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fine sunny day here & I am feeling fairly—have just had a good stout currying & kneading & it fits my

W's MS— Evn'g —Am sitting here alone by oak fire—went out in the wheel chair & enjoy'd it—sales of my

—I am middling well—the trouble in my eyesight (& very annoying it was to my anchor'd condition) seems

18 91 Beemer is away on holidays, Barber sick in bed—Ross and I have to get along best we can—I gave my

You may judge that I have no idle time on my hands. I have your cards of 18 th & 20 —thanks!

Without any thing very definite at this moment, my idea is of a poem, fitting in not unappropriately

All the pay I would want would be enough to pay my expenses, transportation &c., probably between 30

I will take you down underneath this impassive exterior—I will tell you what to say of me; Publish my

name and hang up my picture as that of the tenderest lover, The friend, the lover's portrait, of whom

Softly I lay my right hand upon you—you just feel it, I do not argue—I bend my head close, and half-

leaves upon it, and twined around it a little moss, And brought it away—and I have placed it in sight in my

room; It is not needed to remind me as of my own dear friends, (For I believe lately I think of little

I had asked my usual questions.

He followed my mild "yes" with a sort of joy. "Wasn't it a rouser?

I was putting the letter in my pocket.

It gives me a new conception of my own importance in the world.

(Give him my hearty greetings!)

I met Harned up the street, he to his, I to my home. Afterwards both to W.'

W. said: "I can't bring my heart to say amen to that."

I said: "That makes my definition of heaven apropos." W. asked: "What's that?"

W. looked over at Tom: "Do you think the world would accept my poem?"

10.30 on my way back passed 328. I did not intend to go in.

When my bundle was ready he produced this from the table—pasted it on.

personal affairs—and, as is my habit, made it a sort of combination matter: sent it to Kennedy with

I received Bucke's letter of the 2d to-daytoday, answering my first report of W.'

He pressed my hand gently. "Oh!

My recollection is that I confessed my judgment, and proposed to Mr.

All of us well, especially my two little boys, who enjoy the country life very much.

My dear Mr. Whitman:Please excuse me for not having answered your letter two months ago.

Of my German-English anthology I have no proofs; but my publishers will bring out a new edition (revised

friend—has sworn his big oath in my interest and battled for me without reservation.

"Oh my yes! it tickled him immensely.

I would not have put it a cent below ten dollars if I had had my way.

W. and Harned both broke in on my reading vigorously.

"When I get out again my first visit will be to that baby."

ideas—break my spirit."

"That's the copy I used to take to the play with me—in my pocket: carried along in my walks: kept with

—that I invited him here, that he was my guest!—the young scamp that he is!

You know, my friends tell me I am very slow to get mad: very slow: I rarely get mad but when I do I'm

"But Mary respected the death-wish: the situation grew worse and worse: I had my carriage then: Bill

I suppose it comes from my being much run down.I am glad you liked the photo.

I have no doubt her article is good, and when I have read it, I mean to write her my thanks.

"Good-Bye, my Fancy!"

'Good-bye, my Fancy!'

These brave beliefs ring almost gayly through 'An Ended Day,' 'The Pallid Wreath,' 'My 71st Year,' 'Shakespeare-Bacon's

like the arch of the full moon, nebulous, Ossianlike, but striking in its filmy vagueness. ∗ Good-Bye, my

New York "Good-Bye, my Fancy!"

"These are my visiting cards: I put them in my pocket when I go out."

My dear Walt Whitman:In London last week I met many mutual friends who were asking after you and wondering

Of course this suits me, born Democrat as I am, but I trust it will not at all disturb the future of my

My address is the Langhorne Hotel. Drop me a line.Yours faithfully,Joaquin Miller.

to be none the worse for his shaking up, or down, of which he remarked, "Yes, I tumbled: at least, my

easily—in fact, let myself go—and when down, rested there till Mary Davis came up and helped me to my

My legs are hardly able to hold me up anymore: the steel is given out—all out."

Never looked up till the reading was done, then saying, "I don't see what good my Burns would do them

Sheets of my Burns might be sent, if I could fish them out. But even that is doubtful."

My dear friend:Your letter expresses the scope of what I wish to say, and the subject or subjects upon

If in November, let it be a little time after the election.Give my very best regards to Whitman.

It is wonderful—the rallying power that dear Nature gives us.I am glad you are pleased with my idea of

I reminded him of the notes he had promised me for my article. "There!" he exclaimed.

"It is my memory again! I have not written a word of it, not a word."

possible, though I don't know why I need to say that, either, for I know the importance, the necessity, of my

getting out clearly enough of my own notion!"

