June 29 Monday – Sam left for a quick trip to Hartford, primarily to inspect the progress of the new house. He first went to New York City, where he stayed at the St. Nicholas Hotel for two and possibly three nights before traveling on to Hartford. Sam probably spent time with John Hay and William A. Seaver, whom he’d promised to visit. Also in New York was William Ritenour Denny, who Sam knew from the Quaker City excursion [MTL 6: 170-1]. Nearly half an inch of rain fell on NYC [NOAA.gov].

Livy wrote from Elmira to her husband:

Dear Youth,

We have been having a terrible thunder storm and severe very high wind—Sue says it was the hardest storm that she has seen here since one when she and Father spent a night here more than four years ago, you see it came as soon as you went away. Sue came and brought her lunch in from the dining room Rossa came bringing Susie from the nursery—

Sara Coleridge says in writing to her husband of one of their children “Don’t fancy that children will listen to lectures either in learning or morality. Punish a child for hurting his sister and he will draw the inference that it is wrong, without a lecture sermon on brotherly affection” and more that I would like to quote but will wait and read it to you—

Susie has been a good girl today and had no tantrum, but I shall be truly thankful when I get strong and get her settled at home

Don’t forget to have Rossa’s brother shave you if you get time so that you may tell him how well she does—

I love you and shall be truly glad when you return— Pick up all the gossip that you can to retail to me and remember it—

Allie has not come yet but I suppose she will in the course of an hour as it is past five—

I shall direct this care Mr Warner fearing the postman may not deliver it—

With deepest love

Livy—

Evening—

Allie and Theodore have come and had their tea and now we are sitting much as we did last night I am sitting inside the window, Sue & Allie outside but darling I do miss you as night comes Allie sits just where you did when Aunty Cord was telling us of her son but I don’t hold her hand as I did yours, oh how I love you, & long for your return when you are away absent / Livy [MTPO]. Note: Allie = Alice Spaulding; Rossa’s brother = Rosina Hay’s brother, William E. Hay, hairdresser. Livy was likely quoting Sara Coleridge (1802-1852).

Mary Mason Fairbanks wrote (illustration enclosed by her son: drawing of the two Clemens girls, titled “The New ‘Modoc’ ”). She told of a visit by John Hay & wife, and thought it possible they might meet the Clemenses there in August [MTP].