
Yr's of 16th recd—thanks—a storm wind rain &c yesterday & preceding night—but comfortable & snug here for me—my locale seems to be out f'm stress of winds & waters, & we have a capital roof over the shanty—appetite good—made my breakfast of buckwheat cakes & tea—you must not worry ab't me—I am undoubtedly getting along here as well is practicable (perhaps possible)—Mrs. Davis is & has always been good & kind & willing ready to cook any thing I wish—& always genial & respectful—I now feel & have always felt to have her mind for me as long as I live—Rec'd word f'm NA Rev: that my piece will not be printed (as at first announced) in Jan: number—some hitch—what exactly we may or may not find out.—sold two books yesterday—suppose you rec'd the Eng'g Record (with obituary of my dear brother Jeff)—& the Chester (Eng:) paper I sent—Have heard nothing more of late f'm Stoddart (Lippincott's) or Talcott Williams (the Ingersoll talk)—2½ pm the sun is out again
Dec: 19 am—Fine & sunny out—cold—Wm Ingram here—all well with him—yr's of 17th rec'd & welcomed—feeling poorly enough this forenoon—head bad, belly ditto—pain (dots of sort o' spasms) in left breast heart region—
7 pm—Easier three hours or so—Mrs. D at my request made me a big cup of hot tea early in middle of afternoon, wh I sipp'd, drank & enjoyed & a sort of mild sweat follow'd. At any rate I am easier—H T here this evn'g—has seen Stoddart (Lippincott's) who wants (proposes) to make his March number what he calls a Whitman number with articles (some of mine, with name) & picture
Dec: 20 noon—fine sunny day—pains in left breast, with lancinating dashes—am sitting here writing—Merry Christmas to you to Mrs. B and to all the childer
Walt Whitman
