Part 13 (1/2)

ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN

_1 Torriano Gardens Camden Rd. London April 21, 1876._

MY DEAREST FRIEND:

I must write again, out of a full heart. For the reading of this book, ”The Two Rivulets,” has filled it very full. Ever the deep inward a.s.sent, rising up strong, exultant my immortal self recognizing, responding to your immortal self. Ever the sense of dearness, the sweet, subtle perfume, pervading every page, every line, to my sense--O I cannot put into any words what I perceive nor what answering emotion pervades me, flows out towards you--sweetest, deepest, greatest experience of my life--what I was made for--surely I was made as the soil in which the precious seed of your thoughts & emotions should be planted--try to fulfil themselves in me, that I might by & bye blossom into beauty & bring forth rich fruits--immortal fruits. So no doubt other women feel, and future women will.

Do not dissuade me from coming this autumn, my dearest Friend. I have waited patiently--7 years--patiently, yet often, especially since your illness, with such painful yearning your heart would yearn towards me if you realized it--I cannot wait any longer. Nor ought I to--that would indeed be sacrificing the prudence that concerns itself with immortal things to the prudence that concerns itself only with temporary ones. But, indeed, even so far as this latter is concerned, there is no sacrifice for any. It is by far the best step, for instance, I could take on Beatrice's account. She is heartily in earnest in her medical studies. I am persuaded, too, it is a splendid training for her whether or no she ever makes a money-earning profession of it. And in England women have at present no means of obtaining a complete medical education. They cannot get admission to any Hospital for the clinical part of the course. So that she is exceedingly anxious to come where it is possible for her to follow out her aims effectually. Then, I am confident she will find America congenial to her--that she is in her essential nature democratic--& that she has the intelligence, the sympathies, earnestness, affectionateness, unconventionality needed to pierce through appearances surface ”crudeness”

& see & love the great reality unfolding below. So I believe has Herby.

Then an artist is as free as an author to work where he pleases & reaps as much from fresh and widened experiences. He does not contemplate cutting himself off from England--will exhibit here--very likely take a studio in London for a season, a couple of years hence to work among old friends & a.s.sociations & so have double chance & opportunities. Then above all, dearest friend, they too see America in & through you--they too would fain be near you. Have no anxiety or misgivings for us. Let us come & be near you--& see if we are made of the right sort of stuff for transplanting to American soil. Only advise us where. If it be Philadelphia (which as far as offering facilities for Beatrice would, as far as I can learn, suit us very well). We must not come, I think, till the end of October, because of its being so full. Perhaps indeed, dearest Friend (but dare not build on it) we shall talk this over in England. If you are able to take the journey, it might, and would, be sure to do you good as well as to rejoice the hearts of English friends. But if not, if we are not able to talk over our coming, do not feel the least anxious about us. We shall light on our feet & do very well. Percy seems getting on fairly well, considering what a bad time it is in his line of business. I think he will be able to marry this autumn or following winter. I shall go and spend a month with him in July. Perhaps, indeed, if, as many are prophecying, the iron trade does not recover its old pre-eminence here, he may be glad by & bye that I have gone over to America & opened a way for him. But if he does not follow me then, if I live, I hope to spend a few months with him every three or four years, instead of as now a few weeks once a year. Anyhow we have to live widely apart. Thanks for the papers just received. Specially welcome the account of some stranger's interview with you--for me too before very long now the joy of hearing the ”strong musical voice” read the ”Wound Dresser”

or speak.

I have happy thoughts for my companions all day long, helping me over every difficulty--strengthening me. Good-bye, dearest Friend. Love from us all.

A. GILCHRIST.

LETTER x.x.xVII

ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN

_1 Torriano Gardens Camden Rd., London May 18, 1876._

Just a line of birthday greeting, my dearest Friend. May it find you enjoying the beautiful spring-time & the grand sights of people & products & the music at Philadelphia, notwithstanding drawbacks (but lessening drawbacks, I earnestly hope) of health, lameness. Rejoiced, too, perhaps with the sight of many dear old friends occasion has brought to your city.

May all that will do you good come, my dearest Friend. And not least the sense of relief & joy in having fulfilled the great task, in the teeth of such difficulties relaunched safely, more fully, richly equipt, the s.h.i.+p to sail down the great ocean of Time, bearing precious, precious freight of seed to be planted in countless successions of human souls, helping forward more than even the best lovers of your poems dream, the great future of humanity. That is what I believe as surely as I believe in my own existence.

The ”low star,” the great star drooping low in the west, has been unusually resplendent of a night here lately & by day lilacs & the labernums wonderfully brightening dear old smoky London, constant reminders all, if I needed any, of the Poet & the Poems, so dear to me.

If I do not hear from you to the contrary I am to take our pa.s.sage by one of the ”States” Line of Steamers that come straight to Philadelphia sailing about the 1st Sept.--& I am told one ought to secure one's cabin a couple of months or so beforehand. But if there be indeed an increasing hope of your coming here in the course of the summer, or if you think it would be best for us to go to New York (only I want to go at once where we are likely to stop, because of my furniture), let me hear as soon as may be, dear Friend. Looking at it purely as concerns the young ones, for some reasons it is very desirable to come this year & for others to wait till next. With Bee, for instance, we are both losing time & wasting money by going over another winter here when there is no complete & satisfactory medical course to be had. Then as regards dear Percy, he writes me now that though he is doing fairly well, he does not think he will be able to take a house & marry till next summer--& that I am very sorry for. But then I think that as I could not be with him nor help him forward, the balance goes down on Beatrice's side, if I am able to accomplish it.

Good-bye, my dearest Friend. Loving, tender thoughts shall I send you on the 30th. Solemn thoughts outleaping life, immortal aspirations of my soul toward your soul. The children's love too, please, dearest Friend.

ANNE GILCHRIST.

LETTER x.x.xVIII

ANNE GILCHRIST TO WALT WHITMAN

_Round Hill, Northampton, Ma.s.s.

Monday, Sept., '77._

DEAREST FRIEND: