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—McKay, my Phila: publisher, has just been over—paid me $77 for royalties for the last eight months—I

paid the Camden taxes on my shanty to-day $26 —The photos come from Cox all right, & I sign & return

—When you come again, don't forget to bring my Stedman book American Poets —Love to Alma and Al and all

Johnston on September 1, 1887, "He advertises . . . to sell my photo, with autograph.

431 Stevens Street Camden New Jersey May 8 '78 My dear Linton I returned last evening from a jaunt to

half-&-half)—after a bad spell during March & most of April—thought I was going to have a relapse to my

—Since my late sick spell, it is not so likely the programme will be carried out —but I want to go about

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]

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

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

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

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

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.

My Canary Bird. MY CANARY BIRD.

course they are original autograph & date—Am getting along ab't as usual—have just lighted a fire in my

stove, & had the big old wolf-skin spread on the back of my chair — Walt Whitman Walt Whitman to Elizabeth

I haven't cast out all of my devils yet." Brought him new proofs which he at once glanced over.

"I do little nowadays but sit and thank my stars that I have fallen into such good hands in the time

of my need."

W. added, answering another question of Harned's: "I like to keep my prices down to the level of my real

My acquaintance with Leaves of Grass dates from my early university days some ten years ago, when having

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

I'll send a copy too of my last book, Songs of the Heights and Deeps.

I formerly sent you some of my poetry, but it was early work.

My debt to you is great. Would that I could express it in person!

He does not do full justice to Emerson as I hope to show in my essay.

Friday, March 18, 1892W. not asleep on my round (8:15) but not in shape to say much.

During my visit was turned on right side but could not lie long; cough soon annoyed him.

He saw me and called my name.

Then I asked, "Did Webster send you a check for my fund?" "No, no check—it was only a letter."

I hurried in, the Bolton letter in my hand.

He held my hand then without change till I said good-bye.

Tell him my love is with him daily & hourly.

Also give my love to that little wife Annie whom I forgot in my other letter.

And to my assent, "And did he say it was all in good order, in no way damaged?"

Said W. thereupon, "My latest judgment is like my first—that this is far and above the best thing we

—Why should I trouble you with my pains? You have pains of your own." He paused for a minute.

"Neither did I for the most of my life: I hardly knew I had a stomach or a head for all the trouble I

I am told that Stoddard is pretty sour on me—hates even to have my name mentioned in his presence, never

"I am always sure that in some way my friends hear all that I say about them: all the love I say about

My dear friend and fellow toiler good bye.Yours faithfully,Joaquin Miller. Saturday, April 21, 1888.

He did not move at my entrance nor did I disturb him. Then to Philadelphia. (Mrs.

This is now my own personal, authenticated volume—sealed, signed, made as it stands, by me, to so remain

It is my ultimate, my final word and touch, to go forth now, for good or bad, into the world of the future

left with him.Speaking again of his condition, "I am weak—weak—weak, but everybody is so kind to me, my

Give my love to Walt.

Sunday, August 2, 1891Did not see W. today—but on my way to Philadelphia stopped at Post Office where

Either he stepped behind his wife or she ran between us, for, by the time I had my pistol in my hand,

Our right arms crossed and I felt the muzzle of his pistol against my coat when I fired."

I felt that my revolver had missed fire and that I was wounded.

With the idea that my gun was no good, I dropped it and grabbed Baker's wrist.

Near their rallying place I had been born (Manchester) if my parents had put off their voyage for a single

Will you return to them my cordial thanks and good wishes.

How proudly my father & mother will drop their tears on the message!...Ever,John H.

My memory plays me the devil's own trips." Will "try" to "have it made ready tomorrow."

I stamped it out with my foot. But for the chance of my presence, things may have gone evil.

(Now, if there were living near me, such people that I could take my Walt Whitman books with me, and

I dont don't want my your books worn out by borrow ers but I like to lend them as I feel like—sending

I see that I can get (or have) the means to come and pay my own way, first and last.

All stubbornly at my own expense. As I write this, I am not disposed to come there.

