May 12 Thursday – Sam wrote from Hartford to James R. Osgood, thanking him for some service performed (unidentified):

“Old man, you performed gorgeously. You would make a good highwayman. Yes, sir, for the sake of your character (& mine) I will be very mum to those people.”

Sam also confided his barber had “invented a beverage, one pint of which will unfailingly kill or cure the rheumatic subject…” after taking it for one week. Osgood had the ailment, and Sam wrote he had “its brother-in-law” lumbago [MTP].

Annie E. Lucas wrote from Sandalwood, Australia to relate how Sam’s letter excited their small township. She signed “your ever thankful little friend” [MTP].