This Easter time the poorest of London working folk flock in enormous numbers to Hampstead Heath; it is a sight that would interest you--they are rougher & noisier & poorer than such folks in America--& the men more prone to get the worse for drink--but there is a good deal of fun & merriment too--the girls & boys racing about on donkeys (who have a pretty hard time of it)--plenty of merry-go-rounds--& enjoyment of the pure air & sunshine, & such sights, more than they know. The light is failing, dearest friend; so with love from us all, good-bye. ANNE GILCHRIST. Friendliest greeting to your brother & sister & to Hattie & Jessie when you write & to the Staffords. LETTER LVIII HERBERT H. GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN _Keats Corner, Well Road North London Hampstead, England June 5th, 1881, Sunday afternoon_ 5 P. M. MY DEAR WALT: You don't write me a letter nor take any notice of my magnificent offers concerning "Pond Musings", etc. however, I will forgive you this oft-repeated offence. I often think of you, very often of America and things generally there, and nearly always with pleasure. My mother is away staying with Beatrice in Edinburgh city, recruiting her health, which has most sadly needed it of late. So I and Grace & a new Scotch lassie, one Margaret, who officiates as servant most efficaciously too, I can tell you (such scrubbing & cleaning as you never saw the like) we three, I say, are alone at Keats Corner; cool sitting here in our long drawing-room (hung with innumerable pictures as of yore), although it has been scorchingly hot this past month. The morning I spend sketching on Hampstead Heath, which is lovely just now, all the May-trees are in full bloom the gorse & broom are a blaze of yellow, the rooks fly constantly by a quarter of a mile (seemingly) overhead, the sly fellows giving some side like dart when you look up at them even at that height. I am painting one of them; so I have to look up pretty often. In the early morning the nightingale sings, oh, so sweetly, long trills & roulades in the most accomplished manner.