
Last year, in June '78. I was the means of introducing your book to a Mrs Alexander, in the North of Ireland. She wrote at that
time to you, enclosing a money order for £1-6-0 for one of your books, I think
the Two Rivulets. A couple of months afterwards I heard that she
had never received any answer, & after some time I wrote to my friend Professor
Dowden whom I knew to be in correspondence with you, asking him
to mention the circumstance to you when he next wrote. I think he must have
forgotten to do this, as I have heard again today that Mrs Alexander has not received the book. Therefore I thought better to
write to you myself, as having given her your address, &c. I feel myself in a certain degree
responsible. I heard that at the time you should have received her letter you were away
from home. I concluded that the letter failed somehow to reach you. And it has also
occurred to me that perhaps your last edition is out & you have no more copies
to send—or that you may have mislaid the letter & address.
So I should be much obliged if you would let me have a line today whether you ever received
it, or not, & if your books are obtainable from you still in the usual way.
You have forgotten no doubt a letter I wrote you some years ago while an
undergraduate in College, thanking you as deeply as I could find words to do for the
spiritual health and thought I had found or gained in the Leaves of
Grass. I cannot let this occasion pass without renewing my
thanks, sending you again my greeting and love. Your book has travelled with me
wherever I have gone. I have joined hands with you in it, tried to realize its
ideals in my life; and to lead others to do so, often I am glad to say with success. homage like this you
must have often received, nevertheless I think you will hardly think very lightly of any one—and
this makes me feel encouraged to tell you freely what you have done
for me.
P.S. If you will kindly send Mrs Alexander the Two Rivulets, & let me know, I will enclose you the money if not received. Her address is Mrs J. Alexander The Palace Derry Ireland.
TWHR.