"Poets to come! Orators, singers, musicians to come! Not to-day is to justify me, and answer what I am for; But you, a new brood, native, athletic, continental, greater than before known, "Arouse! Arouse--for you must justify me--you must answer. "I myself but write one or two indicative words for the future, I but advance a moment, only to wheel and hurry back in the darkness. "I am a man who, sauntering along, without fully stopping, turns a casual look upon you, and then averts his face, Leaving it to you to prove and define it, Expecting the main things from you." ANNE GILCHRIST. [Illustration: ANNE GILCHRIST Photogravure from a painting by her son, made in 1882] LETTER I[3] WALT WHITMAN TO W. M. ROSSETTI AND ANNE GILCHRIST _Washington, December 9, 1869._ DEAR MR. ROSSETTI: Your letter of last summer to William O'Connor with the passages transcribed from a lady's correspondence, had been shown me by him, and copy lately furnished me, which I have just been rereading. I am deeply touched by these sympathies and convictions, coming from a woman and from England, and am sure that if the lady knew how much comfort it has been to me to get them, she would not only pardon you for transmitting them to Mr. O'Connor but approve that action. I realize indeed of this emphatic and smiling _well done_ from the heart and conscience of a true wife and mother, and one too whose sense of the poetic, as I glean from your letter, after flowing through the heart and conscience, must also move through and satisfy science as much as the esthetic, that I had hitherto received no eulogium so magnificent. I send by same mail with this, same address as this letter, two photographs, taken within a few months. One is intended for the lady (if I may be permitted to send it her)--and will you please accept the other, with my respects and love? The picture is by some criticised very severely indeed, but I hope you will not dislike it, for I confess to myself a perhaps capricious fondness for it, as my own portrait, over some scores that have been made or taken at one time or another. I am still employed in the Attorney General's office. My p. o. address remains the same. I am quite well and hearty. My new editions, considerably expanded, with what suggestions &c. I have to offer, presented I hope in more definite form, will probably get printed the coming spring. I shall forward you early copies. I send my love to Moncuré Conway, if you see him. I wish he would write to me. If the pictures don't come, or get injured on the way, I will try again by express. I want you to loan this letter to the lady, or if she wishes it, give it to her to keep. WALT WHITMAN. LETTER II ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN _September 3, 1871._ DEAR FRIEND: