U. S. Dec. 26, '71. Dear friend,
Your late letter has just reached me—& I write at once to at least say specifically that both your letter of Sept. 6 and that of Oct. 15 safely reached me—this that comes to-day being the third.
Again I will say that I am sure I appreciate & accept your letters, & all they stand for, as fully as even you, dear friend, could wish—& as lovingly & bona fide.
Walt Whitman