Helen Hunt Jackson Papers, Part 2, Ms 0156, Box 2, Folder 24l, William Winter to HHJ, 1884.
Transcribed by Gloria Helmuth, 2003.

Envelope addressed:
Mrs Helen Jackson
The Berkeley
5th Ave & 9th St.
New York
in HHJ's hand: Will Winter

New Brighton, S.I.
March 21. 1884

Dear Mrs Jackson

Your letter is here and it is welcome. I deeply prize your recognition of my Poem of "The Sceptre." The thought which it awoke seems to me to be the only one that intellectual human beings can rest upon. Little by little everything else crumbles; the will alone - patient and without hope or fear - remains firm. You remember, of course, Byron's great line, in Manfred "old man, tis not so difficult to die." Nothing can ever escape that. It is pleasant, however, to have assurance from such a mind as yours that I have not entirely ruined my premise. The poem was written suddenly, a few days before it was delivered by me, before the Alumni of Brown University: & at least it will tell you, and the few others who care for me, precisely where I have landed. My promise to come to you shall be kept, and soon. My regard and sympathy, and good-will are always with you.

Faithfully yours

William Winter.

Mrs. Helen Jackson