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of these paid for & 10 to be acct'd for & 4 TR Asylum for the Insane, London, Feb February 6 18 80 My

I delivered my lecture in Chatham the other day and this is some of the result—I shall probably have

—Quite a little levee down in my front room f'm 3 till after 5—I down there in the big chair by the window—six

or seven persons—then at 5½ my supper.

, wh' of course is the greatest help—Got a card f'm Hannah, & have written to her this evn'g—I send my

Warren —I wish I had something to send them—They are getting printed in a little book the speeches &c at my

getting along so–so—grip yet—bladder bother—&c: &c—fime sunny day—rather cool I have a fire—no word ab't my

here at a stand for 10 cts) y'r letters rec'd—am sitting in the big chair with wolf skin on back in my

Robert Browning (1812–1889), known for his dramatic monologues, including "Porphyria's Lover" and "My

, but welcome the sweat—the March Lip: will probably have all paid for & quite handsomely a page of my

foot washing—& shall leave a little blank for to-morrow & send off at evn'g mail Jan: 10 a m —Have had my

I cannot tell how my ankles bend, nor whence the causes of my faintest wish, Nor the cause of the friendship

That I walk up my stoop, I pause to consider if it really be.

A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the meta- physics metaphysics of books."

I blow through my embouchures my loudest and gayest music to them. Vivas to those who have failed.

In the faces of men and women I see God, and in my own face in the glass.

W. lying on the bed but did not stay there long after my coming. Greatly interested in the weather.

Called my attention to Lippincott's. "I want you to take it along.

Asked about Tolstoy's My Religion and My Confession: did not know but he "might read them"—at any rate

Harned—my love—my greetings of the season—enough for her, for the baby—then for all the rest?"

Horace, think of having a doctor settled down on my doorstep!

Carried on my shoulder twenty copies of November Boughs, which I put down on the sofa. "Books, eh?"

queried W., as he shook my hand. At once began to question me about the day.

"I prophesy its success," said W., "though, as you know, prophesy is not my long suit."

"Horace, I understand that—I understand:—it removes all my doubts."

Give my love to your mother.

I have lived to regret my Rossetti yes—I have not lived to regret my Emerson no.

But how much does a man succeed in setting me right, in arriving at my purpose, in getting my measure

(yes, my motive) who wants to expurgate me?

Then he exclaimed: "Horace, take my advice: never take advice!"

Take my word for it—don't take advice!" Rabelais was somehow talked about.

After a bit he rose, sat on the edge of the bed, his back my way.

Asked me, "I'll get you, if you will, Horace, to untie this handkerchief about my neck.

Then after I had re-taken my seat he called me up again. "One good turn deserves another.

Bucke's letter of 23rd answered my question: how had W. recently been writing him (in what spirit and

Give her my love—best wishes to you—wish I could spend a couple of weeks in your neighborhood.So long

And to save further signs of dissent W. objected: "No—that is not my view: I do not think that is settled

"It is my opinion that there will be a reaction: we will see"—here he paused: "It will be seen before

This is bound to come: I rest my faith in the final good sense of the nation.

Finally at my suggestion it was understood that I should take it with me in the morning.

He at once replied: "Yes: my reasons against it might be stated that way."

"My position had been simple: sitting here day after day in this litter"—looking around—"my one idea

My dear Mr.

As to Walt Whitman, I am glad that my little note pleased the good and grand old man.

I often feel that the succession of events and of work is a thing hardly in my own hands.

It has been about me now for fifty years: I am very close to it: it is one of my bibles."

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

—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.

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.)

Give them all my love—all my love!" And almost as J. held his hand feebly dropped into a doze.

My love to the wife, to all the children—bless 'em all—bless—bless!"

"Well then you have the substance of my changes."

In my left hand the candle. Warrie leaned over and lifted W. into a sitting posture.

Give them all my love—Annie, Tom, Herbert. O the children—the children!"

