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know you want to hear—Pretty much "the same subject continued" yet with me—I am still imprisoned in my

To-day I am feeling pretty fairly—Mr & Mrs Johnston, my N Y friends, call'd yesterday to see me—I had

his eyes are troubling badly—but he wields spirit & determination same as ever—am drawing to a close my

Sidney Morse is in Chicago—I remain in fair spirits & comfortable—am just going to have my dinner (I

letter came—but I wish it had bro't me better news than that ab't the eyes—I still remain coop'd in my

My eye is now under battery treatment (assault-and-battery treatment, you would think to look at it!)

and just as soon as I can recover my sight a little better, I will plunge into the volume, which now

ONTARIO London, Ont., 9 Oct 188 8 I have the "November Boughs" today with my name and yours on fly leaf

I lay this book by as one of my most precious possessions.

If this book does not go I shall think (as my father used to say) that "the devil is in it" for sure.

Graham bread toasted, & a cup of chocolate—ate pretty well (this & yesterday are favorable days)—In my

eating neither at all ascetic nor sumptuous—pass two hours to-day putting my autograph to the poetic

Oct. '88 My dear Walt Whitman, Your card was welcomed the other day; but I was sorry it did not give

I suppose these late weeks here have been the happiest of my life,—in the sense of physical delight at

Every day I gather in this way some new association to add to my store; & all the while I am picking

A very few days will wind up my report and then I should be comparatively free.

ab't our dear O'C—eagerly look for word —Matters so so with me—good bowel clearance to-day—word from my

friend Linton from Eng[land] to-day—he is well—Shall have some oysters for my dinner ab't 4—made my

On October 9, 1888, O'Connor wrote: "My eye is now under battery treatment (assault-and-battery treatment

Camden Monday noon Oct 15 '88 I sit here to-day ab't the same—close by fire in my stove, as it is pretty

cool, though pleasant and sunny—now here laid by in the fifth month—all my strength, all bodily-ab't-going-ability

—Some of those photo places off one side appear to make the best pictures in the world—My printing matters

Law Offices JEROME BUCK, 206 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, October 16 188 8 My dear Sir, Please accept my lasting

I sought only thro' through Tom Harned a line from your hand to place in my copy of 'Leaves of Grass.

If you ever come my way I know a place hard by, where a bottle of the reddest Burgundy may be found that

I am my dear Mr Whitman Gratefully & faithfully yours Jerome Buck For Walt Whitman Esquire Camden NJ

I finished my Annual Report Sunday and mailed it yesterday—am at work now on "Lectures on Psycology &

I hope you will continue writing me such notes as these, "My food nourishes me better."

My love to W.W. J.B. John Burroughs to Walt Whitman, 16 October 1888

I went first of all from Brooklyn to Washington to nurse some of my friends.

Well, I went just like that: I went 'on my own hook.'

"From Long Island I went with my parents and settled at Brooklyn.

For my part, I said, I thought Mr.

Gladstone's policy; and my wish, my desire, my animus, would certainly be on the side of the just, wise

I send you the Transcript with my notice of November Boughs —hastily pencil-scrawled bet between jobs

on my proof desk.

I asked Traubel to tell you that Wilson (Glaswegian) had written me my book. cordially yrs yours W.S.Kennedy

Camden Friday Evn'g Oct: 19 '88 It is dark & I have had my dinner & am sitting by the fire & gas light—anchor'd

& tied in my old big democratic chair & room, the same as all summer, now in the fall & soon the long

winter & (if I live) probably through all—I have been occupied most of the afternoon writing my autographs—there

are to be 600 for the Edition of my complete writings—it will be ab't 900 pages, & include all —a last

I wait with anxiety—I told you ab't my dear friend John Burroughs being here—he is now back at West Park

names, sometimes Southerners, sometimes Western or other writers of only one or two pieces,) deserve in my

Belmont Mass Oct 20 '88 My dear W.W.

Mrs K. is in Boston at a Symphony Concert and a precious ½ hour for my soul being at my disposal I feel

We are rolling out 90–100 books at once, & every page must pass under my eye twice & receive my fecit

before it goes out,—my guarantee.

I must stop & copy a page or so (my daily stint) of my Whitman bibliography (sawdusty job rather, but

My dear Walt Whitman I send you on behalf of Trübner & Co a draft for $14.43 for 39 copies of "Democratic

I remain my dear Walt Yours Sincerely Josiah Child Josiah Child to Walt Whitman, 20 October 1888

I thought that by this time I should have been able to say something definite about my jaunt east, but

—bowel movements fair—no hitch in the progress of the big book, but slow—my dull indomitable inertia

particulars—H Gilchrist seems to be thriving & happy—I hear often from Dr Bucke —I will send you forthwith my

No word yet from Wm Gurd in re meter—I shall not be able to fix the time of my going East untill until

On October 20, 1888, O'Connor had written Bucke that "a month ago my right eye closed, and the lid had

Earlier that year, January 23, 1888, O'Connor had described one of his attacks for Bucke:"My state of

I sat down to dinner, suddenly felt a curious still feeling, pushed back my chair, and became perfectly

The room was lighted, and four doctors were around me, and my wife and a couple of neighbors.