As I have exhausted my sheet, I forbear giving news of the situation with us, till such is called for

previously published in Leaves of Grass, "Passage to India" was Whitman's attempt to "celebrate in my

to start off on a long business & drumming tour west—goes in three weeks, will be away two months— My

May 11 / 89 Dear Walt: Yesterday on my way up to Olive to see my wife's father, who is near the end of

No words come to my pen adequate to express the sense of the loss we have we suffered in the death of

Drop me a line my dear friend if you are able to do so. With the old love John Burroughs A. D.

M Chicago, June 1 st 18 89 My Dear Old Friend The enclosed I clipped from the Inter Ocean today, and

Whitman Sent "My 71st Year" on June 9, 1889 to Richard Watson Gilder of the Century, where it appeared

Jenks, My dear Sir, I have rec'd your note of 30th Nov. with $3.

Please accept my special acknowledgments.

—Change my base a good deal—but this is my centre & p o address W.W. Walt Whitman to George W.

Dave, I send a couple copies of my pho's, one for the children each—(If I knew their first names I w'd

have written on) W W Have just had my breakfast—hot buckwheat cakes with syrup & a cup of tea— Merry

328 Mickle Street Camden N J May 24 Dear J B— I am ab't in my usual general health, but lameness bad

—had a fall a month ago, & turned my ankle in—don't think I will be able to come up to West Park— W W

Feb: 8 '89 Am thinking a good deal ab't you to-day—have rec'd the card N[elly] sent & it has rous'd my

tho't's & sympathies greatly—Nothing new or special in my condition— Love to you & N— Walt Whitman Walt

cold still persists: my head is still much choked by it."

work finally makes on me—the response it meets with, in my own consciousness."

Still at times my thoughts all go back ["God knows, John!

I can't get back my ruminating habit.

Then: "After my meal, my dinner, I put up the sash—so—on all these milder days: today is debatable ground

I had hardly got in, had my greeting, and heard him say, "I am a little eased today at least of my cold

"I am in a very poor way bodily: I can hardly get to the door there: and yet I keep up my hope, my cheer

, I can almost say my buoyancy."

they are my father and my dear mother: the picture of my father is very good: that of my mother is not

Said: "I used to thrust papers, things, into my pockets: always had a lot of reading matter about my

do I not see my love fluttering out there among the breakers?

Loud I call to you, my love!

who I am, my love.

Hither, my love! Here I am! Here!

But my love no more, no more with me! We two together no more!

Harned, my sister Gussie, the boy, Clifford, along. W. in bright mood. Talked fluently.

Picked up a box of candies which he gave to my sister.

In the midst of some talk, W. turned to my sister: "And the baby?"

Then: "Yes: yes: Priestley is my man too—my man as you present him, but not my man in the aspect these

W. said: "Tom, all of you are too good to me: my friends: you give me so much without my asking I'd feel

Nothing that I can read seems to change my opinion of Carlyle.

The morning after my return some wretch poisoned my dog and the loss has quite upset me.

Alcott praised my Emerson piece, but Sanborn appeared not to know anything about my writings.

I did not feel like calling on him of my own motive. Alcott said he was well.

He evidently wanted to pitch into my Eagle, but was afraid of the claws.

It is one of the strongest of my good-humored pictures.

Some of my pictures are strong but too severe—don't you think so?

I was looking fixedly at the portrait in my hand. He noticed it. "What's the matter?"

"On the whole, I'd rather not: if I do I won't have enough for my own purpose."

So I put my stuff together and came to Camden. That was in the first period of my paralysis.

He answered: "I suppose I have destroyed the most of the letters that came back with my poems.

There is some Galaxy stuff still coming to you: I can't just now just put my hand on it."

But he still said: "Read a few: I want to have my memory refreshed."

My dear Mr. Whitman,I am glad you can do the nursing article. Thanks for the Father Taylor.

Musgrove will step in presently and put me to bed with or without my consent, and then——".

Good of you to attend to the complete vol. for my friend Muirhead—wh.

And he added, "Paine was one of my first loves and is one of my last, and he will yet achieve a high

Described my day's letter to Symonds. "I like it well—I like it all."

It was a good answer—would have been my own." A few more words, then farewell.

After I had left he called Warrie, "My grog, boy."

I have written Walt giving account of my reception here; you will see that letter and I need not repeat

I may say however that if nothing comes of my trip but what has already come of it here I shall consider

My reception here has been such that I am absolutely dumbfounded.

