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write (moderately) & get out doors in a propell'd chair & keep good spirits—Nothing very significant in my

by accounts) is left with very little financially—spent an hour down by the Delaware river side in my

John's Wood London N.W. 16 June 1890 My dear Walt Whitman, The second copy of "November Boughs" reached

Miss Louisa Drewry, the lady whose paper I told you of in my last, called here yesterday to see the various

I obtained a nurse, for my time was occupied in procuring remedies—all day—until allmost almost night

I have improved this property more than 1000$—by my personal industry.

I doubt not that you will have been informed by his friends, or by the press, but as it was my lot to

not seen you, Walt Whitman, but it is not necessary to see you in order to know you, and I send you my

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

I fancy Herbert Gilchrist must be with you by this time—give him my kind regards and tell him I hope

Yesterday was my wedding day—we are 23 years married —getting to be quite old folk!

ONTARIO London, Ont., 24 Sept 188 8 We are having a devil of a time so don't be uneasy if my letters

Meanwhile I ought to be writing my annual report—the meter too is likely to call on me for some attention

Kittermaster (a lawyer, nephew of Mrs Bucke's & good friend of mine) and one of my little boys drove

or at one side or other of the road—a good team, free travelers—altogether a grand day—today up to my

weather—upon the whole the finest December we ever had here—has changed, & to-day is dark & sulky & dripping—My

this morning—I am sitting here in the big chair—have eaten some ice cream — drank a cup of milk for my

Dearest Mother, I have grown better the last four or five days, & don't have that pain in my head now

It has got pretty cold here the last two days—I wear my big old overcoat.

Dear John Burroughs I have got back here after ten weeks' absence, & find myself all the better for my

you papers from here which of course you have rec'd received —I enclose the baby's photo, returned —my

Boston, Sept: September 24 1881 Dear Alma Every thing is going on & has gone on satisfactorily—My book

plate-casting, & if things turn out wrong any way I shall have only myself to blame, for I have had my

INSANE ASYLUM LONDON ONTARIO 28 July [June] 18 91 Just as I sent off my last note came yours of 24 th

certainly use the note to Tennyson for I want much to see him and to be able to tell you about him on my

picture or two besides—the one in the hat I call "the laughing philosopher" —I am sitting here alone in my

big ratan arm chair in my den—Supper soon—I only eat two meals (no dinner) but relish them— Walt Whitman

Traubel, With Walt Whitman in Camden, Thursday, September 12, 1889 and Saturday, September 14, 1889: "My

kind of feeling, I am thankful they are so few—for you know I am getting to be an old fellow—though my

temperament for buoyancy & fun I believe increases instead of diminishes—I shall take my vacation considerably

of Justice Washington . 187 Thursday night—½ past 8 Dearest mama, I will write you a line, to begin my

myself, nobody in the building besides me, but the watchman—Mama dear, I suppose you got the order in my

I was appointed last Wednesday, my new grade & pay commence on Nov. 1st—I haven't got a letter from home

has gone to New York—he is badly afflicted with sore eyes, & has gone there to see the best oculists— My

I was in Washington the 2nd and I went to No 34 4 ½ Street and pawned my Watch a good American Lever,

for $22.07 which I was to pay within a month but I was robbed of my pocket Book which contained a receipt

feeble, and have distress in the head—these are the worst features—but am gradually regaining the use of my

written a short letter to Hannah , & also one to Jeff —which they must have rec'd by this time— I keep up my

I rec'd your letter, dear mother—you may rest assured that I write the exact facts about my sickness—I

window looking out on the river & scenery—it is beautiful weather now—they have sent over & paid me my

lately—to-day have been out f'm two to three hours—start at 11 abt—Stopt at Harleigh Cemetery to look again at my

Give my love to all—I most envy the S W salt air that must be breezing in there to day— Walt Whitman

W. 3 July 1880 My dear Friend I write you one line to ask you if you can do me a little favour favor

A few of my friends, who are poets, have been pleased to do honour to themselves & to Scott, & they have

Asylum for the Insane, London, March 23 d 18 80 My dear Walt The two copies of "Leaves of Grass" came

vols volumes —Do not mail the books to Anderson as I told you on 18 but mail them to —Please answer my

July 10 th 1880 My dear Walt Whitman.

I remain My dear Walt Whitman Yours Faithfully Josiah Child Josiah Child to Walt Whitman, 10 July 1880

'90 Much the same—stupid condition—fine sunny day—passable night—buckwheat cakes honey & coffee for my

furnish them in MSS a new book (60,000 words) on Abrm Lincoln, for a new series Makers of America —my

a splendid fellow and I trust I may often see him and the other good Bolton fellows before I finish my

I wish you had some of my physical strength, dear Walt, so that Major Pond might take you on the lecture

Dillingham Co: New York), he writes of Whitman: "Whitman gave a few readings under my management during

have not stirred out—the roads and rivers here all block'd blocked with snow and ice—the last week my

Rice, to me about a week after the piece appeared, one of the most eulogistic, solid acceptances of my

a visit to very kind Quaker folks, particular friends of mine —had a good time—good grub—a horse to my

I am well as usual—nothing very new with my affairs (but the last six or eight months has kind of gone

reprint "Encyclopædia Brittanica"—I send you by express a little package of books—the three Vols. of my

me—mainly because it satisfies me best, upon the whole —What you say about Mrs Spofford's say lubricates my

This is the first letter I have written for weeks, and I am afraid I write rather obscurely, for my hand

did not answer and acknowledge them I regret to have done so; but if you knew how great the mass of my

and bladder troubles and fearful weakness of ten weeks ago—At present I am sitting by the oak fire in my

T. has been and is invaluable to me—my books are all printed etc.

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

BY the city dead-house by the gate, As idly sauntering wending my way from the clangor, I curious pause

Fair, fearful wreck—tenement of a soul—itself a soul, Unclaim'd, avoided house—take one breath from my

BY the city dead-house by the gate, As idly sauntering wending my way from the clangor, I curious pause

Fair, fearful wreck—tenement of a soul—itself a soul, Unclaim'd, avoided house—take one breath from my

As he looked around, hearing my step, he exclaimed, "Oh!

