Do you know Walt dear your letter has done me a world of good. I was out by the gate looking out for the postman, see him when he was way down the street — I was glad, about as glad as I could be.

And to think my dearest brother you have been out. It is wonderful good news to me. Its splendid I feel Walt dear as if I could not say enough about it. Its so good to know.

It does me good too.

So glad you wrote to tell me about the, c h a i r and the jaunt and all, [2]X
In a letter to Richard Maurice Bucke dated May 12, 1889, Whitman mentions that he "went out in the wheel chair yesterday afternoon & was probably out an hour and a half — everything work'd well — the chair is a success & sits and goes easy" ( The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller [New York: New York University Press, 1969], 4:33). — its nice —

(It is sad about Mr O.Connor death, [3]X
William Douglas O'Connor (1832–1889) first met Whitman in 1860 while Whitman was in Boston correcting the proofs for the third edition of Leaves of Grass. Poet and short story writer, O'Connor had been approached by the Boston publishers Thayer and Eldridge to write a novel. When Whitman came to Washington, DC, to find his brother George two years later, he stayed with the O'Connors and subsequently boarded with them for a few months. O'Connor became one of Whitman's good friends, and wrote The Good Gray Poet: A Vindication (1866) to defend Whitman when he was fired from his position as a clerk in the Indian Affairs Bureau because his supervisor found Leaves of Grass objectionable. See Jerome Loving, Walt Whitman's Champion: William Douglas O'Connor (College Station, Texas A&M University Press, 1978). he was great and good (his wonderful letter) — and Susie Langdon, a clerk, under him in Washington used to tell me about him). He was a true friend.

— The country is very beautiful now. trees leaved out some blossoms. Spring is two weeks earlier here than usual no Lilacks even budded here yet.

I am trying to clean house, Walt dear, I do it all myself, but I take my time I have to. — my carpets are all taken up down stairs (done cleaning up stairs glad to be able to work even my way) Ime slow enough, but do pretty well glad to stop a little while View PageFull size in new windowto write a line to you —

Cant think of anything Walt dear. but your being better. and being able to be out. I want you to see lots of comfort my dearest brother. you must not worry about anything — your letter is such a comfort to me I shall be able to work better I thank you with all my heart for your gift, you are very very good to me, always.

cant begin to tell you how much I think of your being so kind nor how much good it does me,

I take comfort too Walt dear, in your having such good friends. Hope you will be out to day —

Wont write much to day my work in the kitchen is waiting for me, (but that don't matter a mite)

When you see Lou [4]X
Louisa Orr Haslam Whitman (1842-1892) married George Whitman on April 14, 1871. They moved to Camden in 1872, and Walt Whitman lived with them from 1873 to 1884. See Karen Wolfe, "Whitman, Louisa Orr Haslam (Mrs. George) (1842–1892)," in Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland, 1998), 781. and George [5]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 worked as a carpenter prior to his military service during the Civil War. When the war ended, he became a pipe inspector for the City of Camden and the New York Metropolitan Water Board. See Martin G. Murray, "Whitman, George Washington," in Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland, 1998), 777-78. will you give my love to them, please.