September 19 Sunday — In Redding, Conn. Sam began a letter to Joe Twichell that he added a line to on Sept. 27.
Dear Joe— / Nine days ago it was all arranged, & the writings drawn & signed, & yesterday the last little details were accomplished which wiped the slate clean of all connection with that criminal couple & dismisse's them out of our lives. And by George! yesterday was an anniversary—the date that the two burglars broke into this house!
Now consider the unfairness of everything in this life: it was her testimony that sent those two hungry & hard-up poor devils to 4 & 9-year terms in prison'—her’s! They got not a penny here, whereas she was stealing money from me every day of her life, & had been diligently at it—& liberally—for more than a year. She was stealing money without the excuse of need—& because of my low-quality citizenship she escapes jail; whereas they were in dire need, & all they got was jail.
And yet she is awfully punished:
- She has lost her house & home;
- She has married him! (& he her!)
- She has to live in Brooklyn;
- She adores Society—& is out of it for good;
- And he? He’s a stevedore, now. Much too respectable a calling for that sandhog [MTP].