"And to show my faith in it, I will pay you for it forthwith!"

Here W. turned his finger my way, and said waggishly—"And that's for you, too!"

—the best made since my sickness!"

Kerr objected to my use of "sun-glown" as obsolete.

Did not till later mention my own message. He answered: "Yes—and quite a long letter, too.

"Doctor returned me the slip, with reference to my future use of it—it is there in the note."

W. asked: "Did they understand my note?"

"I don't know whether too much or not, but I like to know my men—who they are, what they do.

Bucke called my attention to it at the time.

"Yes—they are my fool lines. I was giving Hotten some advice and tried to illustrate it.

I was only trying to give him an idea how I seemed to myself in my own eyes."

You are the victim of a disease I should not encourage—but then we've agreed to work together—you're my

I should like to know who wrote the piece in the Morning Star—it flushed my friends and myself too, like

Once he got to the house while I was out—went straight to the kitchen where my dear mother was baking

My dear Mr. Whitman, I received a few days since your last letter.

It is very pleasant to me to find you liked my ShakespereShakespeare book, but much more to know that

But I do not doubt that half-a-dozen of my friends will wish to have the books, so I should be obliged

I am commencing to feel my grip coming back."

The last three or four days have been the most desperately anxious days of my life.

There's a doubt in my mind! Indeed I had forgot the book—it is not sent.

I find that I am large—that all my meannesses and doubts have dropped off." "Oh! that is noble! Oh!

And several times he declared, "You have opened my eyes to the best future I can see for the 'Leaves.

Indeed, I think my own Lincolnism was a good deal the result of William's pressure—Gurowski's.

That has been my own experience.

I feel he is not averse to me or my care.

Am up to my eyes (and over) in work.Love to AnneYoursR. M. Bucke 6:20 P.M. In at W.'s.

This—the great revolution of feeling—my recognition of it all—I have had a notion to acknowledge—say,

Informed me, "I wrote my first letter today—a short one. It was for my sister, Mrs.

It shoots in lively style about my body, but chiefly in the legs.

I won't give you a letter, but you can say you are from me—and you may give him my good word and tell

him he is often in my thoughts as I sit here in my den."

Now today Warrie takes one of my boxes here.

But the court steps in and says, you shan't dispose of your goods that way, there's only one way—my way—and

And when I restated, "It could not have been in my copy—must have come in a later edition."

"Warrie, give me my handkerchief. It is back here." Much coughing."This is Christmas morning.""Oh!

I found by drinking coffee or tea or even milk punch it stirred up my brain, so I stopped.

It's my fault altogether."3:40 P.M. Burroughs went up and into the room.

McAlister says at this hour, "I still adhere to my opinion. The rally is only temporary." 7:50 P.M.

He saw me flitting about with my black dress on and said to me, 'O Mary!

And to my explanation, "Oh! It is slow—slow!" Then suddenly, "Was it A. Q.

Respond with my love—memories—admiration." And he curiously, "You hear from Bucke every day?

Always give him my choice good prayers."

best affection and regard—my best: tell them"—and here he broke off of sheer feebleness, and I cried

I think they cause a huskiness in my throat, a peculiar huskiness."

It will be the whole expression of the design which I had in my mind When I Began to Write.

Now, that is the way it has been with my book. It has been twenty-five years building.

My theory in making the book is to give A Recognition of All Elements compacted in one— e pluribus unum

"My poetry," continued Mr.

Many of my friends have no patience with my opinion on this matter.

I am glad you brought a few: I can enclose them with my letters."

I say to my friends: Don't be so sure of my innocence: all the bad is there with all the good, only needing

Dana quoted me copiously in his book—was my genial friend."

of my paragraphing being changed.

"Jeannie's death was the tragedy of their history—and a tragedy in my history, too.

.: "I have a note—buy my note refers me to yours." He put on his glasses without a word.

vellum is one of my lady's chairs, pretty to look at, carved, delicate, polished—but for heaven's sake

Then as he read on: "Ed, you rascal—why don't you appear with my letter?"

My expectations for it are not pecuniary—not at all.

W. remembered that this is my birthday.

I have made up my opinion from our frequent talks: it seems to explain and justify you fully."

I had read the paper on Poe on my way over in the morning. I was very vehemently against S.'

I said: "I alluded to Stoddard in my letter to Doctor this morning." W.: "Did you?

I feel that my work is to carry on what you have begun.

You have opened the way: my only desire is to go onward with it.

For my part when I meet anyone of erudition I want to get away, it terrifies me.

Not like some of my friends, very thick at first, then falling off."

I should have my friends there, as I have here."

I am feeling pretty well so far (Yet I attribute my feeling pretty well now to my visit for the last

year and a half, to the Creek and farm, and being with my dear friends the S—'s).

The only American prophet to my knowledge who enjoys a fame in England not accorded him in his own country

, strolling tides, Companions, travelers, gossiping as they journey; And he sends it out 'partly as my

And thee, My Soul! Joys, ceaseless exercises, exaltations!

Thee for my recitative!

Roll through my chant with all thy lawless music!

or ambition to articulate and faithfully express in literary and poetic form, and uncompromisingly, my

say entirely my own way, and put it unerringly on record."

In another place the feeling of pride leads to this exclamation: "My Book and I—what a period we have

Difficult as it will be, it has become, in my opinion, imperative to achieve a shifted attitude from

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

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