I had all my children with me at the funeral. O the comfort your dear letter was & is to me. Thinking over & over the few words you say of yourself--& what is said in the paper (so eagerly read--every word so welcome) I cannot help fancying that the return of the distressing sensations in the head must be caused by your having worked at the book--the "Two Rivulets" (I dearly like the title & the idea of bringing the Poems & Prose together so)--that you must be more patient with yourself and submit still to perfect rest--& that perhaps in regard to the stomach--you have not enough adapted your diet to the privation of exercise--that you must be more indulgent to the stomach too in the sense of giving it only the very easiest & simplest work to do. My children join their love with mine. Your own loving ANNE. [Illustration: FACSIMILE OF ONE OF ANNE GILCHRIST'S LETTERS TO WALT WHITMAN] [Illustration: FACSIMILE OF ONE OF ANNE GILCHRIST'S LETTERS TO WALT WHITMAN] LETTER XXIX ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN _1 Torriano Gardens Camden Rd., Nov. 16, 1875. London_ I have been wanting the comfort of a talk with you, dearest Friend, for weeks & weeks, without being able to get leisure & tranquillity enough to do it to my heart's content--indeed, heart's content is not for me at present--but restless, eager, longing to come--& the struggle to do patiently & completely & wisely what remains for me here before I am free to obey the deep faith and love which govern me--so let me sit close beside you, my Darling--& feel your presence & take comfort & strength & serenity from it as I do, as I can when with all my heart & soul I draw close to you, realizing your living presence with all my might.--First, about Percy--things are beginning to look a little brighter for him. He is just entering upon a new engagement with some very large & successful works--the Blenavon Iron Co.--where, though his salary will not be higher at first, his opportunities of improvement will be better & he is also to be allowed to take private practice (in assaying & analyzing). The manager there believes in Science & is friendly to Percy & will give him every facility for showing what he can do, so that he hopes to prove to the Directors before long that he is worth a good salary. The parents of Norah (whom he loves) have released from their unfriendly attitude since my Beatrice has been staying with them; the two girls have attached themselves to one another & Per. has had delightful opportunities of being with Norah, & best of all, she is to return here with Beatrice (they are coming to-morrow), & Per. is to have a week's holiday & come up, so that he & Norah will be wholly together & have, I suspect, the happiest week they have yet had in their lives. Then I have stored away for them the furniture of the dear old home at Colne, & I really think that by the time '76 is out they will be able to marry. I see, and indeed I have known