The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman

Name: The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman
Author: Whitman, Walt

Whitman, Walt

Gilchrist, Anne (Anne Burrows), 1828-1885 -- Correspondence; Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892 -- Correspondence

Your letter to Herby was a real talk with you. I don't know why I punish
myself by writing to you so seldom now, for indeed to be near you, even in
that way would do me good--often & often do I wish we were back in America
near you. As I write this I am sitting to Herby for my portrait again--he
has never satisfied himself yet: but this one seems coming on nicely--and
so is the Consuelo picture. Another one he has in his mind is to be called
"The tea-party," and it is to be the old group round our table in
Philadelphia--you & me and dear Bee & Giddy & himself. He thinks that what
with memory & photograph & the studies he made when with you, he will be
able to put you & my darling on the canvas.

Giddy's voice is developing into a really fine contralto & she has the
work in her to become an artist, I think & will turn out one of the
tortoises who outstrip the hares. Percy and Norah are spending the winter
in London (at Kensington)--and we can get round by train in half an hour;
so I often see them and the dear little man. Do you remember the Miss
Chases--two pleasant maiden ladies who took tea with us once in
Philadelphia & talked about Sojourner Truth? One of the sisters is in
London this winter & has been several times to see us. The birds are
beginning to sing very sweetly here--& our room is full of the perfume of
spring flowers--indoor ones. Did dear Bee tell you, in the long letter she
once wrote you, how much she loved the Swiss ladies with whom she made her
home while in Berne? A more tender & beautiful love and sorrow than that
with which they cherish the memory of her never grew in any heart. I think
you will like to see some of their letters--please return them, for they
are very precious to me (the little matters they thank me for are some of
dear Bee's things which I sent them for tokens). Love to your sister &
brother. How are Mr. Marvin & Mr. Burroughs? Best love from us all.
Good-bye, dear Friend.

ANNE GILCHRIST.




LETTER LXI

ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN


  _12 Well Road
  Hampstead
  May 8th, '82._

MY DEAREST FRIEND:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt WhitmanWhitman, Walt

General

The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman

Whitman, Walt

Gilchrist, Anne (Anne Burrows), 1828-1885 -- Correspondence; Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892 -- Correspondence

Your letter to Herby was a real talk with you. I don't know why I punish
myself by writing to you so seldom now, for indeed to be near you, even in
that way would do me good--often & often do I wish we were back in America
near you. As I write this I am sitting to Herby for my portrait again--he
has never satisfied himself yet: but this one seems coming on nicely--and
so is the Consuelo picture. Another one he has in his mind is to be called
"The tea-party," and it is to be the old group round our table in
Philadelphia--you & me and dear Bee & Giddy & himself. He thinks that what
with memory & photograph & the studies he made when with you, he will be
able to put you & my darling on the canvas.

Giddy's voice is developing into a really fine contralto & she has the
work in her to become an artist, I think & will turn out one of the
tortoises who outstrip the hares. Percy and Norah are spending the winter
in London (at Kensington)--and we can get round by train in half an hour;
so I often see them and the dear little man. Do you remember the Miss
Chases--two pleasant maiden ladies who took tea with us once in
Philadelphia & talked about Sojourner Truth? One of the sisters is in
London this winter & has been several times to see us. The birds are
beginning to sing very sweetly here--& our room is full of the perfume of
spring flowers--indoor ones. Did dear Bee tell you, in the long letter she
once wrote you, how much she loved the Swiss ladies with whom she made her
home while in Berne? A more tender & beautiful love and sorrow than that
with which they cherish the memory of her never grew in any heart. I think
you will like to see some of their letters--please return them, for they
are very precious to me (the little matters they thank me for are some of
dear Bee's things which I sent them for tokens). Love to your sister &
brother. How are Mr. Marvin & Mr. Burroughs? Best love from us all.
Good-bye, dear Friend.

ANNE GILCHRIST.




LETTER LXI

ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN


  _12 Well Road
  Hampstead
  May 8th, '82._

MY DEAREST FRIEND:

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman

The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman

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