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He took my hand and went across the room toilsomely.

Which is good, after my trouble." "Time for what? Have you suggestions to make? I hope so."

Then he leaned forward to the bed, handing me from it a copy of my August Lippincott's and Bucke's "Whitman

"I am quite ready in my own work when I find a good thing I want to say said by another, to use him—quote

Other poets have written and written with unmistakable power, grandeur, but my mark has been a distinct

On my return from Philadelphia in evening—6:30—I stopped in for a few minutes. The day uneventful.

Somehow, something in my throat—some obstreperation—it brings back that cork: a dozen times a day it

He held my hand all this time and pressed it again and again.

"If you write to Doctor, give him my love: and to Ingersoll, too—yes, and to Ned Stedman."

"Throw a cloth or quilt over my whole bed. It is getting chilly here." Mrs.

I don't want it to go forth that my feelings towards him are one whit less than they are.

My dear friend,My idea was, when you wrote me about the Club, that I might deliver some lecture in Philadelphia—maybe

path.If not thought best to do this under the auspices of the Club, why, I could do it independently, on my

I think we would have no trouble in filling the house, on some good subject.Give my best regards to Mr

Probably saying this last from something he saw in my face.

You know, Horace, at times my brain simply will not stand that.

Law, Esq.,2020 Broadway, Camden, N.J.,My dear friend:Much obliged to you for the copy of your excellent

My Whitman epistle is really about the best I ever did, and I am only sorry it is written in a language

I feel however that if I cannot go to Phila. it will be one of the great calamities of my life and I

If I am mistaken in him—if my experience of human nature leads me astray now, in a case of which I am

All my inclinations are to trust him. You fellows can get a shy: see how he measures up to you."

mock-despair: "I have had unwanted news today—bad news—almost startling news: the Century has rejected my

—"It comes with this note, which you might as well read"—handing to us a page and a half note—"My dear

All my poems require to be read again and again—three, four, five, six times,—before they enter into

And yet when I told him of Harned's sickness and my belief that much of it came from too much in-doorness

Then he amusedly asked me—"you have not seen my new mittens, have you?"

He advised me: "I have been thinking today about your mention of my birthday.

And then, have the girls there: it is not a little in my mind, how the girls are appealed to—it has,

—and to my assent—"It is important to know what such a man thinks,"—though very cautious as I could see

I said, "My description of the master is that his art is so close to nature for so long, it at last becomes

And now that you talk as you do, let me give you an idea of my own.

I put in, "My idea would be to admit all that the formalists claim for Lowell, then to ask whether there

W. at once, "I like that: that would be my idea—to say to them, yes that is true, every word of it—but

My notion had been to headline the article "James Russell Lowell, Walt Whitman," then to indicate the

No, no, no—give my love to them all—tell them I remember the old days. Oh!

Tell Nellie—tell Anne—tell all, my love is with them, though I am here!"

He laughed, "Are they my letters, Mary? I was just telling Horace how to get them downstairs."

I also had letter from Bucke.W. reported, "This has been one of my very worst days—a day full of discomfort

It is assessed at $800, and $25 is my tax yearly.

June 19, 1882 Dear Walt: I have yours of yesterday, and am happy in the thought that you find my second

That is what they will try to do, and my reply to Chadwick will make it harder than ever for them.

On the other hand, The Tribune invites my attention to Sigma's "assertion" about the "disgusting Priapism

," which is, of course, a disgusting lie, and I I have to make up my mind whether the point is worth

shows a desire to put in something as a makeweight, and to seem biased against me, while admitting my

Dearest Mother, I am late with my letter this week—my poor, poor boys occupy my time very much—I go every

Dear brother, I wish you to say to Probasco & all the other young men on the Works, I send them my love

again—I myself do not give up Hooker yet— Dear mother, I should like to hear from Han, poor Han—I send my

know one bit more on what they are writing about than Ed does— Mother, you say in your letter you got my

I hear from him, before sending them— I remain well as usual—the poor fellow I mentioned in one of my

I send my love to you & Jeff & all—we are having a very pleasant coolish day here—I am going down to

post office to leave this, & then up to my old friends O'Connors, to dinner, & then down to hospital—Well

by, dear Mother, for present— Walt Tuesday afternoon 3 o'clock—Mother, just as I was going to seal my

My Dearest Friend: You could not easily realize the strong emotion with which I read your last note and

I have my dear little grandson with me here—as engaging a little toddler as the sun ever shone upon—so

wish I could write to some of them, but what with needlework, an avalanche of letters, the care of my

dear little man—the re-editing of my husband's life of Blake, to which there will be a considerable

Per. & my nephew & the "Process" have made a great stride forward.

