we did not get your letter untill yesterday (Saturday) I was glad when I did hear from home I began to feel anxious quite disagreable and uneasy I thought you was either sick or had gone away I thought that day I would write to George [2]X
George Washington Whitman (1829-1901) was the seventh child of Walter and Louisa Whitman, and ten years younger than Walt. George learned to read and write as a pupil under his older brother Walt ( who briefly served as a schoolteacher in Long Island ), and was trained in carpentry. at his boarding house your letter being directed Bellows Falls [3]X
Bellows Falls, on the banks of the Connecticut River, is in southeast Vermont, and was accessible by railroad in the early 1850s. Heyde's painting, Bellows Falls from the Bridge is dated 1855; he also painted many versions of Saxtons River, not far from Bellows Falls. See Charles Louis Heyde: Nineteenth–Century Vermont Landscape Painter , ed. Nancy Price Graff and E. Thomas Pierce (Burlington, VT: Robert Hull Fleming Museum, University of Vermont, 2001), 89–90. was delayed some days, dear Mother if you direct your letters, Rutland [4]X
Rutland is in southwest Vermont, and was the central hub for the Rutland Railroad line in the 1850s. Vermont and if you like Bardwell House we will get them direct Charlie has no idea of returning to Bellows Falls at any time, I don't know how long he will remain here not a very long time, I wish Mother you would write as soon as you get this, for its uncertain how long we shall stay. If he should paint some views at Southerland Falls [5]X
Southerland Falls (also known as Sutherland Falls), in Proctor, Vermont, is ten miles north of Rutland. (but he does not hardly think he will) he will remain two or three weeks the accomodations at the Falls are not comfortable at a high board comparativly

I should like to hear from home again its sometime since you wrote and Mother I feel somehow a sort of anxiety or I hardly know how to tell you I was so afraid something was the matter when you did not write I cannot tell you how I felt untill I read your letter, but I have not been well ever since Jeffys [6]X
Thomas Jefferson Whitman (1833-1890),"Jeff," was the eighth child of Walter and Louisa Whitman. Walt's favorite brother, Jeff played the piano and had a lively sense of humor. Hannah may be referring to a letter Jeff sent to her about the death of their father, Walter Whitman Sr., who died July 11, 1855. letter, It was very sudden and improbable as it may seem unexpected to me I should not have felt so much if I could have seen Father before he was insensible while he knew me, I have very much to regret.

I am glad you keep well Mother I feel pretty well now but have been quite weak and View PageFull size in new windowmiserable, what do you think Mother of my coming home for a week or two not longer if Charlie goes to Burlington in a few days as he talks of I should be so very far from home and probably he will go still further up the lake he expects to remain some time, somewhere on Lake Champlain, [7]X
Lake Champlain is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the United States. Burlington, Vermont, is located on its east shore. The lake sits in a valley between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondacks of New York. and he thinks of going quite soon. I wish much to see you all before I go so far, and I wish to have some black dresses and bonnet [8]X
Hannah wishes to wear black, the traditional color of mourning. I do not like to wear such things as I have now, first I did not care, it made no difference but now I do not like to wear a pink or light dress and if one feels as I do, I think its right to do as you feel. I cannot tell any one how I feel about it. It is not for the looks, or for others its for myself for my own feelings, I do not wish any thing that would be much expence and I think Charlie will be willing, Mother I wish you to would write as soon as possible I wish to know about my comeing home if you are going away to Mary's [9]X
Mary Elizabeth Whitman Van Nostrand (1821–1899) was the third child of Walter Whitman and Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, and Hannah's older (and only) sister. Mary married Ansel Van Nostrand, a shipbuilder, in 1840 and moved to Greenport, Long Island, a whaling town. Hannah and Walt visited her there before Hannah's marriage to Heyde. Mary and Ansel had five children: George, Fanny, Louisa, Ansel, and Minnie. See Katherine Molinoff, Some Notes on Whitman's Family (Brooklyn: Comet, 1941), 3–4., send me word, I don't know positively as I shall come home, write and tell me what you think it will be of course fatigueing but I wish to see you and I cannot get things here or any bonnet here, but I am not particular

Charlie did not have his painting raffled for he sold it for $125 he has no others he has not been at work since we left B.F. [10]X
Hannah's abbreviation for Bellows Falls, Vermont. I have much more to tell you next time —Give my love to my brothers dear mother

Charlie sends his love

when we go to Burlington we will let you know write immediately