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W. said then too, "I was never more tickled then when one of the old priests told me that my politeness

postal for Bucke to mail, said of Forman he had given him power to treat with Balestier, "to act as my

My friends tell me—no, no, that is not for you, Wagner is for you.

And on my "no,"—"Well—it is not much—not a positive quality—a sort of after-dinner letter, for reading

W. said: "The reference to Hawthorne brings back to my mind a story once told me by a friend in Brooklyn

W. said again: "For myself I consider A Backward Glance my right bower."

alone: this will be my book."

would thoroughly express my idea."

My previous notes show his earlier experiments.

I get so sleepy and stupid—come over to the bed, then go back again—and that is about all my day's story

I went straight in and put my hands on the book immediately.

"No, I will go over to my chair—write it immediately. That will get it off our minds."

"Give my love to Frank when you see him"—this the parting shot as I passed out the door.

I spent rest of the day working on my New England Magazine piece. In evening we went to B.'

Yet all my feeling was in good temper.

I have a constant bath in my own perspiration.

Only my brother is now upon the old farm.

my sleep a good deal.

My book, Signs and Seasons, will be out this month.

Yet that it is my notion something will have to be added.

Captain Williams, assistant secretary, said that he had not heard anything about such an application.Several

For once I was there, with my Lincoln lecture."

Yes, I think I shall try my hand at it."

Today, finishing my 70th year, the fancy comes for celebrating it by a special, complete final utterance

And for testimony to all (and good measure), I here with pen and ink append my name.

He read it at once, putting on his glasses and saying when done, in answer to my question, "Yes—it is

But W. himself said: "My sight, like my hearing, is gradually going: I feel it from time to time markedly

Then he continued—"I freely give my consent to the use of the Gutekunst portrait if you care to use that

Yet had to have the papers: "They are as necessary as my food."

I know these people are my friends—respect the work I have tried to do.

I will amend my prayer: God help us not to want to get rich!"

poems, Leaves of Grass, in England under my sanction.

Yes," I said to W., "that's rather on my side.

—it is—it is indeed my long-long che-ild!"

Made some further notes for my Lowell-Whitman paper. Day perfect—mild (warmish), clear.

And then as to Bucke's warnings about taking cold, "I have thought myself that was my worst danger: I

He laughed and said, "I am unchanged about him: my impression lasts."

And to my expression, "Each spring all think must be the last, but the next surpasses it," he assented

talked of Sarrazin pleasantly for some time, W. urging me to write.Later, Harned's children, who were at my

I find the My Captain manuscript W. gave me Thursday to contain some variations.

leave you not the little spot, Where on the deck my Captain lies—sleeping pale and dead. O Captain!

FIRST DRAFT MANUSCRIPT OF ONE VERSE OF WHITMAN'S "MY CAPTAIN" My captain does not answer, his lips are

My captain does not answer, his lips are closed and still, My father does not feel my arm, he has no

W. quizzed me: "I guess you like this better than My Captain."

"I regret my ignorance of German: German is the one foreign language I am sorry I did not go into when

"They are not wrong—they are only my whims, oddities: as such I must let them pass."

It is my old play-book, used many and many times in my itinerant theatre days: Richard: Shakespeare's

Yes, I have made the best of my sluggish pulse by trying to keep it sure, strong.

Every man has to learn his own best method: my method is to go slow, extra slow.

Wallace seems to have entered fully into the life there—indeed is hustling too much for my taste.

I feel as if to send something, testifying to my gratitude for the extra sheets."

Captain Noell (British Prince) has written W. his regrets, that he could not get over to say his farewell

Suggested that instead of "Then, Postscript" I say, "Last Words"—but I prefer my own choice and shall

"I feel a bit better today but you notice I wear no extra feathers in my cap."

I am not embittered by my want of success.

My last volume is in response to the interest of my friends abroad.'"

There were tears in my eyes.

I stuck them in my pocket.

Wallace's letter of 22nd dwells upon duties to me in my service for W. Loving and uplifting.

time you have all been privileged to participate in during the past week & am now longing & straining my

greatly enjoyed—but I know you will understand & take the will for the deed.I am off to Scotland, to my

Home (Annan) in a few days for a short visit to my good dear old Father & Mother.My love to your dear

every word, several times," he said, and added, "If I wrote on the subject at all, that would be about my

After a little my mother came in.

"I know you, my dear, don't I? Haven't I known you somewhere?"

At the table W. said, "I think champagne and oysters were made for me: that they are prima facie in my

our coast" than have America "make any stand for military tradition," adding explanatorily, "It is my

He promised to write it and send the book to my house by and by by Ed.

I had the Swinburne book under my arm. He asked—"What have you there?"

Again said: "If you are going to Germantown give my affection and best love to Clifford"—adding as he

"My—your sleep must have been a soothing one!" He laughed with me.

I said: "I have often explained my adhesion to you in almost the same words." "Is it so?

off for my own use.

my notion in its favor."

What was my impression of it? "You like to see all that's going on?

W. said immediately after my entrance, "And what of Wallace, Horace?

But my conception is so at odds with any churchey theological ideas on the subject, I often think perhaps

W. very amusingly described his condition to Bucke, "My head easily gets in a whirl now.

Now I feel as if my brain had an envelope like the outer crust of a pudding—a dense, mucoussed cover

My deafness is directly chargeable to it."

