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If he gives me an apple for my mother, a cake for my sister, or anything for myself, he will perhaps

Told him of my postal from Yarros that the O'Connor piece would be published in the next number of Liberty

proved—North, South, East, West—all of them—the plain every-day men—I should still go a-begging for my

"Walt, you don't seem often to mistake my step, even in the dark."

"No, I do not, but my senses seem to get duller." I took a chair and moved it up towards the bed.

This is my music day.

I never thought of Buck's $10 again till three or four days later, when I opened my long memorandum book

So I carried Buck's $10 in my memo book till Nov. 28, when your call came and, putting $5 more with it

can explain to Walt the whole thing, and relieve me from what seems a mean thing.I am not ashamed of my

I have done my duty and been liberal as I could possibly afford to be.

All-seeing I am as clear as crystal and am not worried even if I am annoyed and wish I had stated in my

I said then: "I have another of my contributors who has given me 80 dollars so far" &c.

I have been much criticised for my use of the term—'divine average.'"

What now can make me happy as in those days when I was content with my dinner-pail—the bread, pork, sip

I get my dinner about 4 or 5—and my appetite keeps up amazingly—I don't flunk one meal out of 20: I have

copy of the big Gutekunst portrait for Agnes, who means to have it reproduced large, in charcoal, by my

s on my way to the city. All well there. W. and Ed sleeping. Ed had not gone to bed till one.

On my entrance he had taken my hand, I resisting a little, and objecting: "It is cold: I have just come

"My personal cleanliness—the washedness—so bad has been my state, has for the present to be post-poned

W. held my hand a long time to-nighttonight as I said my "good-bye" and was about to start off.

I have such a good bed,—and my stove does very well—it is a little bit out of the way in location—My

But say, I am here tonight, in my bed, cheerful if not comfortable, with hope up again, though with entire

recognition of the gravity of my condition."

Give him—give her—my love, sympathy. Poor woman, too—she particularly: my heart goes out to her."

Reminded me, "My copy of Poet-Lore came today. Shall I send it to Bucke?"

My brother leaves me this afternoon—have just been having a fine game of backgammon with him—all well

have spent a horrible day—full of discomfort—sticky—sluggish—baddish more ways than I can tell: one of my

Very cordial and spoke of my birthday, this day. "Thirty-one!

I had a copy of The Standard in my pocket.

At this calling my attention to a copy of Poet Lore, "Do you see it?"

"My first impulse was, to have you read it, then pass it on to Dr.

One of my first questions is always that—not always spoken—not methodically thought, even—but in a way

He "at last understands better" my very "frequent association of" his own name "with Tolstoy's."

Yesterday was my birthday.

"I would as lief regret that I had not murdered my mother."

To-dayToday he turned up a Gardner letter which he brought to my notice before I left.

My dear Whitman,I received this morning from an old friend (Mr.

then, "Walt, it's necessary for you to say that in so many words: you must say, I declare this to be my

last will and testament," and then with a very strong, clear voice he said, "I declare this to be my

I spoke of its wonder and W. repeated my word—admitting it had "wonder: that first wonder—influence—which

"Enviged" me, he said smilingly, my prospective roamings this day.

"I am sorry for my imprisonment—but glad I have a good prison," etc., with a laugh.

My father has been making a large copy of the Gutekunst picture and W. said: "I shall probably stop in

And on my negative merrily exclaiming, "Nor have I bite!"

"I have had quite a curiosity," he said once more, "to fall on the track of my Brazilian poemetta—I looked

W. added: "I sent away a number of the papers this evening—to Doctor, Kennedy, my sisters, brothers,

page is perfect—I cannot conceive anything finer—and the little notes (opening and closing) are (to my

Bucke.W. had pinned the original proof with his blue-pencilled corrections to my sheet.

I advised: Wait till we are sure: I will open the box and make my count in a day or two.

best friends—one who leans my way, who I in turn may lean upon."

And at my statement—"That is right, I am glad you said it that way," adding, "There are stories nowadays

I told him in my last letter that he would undoubtedly get a copy next week." "So he will!

Said, "I took my medicine at 12, 3, 6, 9, 12.

On my way to Phila. Shall be able despite doubts to go to N.Y. tomorrow.

But that shows a misconception of my mission on this earth, which is not to be catspaw under whatever

issues of time, or to claim that which is not my own, or to play fool—as would be palpably the case

for me to print under my own name an article which any astute man would at once see was his by fingermarks

I had left on my first trip the old scrap-book containing Ingersoll's "Burns."

W. listened to my detail of this with apparently intense interest.

I am very careless of my possessions.

The fact is the subject was so august to my mind that I never got courage or time to sit down to it.

Now about my obligation on November Boughs, I despair of doing what I wish to do.

