Take care of yourself dear Mother tell me about every one of them when you write

Whenever they can send me the Dispatch Mother dear dont think strange of my not writing before I never thought so much of you all or wanted to hear from you more than I do now

I have written a good many letters very many more than you have written to me only I have not sent them, for many reasons sometimes Charlie would see them, and sometimes ones I would write when I did not feel good and would not want to send them, this time I shall finish and mail it at once. I have felt quite disagreable about my not writing have minded it probably more than you have I think about you all at home much more than I ever did, and am always delighted to get a letter. I was glad very glad to hear Jeffy [2]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. was better I thought of you dear Mother every hour in the day, you must have had your hands full Andrew [3]X
Andrew Jackson Whitman (1827–1863), the sixth child of Walter and Louisa Whitman. Like his father and brothers, Andrew was a carpenter; he later served in the Union Army briefly during the Civil War. See Martin G. Murray, "Bunkum Did Go Sogering," Walt Whitman Quarterly Review 10 (Winter 1993): 142–48. being sick also, I hope by this time Andrew is entirely well and tell Jeff to keep a good heart and take care of himself, he must not get downhearted, I am glad George [4]X
George Washington Whitman (1829–1901) was the seventh child of Walter and Louisa Whitman, and ten years younger than Walt. is in Brooklyn, again its nice for you to have him come up home, I wonder if you feel much lonely do you mammy, I should like to hear from you all again, we were very glad indeed to get the papers you sent, we cannot View PageFull size in new windowget the Dispatch [5]X
The New York Dispatch was published from 1854 to 1861. See Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers (web). here they do not keep it. Charlie gets the Daily times [6]X
This may be a reference to the New York Daily Times, which published under this title from 1851 to 1857., papers never get here untill the day after they are printed. Saturday paper they get Monday. Mother I really want to see you all. I do not think we will remain here long. I know we will not stay long at this Hotel. its possible we may go to the American Hotel [7]X
The American Hotel, known as "the leading hotel in Burlington," was built in 1808 and purchased in 1824 by Cornelius Van Ness, governor of Vermont. A brick wing was added to the building in 1844. The hotel was the site of a deadly fire in 1906. See "Woman Perished in Ruins," Burlington Free Press (Burlington, VT) December 20, 1906, 8. , that is up in the village more and is even still more fashionable. this place they try very hard to be fashionable as far as dress goes, I think the people here are some what different from what one has been used to, they had a ball or as they call it a cotillion party they made quite a display most of the men wore white vests and gloves the girls ball dresses, I saw them from one of the sitting rooms I did not dance, if we should remain here I should not even go in the sitting room again they have them every two weeks, the room we occupy is on the second floor not very large have no bureau or closes we pay $8 a week, Charlie has only disposed of three pictures since I have been here, he got a good price for them, you need not neglect writing thinking we are not here as soon as we make any change I will let you know. I have written such a great number of letters I forget if I told you I went to PlattsburgView PageFull size in new window [8]X
Plattsburgh, New York, is on west side of Lake Champlain, northwest of Burlington. had a pleasant sail on the Lake dinner on bourd the Steamboat a nice walk and ride about the village visited two of the Hotels the day was warm enough to be out on the promenad deck on the boat got home a little after dark it was no expence to Charlie a boarder in the house invited us we could have gone to a very many places if we had wished, then it was pleasant weather, now its pretty cold, the Lake is not frozen, there has not been any snow or not enough to cover the furs are very much worn here, they are much worn and quite expensive shall not be able to get any this winter I do not go out much I have nothing new but a silk apron I have worn black all the time the delaine [9]X
Hannah's dress is probably made out of wool; "delaine" refers to an all-wool dress material. dress is worn out it was very rotten every time I wear it, it gets torn the gingham dress I wore long as I could untill it got dirty or messy the flounced dress I wear still and my two silk ones, I have not worn my cloak I wear that wrapper you gave me altogether and my black bonnet, the old black velvet one was torn there is quite a number stop here that have just been married. sometimes they are married here quietly, the last that was married here I was bridesmaid, the bridegroom was very rich the bride was rather pretty they were married View PageFull size in new windowin the evening Mr Blodgett [10]X
The name of the hotel is "The Exchange," in Burlington, Vermont. The Heydes stayed at this hotel intermittently during the 1850s, and Hannah refers to the Exchange in many of her letters. It was owned by the Blodgett family. the principle owner of this Hotel (a widower, was groomsman we do not have very lively times here now however Charlie thinks its the dullest place he ever saw, he frets very much gets quite discouraged but I do not think we shall be here very long I dont care where he goes if he could only feel more cheerful, I of course would feel contented anywhere where his buisiness was good, I have written very many letters and then would feel different and would not send them, I was glad Walt wrote to me Charlie seemed much pleased with Leaves of Grass [11]X
The first edition of Leaves of Grass, published in July 1855. he took it to his room at once, and has read it many times. — You must write when you can dear Mother for possibly we may remain here some weeks, I am perfectly willing to leave here I do not like it so very much there is quite a number of women boarders they notice ones dress so much, Charlie has taken one of his paintings up to the American house to night to be raffled [12]X
Heyde followed the example set by the Art Unions in the mid-nineteenth century, of holding a lottery (or raffle) to sell his paintings. The Art Union would charge subscribers to belong to its organization each year, and at the end of the year a drawing would be held. Winners would receive original works of art that the Art Union had purchased. More than likely Heyde charged a nominal fee for the tickets he sold. See William H. Gerdts Jr., Painting and Sculpture in New Jersey (Princeton, NJ: D. Van Nostrand, 1964), 84. for there. I want to see you dear Mother very much I have so very much to say to you that I do not wish to write, I have had some bothers, Charlie is not always very good to me but its best to say as little about it as possible Charlie has said many times he has written home when he was angry at me, if he has written as he says, but I do not think he has written what he said, because there is not the slightest truth in what he says or writes when he is angry he is sometimes very violent but I do not mind it much I scarcely ever get the least bit angry at him only remember Mother to not believe any thing he writes of me in the slightest particular, Dear mother I will certainly write again soon, write to me, I do not wish Charlie to see this. Give my love to every single one George, to J, W, M [13]X
Hannah is abbreviating the names of her siblings: "J" is Jeff; "W" is Walt, and "M" is Mary., and Eddy [14]X
Eddy (Edward) Whitman (1835–1892), the youngest child of Louisa and Walter Whitman, was mentally and physically disabled. He lived with Mother Whitman until her death in 1873, then with his brother George Washington Whitman and his wife Louisa Orr Haslam Whitman. Walt Whitman contributed to his support. Eddy was placed in an asylum in Blackwood, New Jersey, in 1888.