
I am sorry that circumstances have prevented my writing to you as I intended since my return home. But I have had very little leisure. Since Wednesday morning I have been living at Leigh—some 7 or 8 mile from Bolton—superintending some work which for a few days requires constant & careful supervision. And I have little convenient opportunity for writing.
I had a letter from Dr J. this morning in which he tells me
that he sent you a long account of our spree last Monday evening. I need not go over
the same ground.
You will understand what a pleasure it was to me to meet old friends again, so warm
hearted & loyal as they are. The Scotch proverb says truly that "there are nae
freen's like auld freens," for old associations & memories colour one's feelings
very much.
Their welcome to me was very touching & kind—& like Coleridge's soup far "better than I deserved."—I read them some of my
notes of your talk, which, (the notes) though very poor & inadequate, were of course extremely
interesting to them. And they fully appreciated not only your kind messages, but
also your kindness to me which they felt to be a compliment to the whole College.
I distributed the photos you sent to each person present & the books which you kindly inscribed. They were very much gratified & pleased, & evidently felt your kindness very much. Altogether we had not only a pleasant & happy meeting, but a very memorable one too.
Fred Wild was at our house on Sunday, & I gave him
his books &c then. He seemed quite overcome when I gave him the "Good-Bye" with your kind inscription "from his friend the author."
He could only say "this is too much!" & look at it
long & long. He had two or three unmounted photos of himself & family with him. I asked
him to send one to you, & he said he would do so.
On Tuesday evening I called at Dearden's & gave them their copy of "Good Bye" with your inscription. They are good simple
hearted souls & were very much pleased.—I was glad to find Henry
Dearden looking much the same as when I left. He never
knows day nor night of immunity from more or less of pain, but is patient uncomplaining & kind always. His wife often reads to him
& at once said she would read "Good Bye" for him. Much of it, I know, will touch
him deeply. I
called at Greenhalgh's & Dixon's & gave them the little presents I had
bought—In each case my chief pleasure was in seeing the delight of the
children. One of the first questions that Dixon's eldest little girl asked me was
"how Walt Whitman was?
I have had no opportunity yet of visiting the others.—But I expect to do so in a few days when I have finished here.
The weather here is typical English November weather, dull, showery, with a good deal
of moisture in the air. But yesterday was a beautiful day—though of
a different type to your clear skies & drier air.—And so far we have had
little of the fog we often get this month.
I think I got a little cold in coming over (though nothing to speak of). I felt stiff & tired for 2 or 3 days after arrival. But it has pretty nearly worn off & I am feeling distinctly better for my trip. I hope with care to gain steadily for some time to come.
I have received a business offer today, which, if accepted, would result in my coming
to live permanently in Leigh. I am not very willing to do so, however, & will
consider it carefully before deciding.—
I need not say that I think of you continually. Your solitude impressed me very deeply, & as I think of your daily discomfort & frequent pain, my heart goes out to you with aching sympathy.—But I remember, too, your serene cheerfulness & acquiescence & your constant kindness & thought of & for others. I doubt not that you are cheered & sustained by the knowledge of the affection of friends, & their readiness to do what they can, & your faith in the perfection & loving kindness of the scheme which provides for us all. May God bless you is my constant prayer.

Please to give my affectionate regards to Mrs Davis. I got to know her kind warmhearted nature pretty well. "I like most everybody M Wallace," she once said to me & I thought it characteristic. I shall not soon forget her kindness to me.
And Warry too, please give my love to him. I will write to them both soon.
And now, dear Walt, once more good night & God bless you. My deepest love to you always.
J.W. Wallace
