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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

that love me, (Arous'd and angry, I'd thought to beat the alarum, and urge relentless war, But soon my

fingers fail'd me, my face droop'd and I resign'd myself, To sit by the wounded and soothe them, or

2 O maidens and young men I love and that love me, What you ask of my days those the strangest and sudden

Bearing the bandages, water and sponge, Straight and swift to my wounded I go, Where they lie on the

thigh, the knee, the wound in the abdomen, These and more I dress with impassive hand, (yet deep in my

that love me, (Arous'd and angry, I'd thought to beat the alarum, and urge relentless war, But soon my

fingers fail'd me, my face droop'd and I resign'd myself, To sit by the wounded and soothe them, or

2 O maidens and young men I love and that love me, What you ask of my days those the strangest and sudden

Bearing the bandages, water and sponge, Straight and swift to my wounded I go, Where they lie on the

thigh, the knee, the wound in the abdomen, These and more I dress with impassive hand, (yet deep in my

My heart foreboding much, I rang the bell, Mrs.

my boy I have gone far under!

Then: "I have done nothing to-daytoday: for the first time my appetite has positively, wholly, given

I reached down, kissed him: he kissed me, saying thickly: "Bless you, my boy! bless you!"

It is my nephew—the second son of my sister.

My mother used to tell us often about my father—that his love for the youngsters and for cattle was marvellous—simply

then explained, "I have a spice of wickedness in me—a vein that makes me rejoice to tell Bucke of my

—"It was to distinguish me from my father originally and then the name held.

Whitman does not surprise or startle me: I take quite naturally to that, too—though my friends, young

I had no bars up against my freedom—always went whither I list.

He knew my step—and of course knew my voice. "Shall I strike a light?"

I turned the letter over in my mind a good deal today, and this evening, as I ate my dinner, the light

I spoke of my preference, rather for the independent instinct of the Irish woman.

W. then: "Yes—so do I: I abate nothing of my democratic sympathies.

"He is one of my prime favorites—the earliest of all."

"With each month that passes I feel more and more uncertain on my pins.""

A little of it here and there I might say no to, but I guess my no wouldn't be very loud."

My friends here and there, both sides, do not realize how badly broken up I am. Another thing.

"After my dear, dear mother, I guess Lincoln gets almost nearer me than anybody else."

I want Horace to come down with his hatchet or come down and use my hatchet and open the box."

My only feeling in the matter is one of intense curiosity.

Give my love to Horace and say to him that I will write him soon.

My trip is agreeing with me and I am as well and hearty as possible.Best love to youR. M.

It would only add to my cares.

any injustice—though Dave is quite in my hands now, if I choose to crush him.

Called my attention at once to another postal from Washington.

"I can't be arrogant with myself—can't absolutely subdue myself: my fears will spring up—then my hopes

"I wrote my usual postal to William—also a postal to the Doctor."

He therefore said: "I am getting pretty near my financial edge—my limit.

He was a little twitted by my stubbornness. I saw it.

As he saw my big bundle he asked: "What have you got there—what is all that?"

W. acquiesced in my disposition of the various business matters.

"I, for my part, am satisfied—fully satisfied: would let it go at that.

A thousand thanks my dear Walt Whitman for all you have written.

"It would take a good deal." said W., "to persuade me from my conviction—my old conviction, born at the

Upon my protest he said: "No, it's all right: I was just thinking whether I should not go over to the

My own personal choice among books is for those you can put in your pocket."

My dear Mr. Whitman:Allow me to introduce to your acquaintance my young friend, Mr. E. H.

visit to you last March, when I was on my way home from Johns Hopkins University.

Pardon my delay in acknowledging, due to illness.

was originally intended as a sort of barricade: I set it up to hold back the desperate assaults of my

a condition of half-suspended life"—adding: "Do you just keep things moving until I get balanced on my

Stopped at Osler's on my way to church. Not at home.

I hate to have anybody around, right in my room, watching me. Maurice, do I need to be watched?"

