June 29 Sunday – In York Harbor, Maine Sam wrote to cousin, Dr. James R. Clemens in St. Louis.

We arrived here day before yesterday & are comfortably & smoothly keeping house already; I am at work & we are all feeling at home & in condition to put the summer through in good shape.

I admire Katharine’s courage; I hope I shall never have a baby, for I know I should dread it so, that every one would be ashamed of me. We are wishing our very best that she will come happily & fortunately through with her trial, & to that wish we all add our best love.

I’ll open up a fire of questions presently, maybe, but not yet, for Livy did not begin the regime until she was settled for the summer yesterday & situated to give it full & uninterrupted attention.

Got the umbrella—many thanks. I knew I had left it behind, but I hoped you wouldn’t find it out—so I didn’t say anything [MTP]. Note: Katharine Boland Clemens was expecting again. The good doctor had given Sam a regime for Livy’s gout. Sam again left an umbrella behind—a habit!

Sam also inscribed, signed, and sent seven of his books to James B. Pond:

IA: “Here they are, old man!”

FE: “Dear Pond—You started this work”

Sketches: “You ought to be tired of these stories by this time”

RI: “To my dear friend Pond who was there.”

P&P: “To Major Pond, Mark Twain”

JA (2 vols.): “Pond, I enjoyed making this book. Your friend Mark Twain” / “I’m glad you like this book. I liked it myself”

TSA, TSD: “To my dear friend Pond, Mark Twain”

AC.: “To My Friend Pond, Mark Twain” [MTP].