May 12. Dear friend,
My brother does not get on quite as well as I had anticipated. Yet I still hold to the judgment in my previous letter. He has been, & is, very sick—has had improved spells, & then goes down again. To-day he is in the latter condition.
William, I received the letter, with Ramsdells note. Also Allen's. (Also the first letter soon after my arrival here.)
As to Allen, refusing &c. giving his views, reasons, &c. &c. it is perhaps one of those services to a thing, (precious, rare & precious, in philosophy, & life too,) rendered by showing not only how that thing appears from the point of view of intensest vermin & filth, exclusively, but of vermin & filth diluted with shallowness to the last degree that life will bear.
If my brother does not get worse, & no crisis takes place, I think, (as at present intending) I shall leave for Washington Wednesday morning next.
Mother is well, (considering). All the rest are first rate. Jeff is in St. Louis. Nelly, I send you my true love, my darling.
Walt.