we do not hear a word from any of you I think if you was sick some of them would send me word I have been wishing and expecting to hear from you every day we shall be here some days longer. I wish some of you would write a line or two. I am very anxious I am so afraid you are sick, I am not very well myself my appetite is not good at all not being very strong any trouble knocks me up completely I want very much to see you (a lady boarder in the house, Mother ) came to see her yesterday I quite envied her I dont know or speak to anyone in the house, this ladies husband indulges her he will hardly let her walk down stairs I have only seen her down once he has her meals sent up she is quite humored enough and I dont think needed her mother as much as I do) —Mother dear perhaps my writing about such trifles will take your mind a little I wish it could, do you ever wonder Mother how I am getting along you have enough other things to think of and enough other trouble. I do hope you feel somewhat reconciled and cheerful by this time I know by myself ones mind affects the body so very much dont get sick dear Mother, I am afraid I write rather meloncholy, I ought to write more cheerfully, but you know I cannot disguise my feelings very much I do not feel cheerful, if I could have seen and spoken to Father I am afraid I make you feel bad Mother I have no one here to speak to, I expect the boys all try to appear cheerful and would not like my writing what would renew your grief View PageFull size in new windowa little time makes much difference with me —

I wish some of you would write immediately before we leave here I dont know how long we shall be here did you get that line I wrote the day we came here. I was very sick and miserable that day but I rode from Clarendon Springs [2]X
Clarendon Springs, a small village southwest of Rutland, was known for its natural spring water. here, (six or seven miles) in an open wagon very ruff stony road. I would liked its being ruff once but my side is weak it hurt me some, once so I almost screamed our being there was very expensive and unpleasant for me but Charlie liked it (they generally come down to Rutland [3]X
Rutland, a major stop on the Rutland Railroad, is five miles from Clarendon Springs. in a Coach they had hired it to a party for that day. Charlie paid half a dollar each for our riding here in that unpleasant (for me) manner, and $2, 50 cents for our being taken down our expences there was $1.50 each a day besides other little things, here our expences are $2, each a day thats is what we expect,) Dear Mother I speak of all these little things to take your mind, its possible we may remain here in Rutland some weeks I dont know where we shall go next early in September Charlie is going to Lake Champlain [4]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. positively he is not doing anything here the scenery here does not suit him Mr Baxter [5]X
Don Carlos Baxter (1809–1874) inherited a fortune from his father, who had been a prominent Vermont attorney. Baxter attended law school and passed the bar in 1832 but never practiced law; he focused on investments and real estate. He lived in the Potwin-Winterbotham House on Willard Street in Burlington, a large twenty-room yellow brick house. See David J. Blow, Historic Guide to Burlington Neighborhoods (Burlington, VT: Chittenden County Historical Society, 1991), 1: 126–27. ( the one he thought to paint some views for has no time ever to see about any thing but his own business he does not want any thing at any rate at present if he ever does he has taken 15 tickets in the rafle [6]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 a painting Charlie brought with us from B.F.) [7]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 as 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. Mr Baxter was the cause of Charlie comeing here he is a very fine man Charlie thinks, Charlie expenses are of course very great he has found very much fault with my being with him, with its being double expence he has pretty large prices for his pictures the one here is to be raffled for this week at $150, and he has an order to paint one at Lake Champlain View PageFull size in new windowat the same price perhaps Charlie would not like my speaking of his buisiness. some persons were travelling gave him an order. I will speak more about it next time I wish to send this letter today I intend or should like to come home pretty soon before he goes to L.C. [8]X
Hannah's abbreviation for Lake Champlain. Charlie has means to meet his expenses his income is much more but his expenses are very much more he thinks or has talks a great deal of my going home almost ever since I been in the country I have packed my trunk once to go I cannot help being so much expence to him and am sure I would rather not live in this way I have no appetite and shall probably not go down to day Charlie has gone to Southerland Falls [9]X
Southerland Falls (also known as Sutherland Falls), in Proctor, Vermont, is ten miles north of Rutland., I have not been happy I could not be, because Charlie has not been kind perhaps he will be better I know he cannot be more unkind than he has been almost ever since I have been in the country one gets weary of being found fault with always still I dont know where I should go or do without him I should not have remained in the country if I could have helped it I could not do any thing else I could only go home he says enough of this dear Mother its better to look on the bright side Charlie has not been unkind to day I do not write with my mind agitated and I do not immagine things and I do not exaggerate I have one comfort he cant be much worse than he has been if theres any change he must be better, he has been once to Southerland Falls but was not much pleased with the scenery perhaps View PageFull size in new windowhe will like it better its only 5 miles from here if he should paint view there we shall remain in Rutland a little longer I wish you could come out here Mother it would be a change and if you are strong enough to bear the journey, it would do you good, but that would be too much pleasure for me to have this house is rather superior in many things to the Island House, its very hot here to day Rutland is said to be a very hot place, my room is quiet and very nice and handsome quite styleish wont you come see mee mammy I am always at home and alone

I shall not have time to write longer give my love to all my brothers and Mary [10]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 Whitmans Family (Brooklyn: Comet, 1941), 3–4. and Mother write as soon as you possibly can I shall feel very bad if you do not, or some of them rest must. I have not seen a newspaper to read since I have been from home. I wish one of my brothers could send me the Dispatch. [11]X
The New York Dispatch was published from 1854 to 1861. See Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers (web). Charlie sees them in the reading room but I have not since Ive been in the country, it does me good to write home I feel be

I shall not let you all forget me

I shall come home pretty soon