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

Dear Walter i write quite often d nt don't i you cant can't complain of my not writing i thought i would

wouldent wouldn't know what to doo do but i got the same old retort that it was me that was stingy with my

common thing to hear if i make any remark that i would like to have any thing why dont i get it with my

and think they expect too much from me i feel pretty well since the weather is cool but i am lame in my

write on a piece of paper loo se from the letter if you say any thing you nt want all to read you got my

Louisa Van Velsor Whitman struck through the phrase "money in the" after the word "my."

I am still about the same as when I last wrote—am no worse, & not much better—though I perceive my general

strength is at least as good as any time since I have been sick—My head still troubles me with pain

thinking that every thing with me might be a great deal worse—I can put up with all but the death of my

mother—that is my great sorrow that sticks—affects me just as much now, or more, than at the time.

cut out the piece below from a Philadelphia paper, thinking it might interest you—As is I sit here in my

all right it has allways always seemed to me since our Son came home that some of us should to you my

hard place indeed you have seen some of the hardship of it perhaps all you wish to see or even hear of my

and stay with me this winter they are with me this winter Joseph is in the lumberwoods this winter my

health is very good iwas I was not well for about one year after my husbands husband's death almost

to see you wemay we may see eachother each other yet sometime if you Canot Cannot read this send you my

My dear friend, I have recd received your postal handshake, and am glad to find that you appreciate my

My second letter naturally turned the tide of contributions in his direction, as I desired, deeming him

You must forgive me for my blunder the price of your books.

living by his pen—and you should certainly never want anything your heart craved; but all I can do in my

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

Townsend Trowbridge left a deft and important portrait of their relationship in his autobiography, My

In My Own Story Trowbridge relates how he first came across excerpts of Leaves of Grass while staying

accepted me on general principles and has never so far as I know revised his original declaration in my

little scholarship exists which examines Whitman's influence on Trowbridge but surely poems such as "My

My Own Story. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903. ———. The Poetical Works of John Townsend Trowbridge.

a heavy cold on the chilly Sound boat in returning from Providence, which increased seriously after my

return, and developed into a bad attack of erysipelas, with which my head and face were well covered

He was so pleased with the epigraph, and so particularly pleased, as it seemed, with my enthusiastic

for Comstock, and shows that he is on the descending plane, down which I hope, and indeed heard, that my

He took my dare beautifully meek, I must say.

leaves,—"I have heard so often of this book—been spoken to so often about it—it is time I had it in my

"It is one of my books there on the floor."

"I have discarded my old comb and brush—though I rarely use a brush.

I asked W. if my observation of W.'

It has always been so: it is a part of my ancestral quality persisting and saving.

If he did he has paid me the greatest tribute of my life.

The best part of my success is that it has come while I am doing a work whose spirit is in part Whitman's

My extended travel and study of literature make me capable of speaking decisively here.Once again Hail

—adding upon my assent, "I guess they are Walsh's—yes, Walsh's."

Further, "And Stoddart, too—yes, now you remind me—by all means—and with my best affection.

I remarked my confidence that the thing would all be done Monday. W. not so confident.

"My neighbor, the grocer at the corner, sends it in.

He says, it is for my old friend, Walt Whitman.

It is now howling & pouring against my window as I write.My heart's best gratitude & love to you for

I know you will pardon my hurrying off.My love to you & yours.I gave R. K.

As I entered hallway W. called out, "Here we are, Horace, waiting for you," to my surprise and gladness

Yes, New York beats even the Golden Gate—that was my impression. Do you think it wrong, Warrie?

My memory plays me shabbier tricks each year."

Asking after my further descriptions and quote, "Is that authentic?

Perhaps it is as you say—stronger, more probable, for not being so strong"—which were my words.

December 28th/63 Dear brother Walt, My last letter to you was dated from Springfield Mass.

Of course I have had to keep my work up in Brooklyn just the same as if I had not been away,—had to work

a duty to our Mother for her comfort and indeed for her safty and of course I have another stake in my

That iron-clad that sunk at Charleston drownded one of my intimate friends H. W.

He was in my party on the line and was my room-mate for a year.

years  I think it would be very bad for him to be put in the lunatic assiliym...i could not find it in my

W. in bathroom on my arrival. I sat in his big chair and read till he came back.

Would not repeat my strong words. "No, I try to be more lenient with him. He can't help it!

You can realize my quick denial.

And you are right: if I have nothing to do with it, what my friends or others do I cannot help—but if

"if people would believe that I understand my own business, we would all get along better!"

Here is the letter:Farmington, Maine,Aug. 21, 1888.My dear Mr.

