December 29 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a long letter to Susan Crane that he added a short pararaph to on Dec. 30.
Susy dear, two hours ago, Clara was recounting her day to me. Of course I can’t get any of it right, there’s so much detail; but with your York Harbor experience of the hardships attendant upon sick-room lying, you will get an idea, at any rate of what a time that poor child has every day, picking her way through traps & pitfalls, & just barely escaping destruction two or three times in every hour.
(To-day. Jean’s other lung attacked; a crisis expected to-night—Dr. Janeway to be summoned in the morning. Our doctor is to stay all night.)
Of course Clara does not go to her Monday lesson in New York to-day, on Jean’s account—but FORGETS that fact, & enters her mother’s room (where she has no business to be,) toward train-time, dressed in a wrapper.
Livy. Why Clara, aren’t you going to your lesson?
Clara, (almost caught). Yes.
Livy. In that costume?
Cl. Oh, no.
L. Well, you can’t make your train, it’s impossible.
Cl. I know, but I’m going to take the other one.
L. Indeed that won’t do—you’ll be ever so much too late for your lesson.
Cl. No, the lesson-time has been put an hour later. (Lie).
L. (satisfied. Then suddenly) But Clara, that train & the late lesson together will make you late to Mrs. Hapgood’s luncheon.
Cl. No, the train leaves 15 minutes earlier than it used to. (Lie).
Sam continued this dialogue for several pages, illustrating the tangled web Clara wove to get through all the lies [MTP]. Note: Mrs. Norman Hapgood (Emily B. Hapgood).
Mrs. M.E. Jobe wrote to Sam from Elizabethton, Carter County, Tenn., enclosing a poster (not extant) of her lecture and asking if he “would agree to revise” her talk for her [MTP].