I come," she cried, in toneLike sweetest siren song,"Though I have tarried long,I come, my own, my own

Thou art too late; in soothNaught earthly makes me glad;Where wert thou in my mad,My eager, fiery youth

Nay, grieve not thine," she said,"For I have loved full oft,And at my lovers scoffed,Alive to woo them

Again: "I never commit poems to memory—they would be in my way."

It excites my curiosity.

I look round the circle of my acquaintance for her equal.

He said: "Charles Aldrich is my good friend: he has ideas, faiths, which lead him affectionately my way

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

By 1855 when Whitman wrote "I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass," he

—A dusky mist spread itself before my eyes.

I wandered far, far away from my then and there existence.

scenes long since past, and faces that may never more greet my view.

—I saw every particular tree, and hill, and field, my old haunts.

—This is what I dread: for I have not enjoyed my young time.

an enormous basket, containing a towel, fishing tackle, and incalculable quantities of provisions; Captain

But my limits will not allow me to expatiate upon the events of this interesting voyage.

My two acquaintances were both born and bred in the city; they both were sent to good schools; both had

And yet no man can differ more from my friend H OM than does my friend T OM .

My friend H OM is, at the same time, very much of a gentleman in his manners.

Now all that my friend H OM is not , my friend Tom B EPRIM is .

When I meet H OM in the street, he always grasps my hand, and salutes me by my first name.

Venice : "SHYLOCK: 'Signior Antonio, many a time and oft / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my

moneys and my usances: / Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, / For sufferance is the badge of

of Venice: "SHYLOCK: 'Signior Antonio, many a time and oft / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my

moneys and my usances: / Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, / For sufferance is the badge of

These are exceptions to the correctness of my assertions with regard to the evil effects of tobacco;

account of a wondrous and important discovery, a treatise upon which would fill up the principal part of my

Some years ago, when my judgement was in the bud, I thought riches were very desirable things.

But I have altered my mind. Light has flowed in upon me. I am not quite so green as I was.

Compare to, "I loafe and invite my soul,/ I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer

eagerly scanned to discover the object of my labours.

, and brighter, and more precious than earthly jewels; but in vain, for it eluded my sight.

which had been showered upon my mind. * * * * * * * The agitation of my thoughts, however, broke my slumbers

I slowly wended my way homeward, my soul improved in knowledge, and determined to treasure during life

.; Compare to, "I loafe and invite my soul,/ I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of

To such an one will I doff my beaver. Whitman here means to tip his hat.

For my part, I have had serious thoughts of getting up a regular ticket for President and Congress and

It is my impression, too, that we should poll a pretty strong vote. We number largely in the land.

the balmy coolness and the voluptuousness of the scene had led me into, being thus broken in upon, my

—This individual, my enemy, and I, had differed upon a matter of opinion; a sharp word had passed, and

walks home late at night, or as I lay in my bed, they came upon me.

, That I was, I knew was of my body, and what I should be, I knew I should be of my body.

Manhatta, my river and sun-set, and my scallop-edged waves of flood-tide, the sea-gulls oscillating

face, Which fuses me into you now, and pours my meaning into you.

loudly and mu- sically musically call me by my nighest name! Live, old life!

the details of an outrage so sigual in its character and so sinister in its bearings as to become, in my

I rubbed my eyes a little to see if this sunbeam were no illusion; but the solid sense of the book is

I wish to see my benefactor, and have felt much like striking my tasks and visiting New-York to pay you

my respects.

Mayor Wood, of New York, this forenoon issued an order to his various Police Captains, the "Municipals

The Station Houses are to remain under charge of the Captains, till further action of the Common Council

I do not know what I carry in my arms pressed close to my side and bosom!

I turn my steps to "Zion's Mill" a cemetery.

My womb is clean and pure. It is ready for thy child my love.

how lovingly will I cherish and guard it, our child my love. Thine the pleasure my love.

My motives are pure and holy. Our boy my love! Do you not already love him?

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

will write to you I should not wonder if you get 3 letter from us all at once, I will have to close my

I have been in Camden once or twice & should have called to see you but thought perhaps my coming would

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

I have been in Camden once or twice & should have called to see you but thought perhaps my comeing coming

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

Home July 24/88 My Dear Old Friend I received your letter written the 21 st day after the one of yesterday

many good friend friends you have & how pretty they write I have often wished that I could express my

I intended to come to see you on my way here I had only time to make the train so could not see so will

call on my way Home are you better or do you still keep the same I hoped when the weather got cooler

keept kept me busy for the past month & I have an old lady staying with me & Jane away so you see that my

Whitman occasionally referred to Stafford as "My (adopted) son" (as in a December 13, 1876, letter to

City . we are all well as usual I have just returned home from Red Bank where I w illed to se see of my

Dear frend friend you can judge of my feelings better than I cn can discribe describe them. we shall

My dear friend: I have just heard from Kennedy that your illness continues.

so glad that you have to help you so devoted a friend as young Traubel, and through you I give him my

hand and my thanks.

In these days the glorious words you have spoken about Death comes up in my mind, and I feel much as

The Herald, Boston, Aug. 2, 188 7 My dear Friend: I enclose for the cottage $285 in two checks of $50

If the idea pleases you, my friend, Jack Law, the Chelsea tile-maker, would like to send you a handsome

Office of The Boston Herald, Boston, Mass., June 21, 188 7 My dear friend: Yours of the 18th received

send more in a few days by calling in the amounts already subscribed as speedily as the pressure of my