I trust that you have not so far forgotten my article as to think my meaning was that attributed to me

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

But he said: "I am not myself today: I am very uncomfortable in my head: very uncomfortable in my belly

Went off to town to keep my appointment with Bucke.

My dear Walt:I snatch five minutes from writing up the wrecks.

I shook my head.

Said to Bucke: "I am not at my worst—neither at my best."

"My health has only been so-so, neither much good nor much bad."

I talked to W. of my Japanese friend Tatui Baba.

Of course my report would be forty years old or so.

I don't intend it for cant when I say in my book that my best lesson is the lesson by which I am myself

Robert Buchanan's new volume of essays placed in my hands.

Still, I know my own condition—don't need him to tell me about that—can't be fooled."

He still insisted: "I know my condition better than any doctor."

I fell to-nighttonight—had a cup of water in my hand."

He is as dear to me as my old clothes!"

W. waited for my reply. I said some things.

I was alone, the family of my host having gone on some visit to a neighbor.

Insensibly, my consciousness became less and less distinct; my head leaned back; my eyes closed; and

my senses relaxed from their waking vigilance.

The person to whom I spoke stared in my face surprisedly.

"Himself hung it around my neck," said the veteran.

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 &

Left article with Bonsall on my way to Philadelphia.

He explained, "It is my intention to have them all bound up—to have them brought here.

For one thing, it is too trifling; for another, it is against my habit, my confirmed determinations.

, only of such as came into my mind at the moment.

They must go as they came—my hand, word, knowing nothing of birth or death.

Some of my readers doubtless imagine that my series of sketches had come to an end, as they have not

from the city, and a multiplicity of other engagements, have hitherto prevented me from continuing my

Tall, portly, good-humored in feature as in fact, my subject is known, admired, and respected by all

In a word, he is my model of what an intelligent citizen’s conduct should be, in matters political.

Perrin never equaled my subject as a manager and facilitator of legislative business.

My dear Mr.

gladly avail myself of so tempting an opening for saying that I am the same—& shall feel confident that my

indeed it cannot have needed telling—that you were a very principal subject of our discourse, & of my

friends amply share my feeling.

My vol. volume of Selections from American Poets doesn't seem likely to be published yet awhile.

editorial decisions, which included editing potentially objectionable content and removing entire poems: "My

Said as to my inquiries: "I am bad again, very bad—somehow start into a new siege: it is my head, my

At my mention of the 3/4 length—"Ah! yes! that I take to be my right bower!"

s room dark on my entrance, he on bed, and alone in my room.

Adding after my negative response—"He is a good friend of mine, of Leaves of Grass.

I think that quite a work—at least, that was my impression at the time."

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

Walt Whitman's Last—Good-Bye My Fancy

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

Stopped in on my way to the city. All well there.

But he resented my explanation. Insisted that the cords were short.

It is your very worst habit: it gives my vanity, complacency, many a jar!"

The affair" (my dismissal) "was settled upon before I knew it."

What instinct ever drove him to my desk?

My experience is a peculiar one: something like this"—working his hand circularly—"it is as if things

Had not suffered any from the fall in temperature.We talked of my work—of my bookkeeping: how at times

He had been "put in charge of the Attorney General's letters: cases were put into my hands—small cases

to them all so passed some of them over to me to examine, report upon, sum up: which I did mainly by my

I had a copy of Harper's Bazar in my pocket.