I like once a year, when I can, to give my people a good thorough dose of some noble works.

Spoke of this before he had answered my questions about his health.

"I am not well yet by any means, but then a man in my condition counts little things."

The worst of it is I am very unsteady on my feet and some day shall have a fall—trip."

Sent up by me to my father a picture of Dr. Bucke for him to see.

He had written on the back of it: "My friend Dr. R. M. Bucke came Oct: 15 '88".

W. awake and so I went immediately in for my talk. Had found at W.'

Traubel,If Walt Whitman is in a condition to receive a message, give him my love & heartiest thanks for

They have a way at Bolton of doing these things so well—paper—ink, even—that even my eye is cheated."

Give them all my love, too, and safety for the Colonel." W. asked me, "Who is in the next room?"

I had it in my pocket.

Had held my hand in his some time "to feel its out-of-door cheer, vigor: it has the warmth, smell, of

And on my remark that Tennyson certainly expressed more strength than—for instance—was expressed in Whittier

an essay—"The Relation of English to German Literature in the Eighteenth Century") was a friend of my

Brinton said in the course of a letter I received today: "Thanks for conveying my wishes to W. W.

W. exclaimed upon my reading: "That is certainly fine—fine—fine!

I am in any danger that people will think so of me, I had better watch myself more closely—for fear my

Symonds' piece reminded me, reminds me, of Captain Cuttle—the queer Captain Cuttle."

"The Captain would say in his own inimitable style: 'If the ship has gone down then she has gone down—if

My hope is, as the boys say, that it 'gets its roots in': you have heard that expression, eh?

My friends could never understand me, that I would start out so evidently without design for nowhere

"All my life here," he said, "is made up of pathetically little things: yet I don't know but all life

I left Chadwick's (manuscript) reply to my "spirituality" paragraph in last Conservator.

And I can say amen to all that, too, it is my sentiment—just as you say it—and as you say it, it is conclusive

I say, go on—buffet it how you will: your buffet, your challenge, has my respect."

Says he "realized the weight of my argument against the extraneous matter" in "Good-Bye My Fancy"—but

for—but haven't the least remembrance of the other, at least, that is as I see it now, though I know my

W. reading Lippincott's, which he put down on my entrance.

My sister was here: George's wife, I mean—my sister-in-law: she did not stay long: she is a comforting

"I have been more on my bed than on my chair today." Little reading. "I only skimmed the papers."

Meanwhile I am up to my eyes—and over my eyes even to blindness—in the slough of a fearful road to that

to have of my object in calling on you.

In my usual round found W. had passed a pretty good night.

Was not asleep and I went in, shook hands with him, and wished him my good morning, as he wished me his

In next room stopped to read my mail, which I had just received at Post Office, and contained letters

He is quite a brook but Whitman is a Mississippi that runs through all lands.Give my love to the brave

I did not stay much beyond this—yet he held my hand, on "good-bye," in such a way, I took my disengaged

My dear Sir:Dr.

Bucke left me, to my publisher Schabelitz, of Zurich, Switzerland, and offered the MS. to him.

Rolleston accept my assistance and wait so long. Shall I write to him, or will you do it?

Clifford saw my father's picture of W. for the first time at my sister's Sunday—thought it the best he

"My dear daddy used to advise me—my boy always keep on good terms with the cook."

"Do you think the meter's success means my failure, Walt?" "It might."

W. said: "That's another of my illusions shattered."

W. exclaimed: "My God! has it come to that? am I fallen so low?

W. asked: "I wonder if my words will be included?

Bucke said: "I hope you won't take offense at my freedom?"

My own mail included letters from Bucke and Kennedy.At McKay's later in day found our Washingtonian preferred

Sit here on the bed—tell me the news," he taking my hand and I sitting there, detailing such things from

I consider Baxter one of my best friends."

escaped, though I never like to be baffled in a question of that kind—like to have paraphernalia—words—at my

pain (bad cold "profusely illustrated" with facial neuralgia) yesterday morning and am again over at my

That was one of my pleasures in George Kennan's articles in the Century: when he struck a bad [hard?]

That seemed especially made for my benefit!

I remember my Washington experience: here were lives just wavering in the balance—life on that side,

—especially the actors, in which I flatter myself—tickle my egotism—by assuming I have quite a clientage

Referred to "The Canadian preacher who set out to make me define—was bound to make me define my attitude

I wasted many of my own opportunities."

He would not permit my defense of Oldach.

I put my hand over my heart. "From in here." He wanted to know: "Have you a safe guide in there?"

I explained: "I don't mean my future beyond this life but my future here." W.'s face lighted up.