It was a tough of apoplexy, incident to my malady the doctor said, and a small blood vessel in my head

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

Your book, a gift always to be handed down & treasured by my clan, reached me on my 55 th birthday, and

made me wonder that your November Boughs still hang so rich with color, while my October Leaves are

to-day —he sends me the enclosed little slip from O'C —the condition is bad, & I feel pretty gloomy ab't my

of this last attack—I only wish I could feel so, or even approximate it—But any how thank God so far my

thoughts & mental power are entirely within my control—I have written a short letter to Critic (by their

request) on the "poet" question (wh' they may print) —My sister—George's wife —has just paid me a good

K. is in Boston at a Symphony Concert and a precious ½ hour for my soul being at my disposal I feel a

strong inner impulse to pour out here in the evening solitude, my heart to you in a genuine heart-letter

O'Connor to Bucke on October 20, 1888 mentioned that "a month ago my right eye closed, and the lid had

B. " and has considerable to say of my "fame"—(I am not sure but we are to put E C S on our list of real

I am sitting in my big chair by the oak wood fire as I write—it is a darkish, damp, heavy-air'd day &

I am not feeling my easiest—Mr Ingram has just been in & bo't a copy of Nov: B. for a Quakeress friend

, & got some loose reading matter for a prisoner in jail I send to sometimes —my head is weighty & sore

Were I near you I should like to have the honor of paying my personal respects to you.

If you would write your name upon my 1855 edition, which I intend to present to a public library, I should

friendly & cheering letter f'm E C Stedman this forenoon—As for me I get on ab't the same as of late—Keep my

in a few lines, I shall only say the espousing principle of those lines so gives breath of life to my

and my enthusiasm was rekindled in a very lively degree by the presence of these two blooming girls greeting

Gurd but I expect each mail to get a letter which will fix the time of my departure for the East (always

wish I could run down to Washington to see him while I am East but I fear that will be impossible, my

the army hospitals, and his noble tribute to Lincoln (not so tender as the really rhythmic verses "My

Captain"), are things for young Americans to study.

were not so close fisted, I should predict that they would buy copies of the book by the score, but my

I am doing fairly well—am getting where I pay expenses now, with my entertainments.

A wealthy lady of culture by chance came to one of my evenings at B's church, & was thus pleased , she

bought my Carlyle & Emerson, & engaged me for two parlor entertainments at her own home.

advice to those who watch the great games) with whoever the people put in — Nothing new or special in my

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

date & name of magazine & if so I will tell you—Your letter came last evn'g—Have had beef & onions for my

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

New York Sunday 11/3/88 My dear Mr.

Whitman: You will remember my calling a few weeks back when I remember that I do so as a friend of Earl

I am as you know Wellesley Sayle an Englishman & am proud to be one of many thousands of my fellow countrymen

I shall most likely call at Phila on my way where I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again.

greatest admiration for him and the magnificent way he has behaved all through—I hope it may be in my

power someday to show my appreciation of his excellent qualities in some practical way.

Whitman: I talked last night to my Waltham class (of forty ladies) about your work and read to them.

I always advise my pupils so.

good week so far—am either throwing off (or easying) some of the worst bad subjections and grips — My

combined, comprehended at one glance—and here it is—of course I shall send you a copy— I am sitting yet in my

sick room now in my usual big chair by the oak wood fire, & alone.

I have plenty visitors enough & good ones—my appetite & sleep are fair—I have a new helper & nurse, a

I think of you every day—& most all my friends coming here ask ab't you—I rec'd the letter last week

remarkably fine sunny day, & I went & sat in the warm bright bask of it from 12 to 1—Not much different in my

I am still imprison'd in my sick room—Please send the "Open Court" (in the bundle) to Dr Bucke —Am comfortable

"So here I sit gossiping in the early candle-light of old age—I and my book—casting backward glances

over our travelled road…That I have not gained the acceptance of my own time but have fallen back on

I had my choice when I commenced.

I present my tribute, drop my bit of laurel into the still warm, firm hand of the victorious singer.

These snowy hairs, my feeble arm, my frozen feet, For them thy faith, thy rule, I take and grave it to

Whitman defended himself by reversing his previous commentary and writing "My Tribute to Four Poets"

Camden noon Nov: 19 '88 Dear Lou I continue getting along pretty well considering—Eat my rations & sleep

for—have not written myself)—Coolish, dark, rainy here to-day—I am sitting here yet by the stove in my

The big book (all my writings collected complete) will be done in ab't a fortnight—I shall send you one

thanks—I am in good heart here, but nearly altogether physically wreck'd (paralysis &c)—am living here in my

Camden Nov: 20 '88 Still ab't holding my own & comfortable—nothing very new or notable—The Transcript

I send with Hamlin Garland's notice of Nov: Boughs —Still keep my sick room—Clear sunny cool to-day.

Still keep the sick chair & sick room—(now going into the sixth month)—The big book , (my whole works

My dear friend, Again a few lines to you.

The past summer & fall have laid me up again, & I am now entering the sixth month of confinement in my

I have also a big 900 page Vol. nearly ready, combining all my writings, last revisions, &c.

If so I send him my affectionate remembrances—I am sitting by my oak-wood fire writing this (cold but

Love & thanks to you, my friend, & best best regards to my Irish friends all.

Still in my sick room—less well to-day, but have had a fair fortnight. Clear & cold weather.

My visit East is likely to be delayed some weeks.