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Washington and see you but as long as I know that you are well and enjoying your self I will try to content my

greatful grateful to you that you should take so much interist interest in me it makes me think of my

to be very thankful to him for our good health he is such a good Father to us so good by bye for the my

trees and fruit things is very quite quiet here except a murder now and then so now I will close with my

love good by bye from you affecinate affectionate Son and Friend John M Rogers To my Dear Father write

My reading for the last two or three days (limited) of the articles in Century about Kearsarge and Alabama

But my doubts being settled a little I can find occupation, and that will cure my sickening laziness—indeed

several new steps are clearly indicated in my farm operations.

My crop is fair—my renters did so well by high, warm land early planted—my own cotton started off in

My instinct has always been against immortality; this a state of probation &c My idea has always been

I've got my old renter the Methodist (local) preacher on Two Rivulets.

, 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 .

In the summer of '80, my oldest son (of this, my second wife,) being then a well-grown, strong, and healthy

Since that young man was taking a law advantage of myself and other creditors of my dead son, after he

My kin, always recognized as of superior honesty, have shown themselves in all this matter immeasurably

My kin are much allied with those bad people by marriages.

I, myself, represent "falsehoods," and "the sale of slaves"—4 or 5 years before my father and mother

little gradually came to writing a great deal—the sermon always in writing styles Mr Sanders only " my

Well I sold my cotton bales. The market . Compelled to sell to get money tax.

Then I can it to my friends—and one's self likes to read a good book over many times—that is if one's

anything, and I always distrusted getting right names from our composite, mongrel population, and also my

published in Blackwood's Magazine —it was copied by an American newspaper which accidentally fell into my

Then as to my corn , planted on very much "spotted" ground, upon taking a "first-day loaf" with a neighbor

I think I had better stop my off the you some facts of my spiritual or "religious" experience.

well, I was beginning to walk two miles to school before the first person (the schoolmaster ) put into my

What a fall was there my countrymen!

My personal experience in childhood, then, enables me to "see through" the claim that religious ideas

My boy is running my plow—preparing ground for our usual cotton crop—somehow there seems never to be

Do you share my astonishment?

Ba "My course runs below the soundings of plummets".

I wish to keep J.B.s book, and I sent part pay ($1) in my Feb-letter.

You'll know the name— the tenant who makes my grain on my home farm, for 6 or more years, is still engaged—he

conventions" and even other Philosophers and Poets shall not "master"—And so I ask you, did I not conduct my

(My last before this were July 18 and Aug 14 I will relieve you of any fears that I shall (of myself)

Walt Whitman— Dear friend— ui gust (of a degree) with my sur take write what may yet be of entertain

make previously plowed d for g and hoeing, (the first in months,) I went to our p a view writing to my

So as I had to pass by there way to in law's home (where my d I stop k to show to my own folks No father

I left him with a statement your work, and the wond chan ge in my estimate of it change.

What I said about my and my wrecking us, was immediately occa apparent ect and danger of a severe inistered

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

Besides numerous other "good" people as almost everybody else would call them, I have in my mind the

instance of my first wife—a girl whom I became acquainted with at a school I attended in my 15th year

in the business of could keep her really contented with out ing my principles.

When it became necessary in order to retain my home that reconstruct my family, I preferred to be content

me "one bit" , and few of my near relatives lost their lives or otherwise badly "hurt".

buildings which form so common a style of residences of the moderately "well-off" Southerners—especially of my

In the other sub-valley (my term) the big, broad mountain and gentle undulations of the valley itself

grown men The Negroes are mostly in two c lusters about two or three miles northeast and southwest of my

My mother was married at 26 and died 29, the day I was born—she of a family of ters from Virginia —her

audiences—you can that disposition to give away all you —you can travel, see more of the world, see me and my

the warmth of a loving heart and universal charity so beautifully expressed —that which leans towards my

ask if he got the pretty little printed articles of a Georgia Poet Fruit -Growing which I sent him in my

trouble or spells of unhappiness we are a discordant household , and will (of course) say it is not my

e in my k of yet about might a insane or a drunk man.

I know you must think there has been a "level-headed" theory to my life.)

Your card of July 2 acknowledged my letter of June 27, but didn't mention my letters of June 10 or 12

I think what will please you best, will be for me to write about myself, my circumstances, my practical

My eccentricity lies in my adherence to all Nature my own nature and following the straight path of good

I had mined that if writing for a while corres pondent except my son in T exas I would wait a good long

My interest, profit and pleasure have been much distracted by fruit-rotting so generally of years.

cause you one bit of sorrow or anxiety if bad luck should befall us in any way— still, myself, children my

(My & Wife's dreadful "tempers" may wreck us any time—so care not much for us.

I would not recommend my section for a Northern man to make a fortune except in raising clover or other

If you encourage me to write, and say you will sometimes write to me I will buy me some pens —one of my

In the spring, when commencing to plow, I was feeling poorly, and my 13 year old boy to g .

me the pleasure I have had with Walt Whitman's books and to the books also—I'll (Please excuse all my

—I claim a patent right for the my old terms "champion of nature" and "good-enough man" &c &c If you

feel a little desire to "dig at the ribs" of demoralizing superstition) Why didnt didn't you notice my

t to doubt whether my friends get unmistakably true " Philosopher" JNJ John Newton Johnson Send only

Meltonsville (my home office) Mr.

About that time I also, obeying an "impulse" or "law of my being" which was effectual if not "irresistible

" went for a Poet for my county.