Called my attention to a postal he had written Johnston (I mailed it on my way up).Referred to O'Donovan

Longaker and Reeder to my house late in evening—photoed Morse bust by flash light.

Donald BarlowStauffer"Good-Bye my Fancy" (Second Annex) (1891)"Good-Bye my Fancy" (Second Annex) (1891

)This group of poems originally appeared in the book Good-Bye My Fancy (1891), Whitman's last miscellany

the New York theater, etc.A group of thirty-one poems from the book was later printed as "Good-Bye my

death he had frequently expressed in his younger years.There are two poems with the title "Good-Bye my

"Good-Bye my Fancy" (Second Annex) (1891)

My Arnold piece did not appear in Tuesday's Herald.

I am myself of late years more inclined to sit still exploiting and expounding my views than was the

Walt Whitman, Esq.Dear Sir—I have tried in vain to obtain a good portrait of my father for you and am

traps—stored in garret or cellar of my new house where all things are at sixes and sevens.The one as

I am always uneasy about the inquirers when they come buzzing about: they get on my skin and irritate

Then: "I have been out—startled—dazed: but now am better: have had my meal—strawberries, chiefly, which

Why, Horace, you have no idea of the exuberance of the man: he talks of buying all my books, of buying

W. said: "I am quite willing to sell him my books: that is what they are here for."

On my way to town this morning, I had met Bucke at the ferry, waiting for the Cape May train.

Gave me Contemporary Club cards for my sister Agnes.

Again—inquiring what papers I had in my hand, he looked at Harper's Weekly and Young People—remarking

Though how a fellow can be a Leaves-of-Grass-man and fall into such a ditch defeats all my explanations

"I have thought, how much can be done with stained glass—how much has been done: have thought of my own

I want to come—it is part of my duty yet while living, if I can.

My hope has been diminishing little by little, but not yet to a total negative."

Merry over my face, lost almost in the trees on the hill.

Asked me—pointing to table, "Did you see my lilies? Exquisite, eh?

—and with my love." Meanwhile taking them out himself."

What an idea, that about my reciting, reading, declaring my own poems!

I enjoy criticisms of my work even if I do not feel to justify them.

Stopped in on my way to Unitarian Church, where Law was to lecture on Alexander Wilson.

Wrote my name on its face. "This may have an especial value—on several accounts.

English rescuers in the dark years of my Camden sojourn.

No one, not my best friends—know what it means to me.

"I think I can lay my hand on it. Why, do you want it?

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 Dearest Friend: Welcome was your postcard announcing recovered health & return to Camden!

Strange episode in my life!

But meanwhile, dear Friend, my work lies here: innumerable are the ties that bind us.

Please give my love to your brothers & sister. Were Jessie & Hattie at home in St.

Please give my love to John Burroughs when you write or see him.

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

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

If one's patient has an ache or pain, the nurse whistles for the student (my whistle is 2).

One of my patients has empyema following pleurisy.

Several of my patients (I have all the very sick just now) require very careful watching.

Please give my love to Mrs. Whitman & remember me to Colonel Whitman.

If it were not for records accumulating mountain high I should have time to write to my friends.

54 Manchester Road Bolton Lancashire England Dec r 27 th 1890 Many thanks to you, my dear old friend,

Another treat in store for us is a Children's Party which my wife & I intend giving in our house, when

It will interest you to know that I have received a brief letter of acknowledgment of my "Notes" & of

I also send you copies of some verses I sent to some of my friends & a copy of this week's Annandale

Observer containing a notice of my "Notes."

—That this earthly habitation, is a place of torment to my miserable self, is made painfully evident

—you do not know, my friend, nor can you conceive, the horrid dulness of this place.

—And as avocations of this nature never met my fancy in any great degree, you may easily imagine what

O, ye gods, press me not too far—pour not my cup too full—or I know what I shall do.

—Dire and dreadful thoughts have lately been floating through my brain.

Along with the parcel of papers which you sent me after getting my baby's letter I got the picture and

I have yet on hand two big bales of my cotton crop intended for spending money for the —sold other of

my crop (three more big ) on one credit to get interest.

might think, except that I have been almost insane about yours because you have so well expressed " my

(Please don't other hunter come down my dilapidated dwelling ) John Newton Johnson Ala Alabama for the