And further: "My question anyhow has no application to his platform addresses, his public work, writing

saying it—to having it known to come from me—but it would not seem to me in good taste to print it over my

And yet the other way excites my distaste. I can hardly tell you why.

is in so I could send for it.If it is as good as "The Evening Breeze" piece I shall begin to think my

To my mind "The E.B." piece is one of the most wonderful he has ever produced—its inner spiritual meaning

Not yet done with my manuscript. "I want to give it still another reading," he said.

I think the old man would see me or my son who saw him before.

Traubel—I saw Whitman because my father could not go, but he will go when he can.

I told him Doctor thought he [W.] ought to write something for my paper.

After this, I shall not aspire to write anything—to assume that anybody wants my handiwork.

"You should take my copy—it is on the other side of the table there." I found it.

a portrait—the Lear—for Jacob Lychenheim: promised him many months ago—but forgotten till today, on my

Nor had the check-book turned up yet—I should bring him a National State Bank check from my father.

Yet, "I shall try my second powder first. I took the other the night you brought it.

W. much interested in my letter from Mrs. O'Connor: 112 M St. NWMarch 5, 1891.Dear Mr.

But that again is an evidence in my favor, for these men who grow unconsciously get mad as hyenas to

W. was intensely attracted by my description of a mail car.

Said, "One thing I have always wanted to do—trace the passage of one of my letters to Dr.

And, Horace, I have really eaten very little—a dish of peaches for my breakfast, for dinner, peaches!

I have been fortunate in many of my friends, Horace.

treat them decently—but, you know, I'm head and ears in work and I'm going to get you to take them off my

paper out of his pocket—he always carried it—and indicate by a few deft lines, which of course excited my

He long, long wandered out of my ken. And there were others, too—Tilden, for one. O yes!

Therein: "Walt Whitman's note on his new book, 'Good-Bye My Fancy,' though it but fills half a page,

You know its history—that it came into my mind to write when I understood from you that Joe intended

He wanted my name over it. He is an inveigling cuss, anyhow—so good, too.

My main complaint of it is, that it is vague, misty, that it effects no end—hits nothing, so far as I

Whitman's Tribute to Lowell — The Good Gray Poet Speaks Feelingly of the Dead Poet's Fame": Let me send my

Having neither the funds nor disposition to pass my little term of ruralizing at the fashionable baths

That is, my lodging place is at Greenport; but, in truth, I "circulate" in all directions around.

found on the coasts of Long Island between spring and late fall. however, are the most delicious, to my

Can there be any thing of the old gossip in my composition?

Bathing in this pure, clear, salt water, twice every day, is one of my best pleasures.

My article has gone to the Tribune with a note to Whitelaw Reid, and we await the result.

My object is to smoke the hidden movers in this business out of their holes, and I kept this in mind

Marston was behind the Boston attorney, I took care not to even mention his name, but focussed all my

It is all right for you to take such an attitude as you do toward them—for you personally; but my part

—I hope my letter will appear and be satisfactory to you.

but I must not wait any longer now, though there is a fog outside & a fog or something of the sort in my

Llwyngwril, a primitive little village, quite away from town- ways & fashions, I stayed for four weeks with my

Having it in my drawer or on the table as I write, it makes me feel as if you yourself had been in the

For my own sake, as well as yours, I wish it were!

thought over it very seriously, besides asking Dr Bucke's opinion about issuing a 2nd Edn at all of my

enclose you $50.00 and am sorry that I cant send you more, but Mother if you need more before I get my

I have a nice wall tent all alone to myself and if I have some one to look out for my grub, I shall be

Mother I believe I mentioned in my last letter about your haveing some of my pictures taken and sent

Dear Mother, give my love to all and let me hear from you often. Direct Capt G. W. W.  

—my figure?"

The subject had been started by my use of the word "dive"—an oyster "dive."

The word saloon came into use first to my knowledge in this country fifty years or so ago through a novel

But there are three or four of my very most intimate friends—those nearest, best understanding me—who

thoroughly realize that my disposition is to hear all—the worst word that is said—the ignorantest—whatever

I can never get them to print my pictures as I want them—with an inclination towards the top of the page—certainly

On the bed were my proofs (Myrick had not given me any new ones today, but hopes to let me have all poems

W. then, "It is hardly to be dignified as 'work': it is simply a last drop, a leave-taking, my farewell—a

My custom was, in the old days, to listen sharply to the pronunciation, accent of the actors—then to

remove from the head—who is friendly (just as I have on the Weekly), but the men at the top are not my

It seems I had not told him of the hanging of my father's watercolor of W. at the Watercolor Exhibition

He left it in my hands, he said. Saturday, March 28, 1891

"But it will turn up, in some one of my searches, and whatever happens, it is yours, Horace—yours to

Quick to see roll in my hand. "What is it? What?"

