few lines and only a few to let

you know how we are i can hardly write on account of lameness in my right arm down toward my wrist it

redug between this and the great trenches it looks like destruction ) we are all pretty well except my

arm and sis she aint ain't very well she is by my side asleep in the rocking chair its very rare for

would have made me feel miserable were it not that before then the matter had already been set right, & my

My first letter to you was written too much from the impulse of the moment; &, finding soon after from

Not one syllable of any one of your poems, as presented in my selection, will be altered or omitted:

To be by your friendship is as great a satisfaction & distinction as my life has presented or ever can

acquiesce in the express views he takes of late years of particular questions wd be simply to abnegate my

magazines—the more necessary now as quite a set-back & very bad piece of luck has happened to me in my

one's mind that no words or writing can describe—I wish Jo and Debby to see this letter—& I send them my

back here again by nine o'clock, in time to finish the piece I have under way—Tell Mrs Rogers I send my

pleasure the nice visit & dinner in Linden Street—I have not forgotten Jane either — Susan you speak of my

It was conducted by a gentleman and his niece, free—I tell you it opened my eyes to many new things—makes

have seen John Burroughs & he wants me to go up there to Esopus, but I don't think I shall go —I find my

the time except at mid-day— I suppose Hattie and Jessie are there, all right —Dear girls, I send you my

home & see you—I will finish to-night— Sunday 3½ p m West Point 50 miles above on the Hudson I finish my

with the Park opposite like a dense woods—is pleasant, but cloudy & almost cold to-day—(if I had not my

but no bother & no whimpering or quarreling at all under any circumstances—they form a great part of my

Lovering," Poet Whitman said, "wrote to me about five weeks ago, saying that my Boston friends wished

Lovering, of the Committee on Pensions, who was favorable to the project, and asking my consent.

It was whilst assisting at a surgical operation that I became poisoned throughout my system, after which

I became prostrated by hospital malaria, which finally caused my paralysis."

Perry, & Co., against the United States—in which you request my opinion upon the legal questions involved

among the papers—nor, indeed, any statement from an official source of the precise questions on which my

Comptroller, or may be agreed upon, together with the questions of law arising thereon, touching which my

opinion is desired, I shall be happy to consider the questions, and give my opinion.

I have been making a few notes to-day," said W., "on the subject of my removal from the Interior Department

know, Secretary Harlan took the Leaves even more seriously than Munger: he abstracted the book from my

The more or less anonymous young writers and journalists of Washington were greatly incensed—made my

Louis: 'The removal of Whitman was the mistake of my life.'"

and then in the silence, Alone I had thought—yet soon a silent troop gathers around me, Some walk by my

side, and some behind, and some embrace my arms or neck, They, the spirits of friends, dead or alive—thicker

lilac, with a branch of pine, Here out of my pocket, some moss which I pull'd off a live-oak in Florida

from the water by the pond-side, that I reserve, I will give of it—but only to them that love, as I my

stopping now and then in the silence, Alone I had thought—yet soon a troop gathers around me, Some walk by my

side, and some behind, and some em- brace embrace my arms or neck, They, the spirits of dear friends

lilac, with a branch of pine, Here, out of my pocket, some moss which I pull'd off a live-oak in Florida

from the water by the pond-side, that I reserve, I will give of it—but only to them that love, as I my