149uva.00009xxx.00713[My two theses]about 1856poetryhandwritten1 leaf4 x 16 cm pasted to 10.5 x 16 cm

[My two theses]

loc.04741xxx.00946In writing my history of Brooklynabout 1862prose1 leafhandwritten; Brief note regarding

In writing my history of Brooklyn

loc.04657xxx.00948[To-day completes my three-score-and]1889prosepoetry1 leafprintedhandwritten; Printer's

[To-day completes my three-score-and]

420 Green Ave Brooklyn Apr. 10/91 My Dear Mr.

Whitman: Allow me to introduce to you my friend of many years' standing—Mr.

the whole MS. pretty well—with an eye to correction of dates & statistics—have a very few times made my

own comments & suggestions (from my own point of view, or feeling, or knowledge)—you follow the suggestions

Wednesday Evn'g Oct: 3 '88 The doctor was here this afternoon & speaks encouragingly but I still keep in my

sick room—My books are thro' the electrotyper & printer & are now in the binder —Soon as ready I shall

Monday PM Aug: 6 '88 Hot & sweltering weather here now the sixth day—No good news to send you ab't my

—sitting up —but have not left my room— Walt Whitman Walt Whitman to William D.

Debris 5 DESPAIRING cries float ceaselessly toward me, day and night, The sad voice of Death—the call of my

alarmed, uncertain, This sea I am quickly to sail, come tell me, Come tell me where I am speeding—tell me my

I can never answer my own question—never make up my mind.

It is a question in my mind, whether the dash of insanity which Plato permits—even insists upon—for the

Asked me, "Is the general closed-inness of things I see out my window here prevailing in Philadelphia—on

s on my way home—spent a good half an hour.

W. went on: "I have written my wish on the top of the leaf—they will understand.

I put in: "Listen to my guess: I guess the book will come from 60 to 75 pages." He smiled.

"I shouldn't wonder—that is exactly my guess."

My dearest Friend, Do not think me too wilful or headstrong but I have taken our tickets & we shall sail

And since we have to come to a decision my mind has been quite at rest.

I have arranged for my goods to sail a week later than we do, so as to give us time.

Good bye for a short while my dearest Friend Anne Gilchrist.

10 Oct '71 tuesday Tuesday morning O c 10 My dear walt Walt i had company yesterday so i dident didn't

daughters has their own to attend to which is perfectly natural) george George and loo and Jeff insists on my

but houseroo m at any rate i shant shan't break up as long as i can get around if i lo s e the use of my

suppose they do it for the best they think i live so lonesome) but worry about me breaking up i have had my

I am now in the eighth week of my furlough—it is seven weeks last Tuesday night since we parted there

add only a few words, in order to put it in the mail this evening—I am working a while every day at my

printing yet—but I go around considerable—still go out in the bay—& enjoy myself among my friends here

find myself now far more for the French than I ever was for the Prussians — Then I propose to take my

—I send you some papers to-day— —There is nothing new with me, or my condition—My principal malady is

no worse)—but I have had for three or four days a wretched cold in the head, sore throat, most lost my

nice view for me to sit & look out—the letter carrier comes around in about an hour from now, & takes my

My Dear, Good, Old Friend, Again have I to thank you for your kindness in sending us news of yourself—your

them & it is a genuine & deep satisfaction & joy to us I note also that you "half think" that one of my

letters—dated Aug 8 — did not reach you & in case this should be so I now send you a copy of it, from my

My heart's best love to you now & always Johnston.

England 25 Feb 1892 My dear Friend I send you just a few lines to thank you for your very great kindness

You say "Whoso touches my book, touches me," and with reverence I claim to take you by the hand, and

call you brother, yea, though you are also my Master.

I am My dear Brother Gratefully & lovingly yours Sam Thompson Samuel Thompson to Walt Whitman, 25 February

Philadelphia, 2 Mo. 23 188 3 Walt Whitman Camden NJ My dear friend I claim the privileges of the name

Robert Pearsall Smith Two hundred Shares of the Capital Stock of the Sierra Bella Mining Co standing in my

name on the books of the said Company, and do hereby constitute and appoint Robert Pearsall Smith my

Whitman This certificate of Sierra Grande Mining Stock is to be returned to Robert Pearsall Smith at my

April 1891 My dear Walt Whitman, This morning's post brought me a note from D r J. with copy of a postcard

It gladdened my heart to note the cheerful hopeful tone in which Traubel refers to your condition, &

But my thoughts have been very full of you of late, & my heart's best love goes out to you always.