I expressed my liking for Kennedy's "Dutch Traits of Walt Whitman." Read the manuscript last night.

Milwaukee, Dec 11th 1887 My dear Walt I received your letter the other day—also the papers with the enclosures—and

you again  Probably as Jess has told you I am poking around from place to place spending about 1/3 of my

best of it" I hope, dear Walt, that you will keep in good spirits during the bad weather—I find in my

received the letter I wrote in answer to yours of date "a long time ago" ( very definite ) in reply to my

I have an impression that I can give a reason why you did not answer my last though I perhaps do you

My dear Heaven waitheth waiteth for mortals when earth is departed.

I thought my letter would have the effect of making him cautious. Now for Tobey.

I think you will like it as well as my first letter.

My Jeannie has been very ill this summer, but is getting better, and will go to Providence on Friday.

in Atlantic street, on some accounts, but there is always something—I have not been satisfied with my

several weeks ago, I tried another place & room for a couple of days & nights on trial, without giving up my

old room—Well, I was glad enough to go back to my old place & stay there—I was glad enough I hadn't

one night in passing off the platform of a Car, gave you a rose) I was compelled to many Car rides in my

I thank you Sir, with all my heart, and pray for you the abiding Presence and hourly Comfort of the divine

I go to my home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, tomorrow.

In my condition they are trebly welcome.

My tedious prostration continues—primarily and mainly an obstinate & baffling cerebral affection, on

Yes, I shall, unless prevented, bring out a volume this summer, partly as my contribution to our National

My Dear Uncle W, Your very kind letter of the 16th was duly received and appreciated to the best of my

I do not know whether there are any characters among my neighbors that would interest you particular

after a long spell of rain storms, but the last two or three days very fine—Mother, I suppose you got my

every thing to fight for their last chance—calling in their forces from southwest &c—Dear Mother, give my

love to dear brother Jeff & Mat & all—I write this in my room, 6th st— Walt Walt Whitman to Louisa Van

I know that it will please you to hear that I have gained tenfold facility with my brush since the autumn

Three of my pictures are nicely hung at the Water Colour Exhibition Academy of Design, the first time

This morning being Sunday, I took my skates to the Park.

sometimes nips ahead and sometimees sometimes tuck but in the main we are all right as long as I only have my

will and would like very much to see you whenever you feel as if you could come or any of the rest of my

I feel myself growing old and failing every day but my health has been better this winter than usual

My dear Sir, Allow me with the deepest reverence & true affection to thank you for the copy of your complete

My selection was settled more than a month ago, & is now going thro' the press .

I shall always hold it one of the truest & most prized distinctions of my writing career to be associated

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

Sometime after this when the lecture was printed my friend saw a copy and read it himself with much pleasure

In my humble opinion they would serve excellently as a heading to Mr Ingersoll's lecture:— "THE DEAD

In case you should wish to honor my friend by a slight acknowledgment of his tribute I enclose addressed

Dear Friend You were so good as to call yourself so, in my book,—that I value more than you guess,—and

The dear little crocuses I picked from my own tiny spot of earth, and sent each one laden with loving

There seemed no prospect of my going. The way seemed hedged.

Robert K.Martin"Scented Herbage of My Breast" (1860)"Scented Herbage of My Breast" (1860)The second of

"Scented Herbage of My Breast" (1860)

published in Lippincott's Magazine in December of 1890 and included in the second annex, "Good-Bye my

characteristically, letting go of its material attributes: "For thou art spiritual, Godly, most of all known to my

is well known, as in line 7: "So sweet thy primitive taste to breathe within—thy soothing fingers on my

Johnson one with the greatest pleasure—(it is one of Brady's photos)—I wish you to give my best respects

inaction—but upon the whole not so severely—& I think very decidedly gradually growing less—The worst is my

—(Unfortunately it was, however, at a time when I was feeling almost at my worst.)

Me, ruthless and devilish as any, that my wrists are not chain'd with iron or my ankles with iron?

do I exclude you, Not till the waters refuse to glisten for you and the leaves to rustle for you, do my

"The chief end I purpose to myself in all my labours," wrote Dean Swift, "is to vex the world rather

and flows": "This day, before dawn, I ascended a hill and look'd at the crowded heaven, And I said to my

And my spirit said ' No .'"

suddenly,—reservedly, with a beautiful paucity of communication, even silently, such was its effect on my