To Abby M. Price
3.29. [1860]
Address: Abby M. Price, | S. W. corner Greenwich
and Horatio streets, | New York | city. Postmark:
Boston |Mar | 29 | (?).
Boston, Thursday night, | March 29.
As I know you would like to hear from me, my dear friend, I will not yet go to bed—but sit down to write to you, that I have been here in Boston, to-day is a fortnight, and that my book is well under way. About a hundred and twenty pages are set up—it will probably make from six to seven hundred pages, and of a larger size than the last edition. It is to be very finely printed, good paper, and new, rather large-sized type. Thayer & Eldridge, the publishers, are a couple of young Yankees—so far very good specimens, to me, of this Eastern race of yours. They have treated me first rate—have not asked me at all what I was going to put into the book—just took me to the stereotype foundry, and given orders to follow my directions. It will be out in a month—a great relief to me to have the thing off my mind.
I am more pleased with Boston than I anticipated. It is full of life, and cross-cross streets. I am very glad I [have] come, if only to rub out of me the deficient notions I had of New England character. I am getting to like it, every way—even the Yankee twang.
Emerson called upon me immediately, treated me with the greatest courtesy—kept possession of me all day—gave me a bully dinner, &c.
I go on the Common—walk considerable in Washington street—and occupy about three house a day at work in the printing office. All I have to do, is to read proofs. I wish you had lived here—I should visit you regularly every day—probably twice a day. I create an immense sensation in Washington street. Everybody here is so like everybody else—and I am Walt Whitman!—Yankee curiosity and cuteness, for once, is thoroughly stumped, confounded, petrified, made desperate.
Let me see—have I any thing else to say to you? Indeed, what does it all amount to—this saying business? Of course I had better to tear up this note—only I want to let you see how I cannot have forgotten you—sitting up here after half past 12, to write this precious document. I send my love to Helen and Emmy.
Walt.