W. poked his thumb up before my eyes.

W. reading Stedman's Poets of America, which he put down on my entrance.

Then he said: "If you write to Stedman to-morrowtomorrow, give him my love: tell him I still keep my

but cheerful, inclined to accept all things as they come: reading some: writing some: spending all my

My Dear Friend. W. H.

Piper, using my name.

If he did he has paid me the greatest tribute of my life.

The best part of my success is that it has come while I am doing a work whose spirit is in part Whitman's

My extended travel and study of literature make me capable of speaking decisively here.Once again Hail

—adding upon my assent, "I guess they are Walsh's—yes, Walsh's."

Further, "And Stoddart, too—yes, now you remind me—by all means—and with my best affection.

W. said immediately as to my cold hand, "How good that is! How it takes me out of doors.

This hand of yours has become my daily escape from these walls!"

He brought me my proof—there"—pointing to a chair in which I could faintly catch its long line—"and I

You remember my old story—that every woman, every man—has his or her mate, waiting somewhere on the globe

I like Boyle—my first impression was a very good one.

trips up—my flying trips."

"I see you will have it so: but there are difficulties, too—my red, florid, blooded, complexion—my gray

As for me I think the greatest aid is in my insouciance—my utter indifference: my going as if it meant

I had a couple of Boston pictures of Morse in my pocket.

Whitman,Dear Sir: My friend and yours Mr.

They were talking of Edwin Arnold on my entrance. Ingersoll hearing me sprang up with warm hand.

W. shook his head, "No, Colonel, no—my work is all done."

Brown, my daughter, and by Miss Maud, my other daughter, to say to you, that you must not leave us yet—that

He took my hand with a good sound grasp. And he is better, anyway, than I expected to find him."

And on the way out to the carriage, "Don't forget me to the wife, Traubel: give her my love.

Illustrated American) W. spoke of: "It is pretty good—has good points—but it emphasizes the rowdy: that is my

As to his good health—"Well—here I am—I can still answer to my name."

"I doubt whether the old fellow can: with my taste, appetite, gusto, I do not come away entirely satisfied

By and bye, noting I drew near the fire to wind my watch, he turned his chair about—got up and fixed

"I'll strike a light"—and refusing Morris' offer of help—"I act just the same when my friends are here

Morris assented and W. thereupon swinging about in his chair to the center table said: "I take pride in my

"My first feeling about Howells' piece," he said, "is wholly indifference."

"That depends: I am not at all settled in my own notions on the subject as yet."

If I say it's not in my line then it's not in my line: that's the end of it: that settles it: do you

"Perhaps I would: perhaps I wouldn't: not my line: that's my say: let's stop right there."

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

He was as cordial as ever, and held my hand all through the talk, which lasted 20 minutes or more.

And again, "If you ever have occasion to write to Walsh or meet him, give him my congratulations."

My doctors and attendants cont. first rate. Horace ever faithful. Am propped up in bed.

I have told you about one of my meetings with Beecher?

But though it excited an inward retort, I said nothing—held my peace.

"That is something that is often said even by my friends: I do not appreciate it: I have made my decision—must

as it was laid on my arm."

My mother spoke to me: she said (laid her hand on my arm): 'I know what you are thinking—I know you feel

My dear mother was wonderful wise and cute.

Whitman, that my idea is not that there is evil in the book: my idea is that by taking certain things

It is indeed to these mostly my habits are adjusted. I have good health.

My dismissal from employment in 1865, by the Secretary of the Interior, Mr.

Nothing in my life, or my literary fortunes, has brought me more comfort and support every way—nothing

to Ellis and Green, of London, to publish my poems complete and verbatim.

And he has a companion in that: my dear enemy Dick: Richard Henry Stoddard.

s on my way to Philadelphia (8:20). He was sleeping—I did not disturb him.

Give him my love. He grows dearer every day.Love to you & Mrs. TraubelYours always,R. G.

—in such a tone as drew all my life together into one sense of recognition and response.

There my memory is treacherous." How alive he seemed!

He had me arrested, but the sympathies of the community were all on my side."

the samples I had had—asked them to give the postal to the man with the job in hand and to give him my

Had left my manuscript at door this morning, now he returned.

"This is my Hindoo kerchief.

pencil and on his knee wrote the following: Mickle St CamdenJan: 9 '90Dear J BThis will be given you by my

Mary Davis has been making them today—and they take my time—and we like to share a good thing when we

I described Cooper's early influence over my father: that Cooper's books had much to do with my father's

tonic—I have been taking it—I am sure it contains strychnia: it does me good in general, but affects my

I have had trouble with my hearing for several months past—quite a decided loss of power": which I have

be merely transitory.Last night I had mentioned to W. that the printer wanted a paragraph added to my

I can see the Duchess now as so often in my young days,—thrusting her head in at the flies."