Very hot & sultry & oppressive—Getting along pretty well, considering—your letters rec'd—a devout Catholic faith cure priest (or group) has or have sent me some ardent advice over here from France by mail—came yesterday—Bowels moved Friday and Saturday & even to some effect even this (Sunday) forenoon—
Tom Harned came back last evening, after a week at Chicago—it looks at present as tho' after the chaos & row & unsettledness, have all settled—for definite shibboleth and ticket—that Blaine & American Protection will be hung out on the outer walls & make the fight to do its best—not a bad game—Well, we'll see—
I have sent the 20 pages proofs complete to Wm O Connor—the "Sands at Seventy"—wh' said 20 pp he will send to you in ab't three days—you will then have the first 38 pages proof—(I am inferring that O'C is better)—The new little "November Boughs" is slowly but steadily moving—Horace Traubel is invaluable to me in it—My head in preparing my copies or reading proof is poorly, dull, raw, no weak grip, no consecutive, no racionative power—Well it is getting on in afternoon & I have sat up three hours—Havn't got out of this room yet—
Best remembrance & thanks & love to Pardee earnestly he will have a good turn—(who was the old veteran had a saying God & time & I against all the rest world against)—
W Whitman