Again this summer learned in my backwoods hermit home that Walt's Poems were in books, and that "English

In my disappointment and vexation I then said to my family "the Publisher who would publish and the Bookseller

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.

after f line, build dood house on top will togedder together laugh to old how out of money— we put my

bring big fiddles too, for play Dixie Den Then if noder another war tomes comes we will be taptains captains

This I suppose that "nearest friend" or yourself intended as answer to my inquiry whether you were reduced

real, and immediate , I can spare you something of the small store of capital that is helping me in my

dollar I send, to report occasionally whether my idol still lives and how he fares.

I am 13 miles from the nearest village Post-script My family Physician quite lately borrowed from me,

all my money except 2 10 ct scrips, 1 gold dollar, and 8 silver quarters, which I bought to pay my (

Singing Thrush" (March 15, 1873; later called "Wandering at Morn"), "Spain" (March 24, 1873), "Sea Captains

man—so careful in all business matters, but I have so written it, both for information and to amuse my

Whitman who has done me the greatest honor of my life.

I know the style of my letters is queer, but if you had thought them absurd insincere you would not have

Dec 1st 76 My Dear Sir: Yes, I received the letter, with the picture & printed slips last year, & meant

have a 10 acre farm here on the banks of the Hudson near Po'keepsie Poughkeepsie , I spend some of my

How fortunate to leave to be content with doing nearly nothing —with My soul, for twenty purturbability

(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

Walt Whitman, Esq., My dear Sir:— At the suggestion of a friend some weeks ago I began to read your poems

, and have become so much interested in them from my hasty perusal of them that I have decided to make

them the object of my studies during the present summer.

I have one difficulty, however, and it is the occasion of my writing this letter to you.

testify as to the pleasure, comfort, and instruction they have put at my service.

However my pocket-book just at present is in such a condition that I will have to content myself with

&c &c sent June 8 '76 by Ex & rec'd June 1st JQA Ward 9 or 10 Vols, &c sent, by Ex My dear Mr Whitman

I inclose check for Fifty dollars ($50) my subscription for five copies of your complete works If I

Be kind enough to send them to my address.

April 23d /76 140 East 38th st New York My dear Mr Whitman: Your note was received and I am only waiting

have a few autograph letters that I preserve by putting carefully in the front, that gives them to my

Among my earliest indiscretions was Walt Whitman.

fame and no peril to my immortal soul, not to speak of my standing in society?

Whitman was the author of the lines, and my quoting them among my earliest indiscretions.

No one can read "My Captain" or "Pioneers" without seeing that there was capacity for music in the man

Bend down and touch lightly with my lips the white face in the coffin.

My Dear Walt Whitman: I send you in due conveyance, something I wrote about Grant.

hope you will accept it, as a souvenir of our pleasant meeting with Arnold, and as an expression of my

.— My Dear Walt Whitman: If Tuesday, November 10th.

—It will be private, informal,— under the rose , my desire to show two eminent & worthy men, who have

—You have been much in my thoughts, ever in reverent admiration of your genius.

You will I am sure allow me to deliver it, when you honor me as my guest on November 10— Yours always

Peking, February 3rd— 188: My dear Mr.

have read was a mere newspaper exaggeration, and in sending you this wish, I send the assurances of my

Feb. 5 New York My dear Walt— I most cheerfully write the note you request to Gen.

Edinburgh, Scotland, July 31, 1890 My Dear Walt— Again I salute you.

I wish I had been at the birth-day fest, and heard the beauteous words of my friend Bob.

"Ingersoll's Speech" of June 2, 1890, was written by Whitman himself and was reprinted in Good-Bye My

Aug 12 188 2 My dear Walt— Nine years ago, I delivered before a German Society of New York City a lecture

New York January 21, 1892 My Dear Walt— I salute you.

Nice, France, Jan. 16, 1890 My Dear Walt— I am still here an invalid—nervous prostration.— To you, far

Whitman included the poem in his late collection Good-Bye My Fancy, 1891–1892; the poems in that book

London England, May 26 / 90 My Dear Walt— I am here from Rome, and I see in the papers here your lines

. | 7 | My 27 | 90 | N.; Paid | G | All; New York | Jun 4 | ; Camden N.J. | Jun | 6 A M | 1890 | Rec'd

134 East 38th St, New York, June 23/1874 My beloved Walt— I have read thy sublime poem of the "Universal

It raised my mind to its own sublimity. It seems to me the sublimest of all your poems.

I return to it as a fountain of joy My beloved Walt.

While my soul exists, the worship must be ever new.

How I would like to see you, in order to temper my heat, and expand my narrowness How absurd it is to

Singing Thrush" (later titled "Wandering at Morn") on March 15, 1873; "Spain" on March 24, 1873; "Sea Captains

134 East 38th St New York April 24, 1876 My dear Walt— Please send 3 sets on account of my list of 5.

I was afraid of Ripley but Reid confirmed my impression that Greeley is or has been favorable, and he

My dear and great Walt. As you did not come up yesterday afternoon I did not expect you to day.

I could convey no idea to you of how it affects my soul.

I salute you as the poet of my heart my intellect, my ideality, my life.

My dear Walt Miss Annie T.

Somerville Mass Jan 6th, 1865 My Dear Friend, I have been thinking much of you lately & wondering where

A great change has taken place in my life since I saw you.

My dearest friend has left me, leaving in her place a little boy, now eleven months old.

LeBarren LeBaron Russell, with your note in my hand, but failing each time, I gave him up .

I feel that, if I live frugally ' sincerely, and do not use up my mental energies in rapid writing I

biography, The Ferry Boy and the Financier (Boston: Walker and Wise, 1864); he described their meetings in My

Though Trowbridge was not an idolator of Whitman, he wrote to O'Connor in 1867: "Every year confirms my

Walt Whitman— My Dear Friend: I enclose a P.O. order for $10, in payment for a copy of your last book