My own family is for calling me 'Walt'—all of my family. Dr.

"Don't that bear out my idea?"

I clapped my hands. He threw his arms out as if in acknowledgment of applause.

He laughed at my dig.

I explained my reason. Then he said with a laugh: "Bless you!"

"It was a mighty thin mess," he replied upon my questioning him, "no body to it all: only ignorance,

Give Morris my love when you see him.

He came at a time when my head was having one of its most infernal turns.

I told Johnston that Doctor Bucke had saved my life. That is true, too.

myself make the only growth by which I can be appreciated, I reject none, accept all, reproduce all in my

Have you studied out my land, its idioms and men?

What is this you bring my America? Is it uniform with my country?

Will it absorb into me as I absorb food, air, nobility, meanness—to appear again in my strength, gait

Underneath all is nativity, I swear I will stand by my own nativity—pious or impious, so be it!

making Appropriations for the current and Contingent Expenses of the Indian Bureau," by which it is made my

examination and to state that what proceedings, &c. relative to said stocks and investments, are in my

I have no right to give you my opinion upon these questions.

administration of the law, the Dept. of the Treasury establishes the rule it will follow; and it is my

I was in Germantown all day, going there of set purpose to display my manuscript to Clifford and have

him criticise my plans.

328 Mickle Street Camden New Jersey May 25 '87 Thanks & God bless you my dear Sylvester Baxter for your

feeling pretty well as I write—Should most gratefully accept & most intensely enjoy a little spot of my

Return at my expense by ditto. Take yr your time. I am dissatisfied with the thing.

But in this case I feel particularly blue—after all my rooster-crowing—for anything put beside writing

would (I quote) like to keep & use an original poem—three-page poem—sent him from me, but demurs to my

I repeat, that I distinctly reserve the right of printing the piece in a future edition of my poems.

Pete I thought I would send you a little change enclosed—all I have by me to-day—(but I have plenty at my

with the frogs & lilacs in the spring—I keep a bully good heart, take it altogether—& you must too my

Mch 24. 92 My dear friend, I was pained to hear that you are sufffering more and more, but was glad to

, free and winged words—words that have thrilled and ennobled the hearts and lives of millions—that my

My dear Mr. Alden: Would the enclosed be considered opportune—& of use to you for The Citizen ?

Should you print the piece, I wish you to do me the favor to send ten copies by mail to my address here

Street Camden New Jersey Feb 21 Dear Bee Your letter rec'd received , & we all read it with interest —my

mother yesterday forwarding the enclosed letter of Rossetti's which she wished me to post to you—So far my

Whitman: I give to my good friend Horace Traubel the Sarrazin book which I have had so much pleasure

Bucke anent the American articles—all of which Traubel has probably conveyed to you my gratitude for,

Camden N.J My dear Sir As all has been completed about the vault and all works first class in every respect

you also will bring all the particulars of its constructing &c. wich which you have asked me for at my

Suggestive" two vols: have just come—thank you—I shall write soon ab't them more at length—Have you rec'd my

I keep up yet—paralyzed almost completely—get out in wheel chair —sleep & appetite fair—my N A.

Our noble good brother Walt Your generous gift of 10 dollars, (divided) was duly recd—Gratefull for my

share, which added to 10 I received for a painting, enabled me to pay my interest, now overdue to the

Camden N J — Sundown Sept: 29 '91 Just had my supper, some oysters, bread & coffee—a rare fried egg for

dearest sister, & glad enough to get it—I sit here ab't about same—might be much worse (may be shall be)—my

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

Whitman:— I have thought of you often since my call upon you the other day (and before, too, for that

matter), and felt, that although I have a copy of your works in my library, I would like one from you

the city i have taken the liberty of addressing you a few lines i am the wife of Henry Reynolds and my

son is called after you, my husband went out West about a year and a half ago since which time we have

afew a few lines that you may now know i I have you in rememberance remembrance yet you were kin to my

hospital afriend a friend in need is a friend indeed Bethuels father has gone to his home to rest and my

V. ) in the midst of brick and stone again, in my home in Boston.

I picked them on purpose for you—and here they are—with my love and gratitude.

don't want them back)— If any gaps of the proof pages up to 104 exist, mention it & I will remit—Keep my

room yet—am sitting now (& in four fifths time day) in the capacious ratan-seated arm chair—my condition

I send you, same mail with this, a copy of my book, as requested—Also a copy of Mr.

I send you my thanks & good will.

Kirkwood (Glendale) New Jersey U S America April 24 — Down here on one of my visits —Mr and Mrs S and

it was good fun for me, grave as the subject was—I sent you a short report—I am surprised about B —my