"Yes, I don't know but that now I like it better than my own: I know Bucke don't—know you don't."

quality, which comes uppermost—most forces itself upon my attention.

Remarked: "My friend Julius Chambers, I see, has gone on The World."

"there have been ten or twelve sent to me for my signature."

I looked over my shoulder at the door of the adjoining room. "Ned Wilkins!

To-day my soul is full of the love of the body.

"Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul. ∗∗∗∗∗ While they discuss

The first doubt lodged in my mind against the claims of the Christian Church and ministry was the first

To my surprise and horror, they spent the whole time in regaling one another with smutty yarns.

I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful green stuff woven.

W. saw the bundle in my hand, asked about it, so I tore it open in the semidarkness.

Davis for the present—have her put them in water—then in the morning I'll have them in my room—enjoy

Adding: "and while you're in, Ed, go upstairs in my room—you'll find there on the chair a little package

W. had questioned me on my first coming: "Is it too cool out here for me?"

I referred to my intention of writing to Stedman this week.

"Parisian Street Life" was the piece by Miss Larned which he had marked for my sister.

He would indeed like to read "Underground Russia," which I named as among my books.

this correspondent (Harriot Stanton Blatch: London, May 9), had said to her: "Ah, here's another of my

s book.W. called my attention to the fact that Stoddard "has been essaying again"—and commented: "It

But afterwards he more or less acquiesced in my explanation.

No one else from my family but wife and Mrs.

He, too, is heard from definitely.After my first mail I received postal from Johnston dated yesterday

My dear Traubel:I expect to be over tomorrow, and to be at Green's by 4:30 P.M.

My own say will be a short one." Would he speak first?

He had said on my morning call: "I feel bad—had a bad night—did not sleep at all."

when I would come in, he woke up, & I would lean down & kiss him, he would reach out his hand & pat my

aye even their young & precious lives, in their country's cause—Poor dear son, though you were not my

So farewell, dear boy—it was my opportunity to be with you in your last rapid days of death—no chance

(in Portland avenue, 4th door north of Myrtle, my mother's residence.)

My address here is care of Major Hapgood, paymaster U S A, cor 15th & F st, Washington D C.

"I had my swear out about it: I hope there was no risk run: so far I feel all the better for it—have

[This was money in my possession belonging to Walt. J. B. 1912.]What a blank there in New England!

I sent you my last report.Faithfull,W. D. O'Connor.—Emerson gone! The world grows darker.W. D.

tissue which I do not seem to get in my own established environment.'

Considerable talk followed my return to him of Bucke's letter spoken of yesterday. "Oh!"

I said my question was: Do I want to go back to it? W. approving.

My inquiry then was: "Then you don't like Brown?" "No.

"No," he said, "but I have my eye out sharply for it: it seems as if it must be there in the mix—yet

W. said: "My father had been an acceptor of Paine: Paine had been much vilified."

My dear Mr.

W. called my attention to a box on the floor.

For my name, work, appears many times.

heart to stand still at the inscription that met my eye!

My heart was strangely moved by this incident.

My best friends have been women. Put that in your pipe and smoke it."

the court to advance it for argument, & named the first Tuesday in February as the earliest day that my

previous engagments in court would permit of my attention to the argument, and as being probably as

I write this to assure you that if it had been in my power to construe the law so as to give you the

But I feel that such a construction would in effect be an enactment, and therefore beyond my power.

awaiting the action of the Executive upon his sentence,"— and your letter of May 4, 1869, again calling my

the important and difficult questions which may arise upon the case, I think it sufficient to express my

He called my attention to a bunch of wheat-stalks on the table. "A lady brought them in.

It raises my solicitude. As we left he took up a local paper—said he would try to read.

Called my attention to the Century. "Morris has a poemet there," he said. Mrs.

W. thought my suggestion a good one. Saturday, November 30, 1889

Bucke passed my baggage (including books) through customs without investigation. Then away.

I did some writing on the trip down but neither the environment nor my mood encouraged me much.