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The Walt Whitman Archive

St. Louis, Feb 16th 1873

When I wrote you yesterday I had not had time to read your last letter but when I went home and gave it to Mattie the thought that you might yet come to see her made her feel very happy  It seems to be the one desire of her life to have you come and see her—she rested much better last night—her throat is better and her cough better but she has the most intense pain in her side and shoulder and arm—One side and breast is so swollen that it makes her quite one-sided and the pain most all the time is terrible severe—

What do you think about the trip? I am sure we can make you very comfortable here—and I believe you could come through without hardly knowing it—at the same time if George could he might come with you—

You would not need to make any preparation for the journey—you would find a colored porter on the car that would bring you your meals—you could have the table put up in the section and eat as if you were at home—

If Mat was well enough I would come for you—but as it is I cannot leave her—

The children are very good and as well as can be—

I will write again soon  write me and tell [me] what you think about coming

Love to Loo and George

affectionately Jeff

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About the Text

The text presented here is derived from Dennis Berthold and Kenneth Price, eds., Dear Brother Walt: The Letters of Thomas Jefferson Whitman (Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1984). For a detailed description of discrepancies between this electronic edition and the print source, see our statement of editorial policy .

The manuscript of this letter, dated February 16, 1873, is held in the Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839-1919, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

For more information on the letters of Thomas Jefferson Whitman, see Dennis Berthold and Kenneth Price's introduction to the print edition.

Whitman Archive ID

loc.00468