November 28 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells. Sam knew he would face the Boston Brahmins Longfellow, Emerson, and Holmes, across tables once more, and have a chance to further redeem himself from the Whittier debacle. He asked Howells if he might “be heard among the very earliest…” and wanted Holmes to read what he might say prior to the event, “& strike out whatever you choose.” Sam took no chances this time.

Evidently, Howells had written of his son’s ambition to become an outlaw. Sam responded that this reminded him of “Susie’s newest & very earnest longing—to have crooked teeth & glasses—‘like mamma’,” Sam wrote: “I would like to look into a child’s head, once, & see what its processes are” [MTLE 4: 164].

Hjalmar Boyesen wrote to Sam, noting he had not rec’d a reply from a second letter he’d sent about the arrival of their new baby. He apologized for missing them in Elmira, but the Mrs. had “not really been herself” since the baby was born. He thanked him for “sending me that little item from the Courant” [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “Boyesen / had a baby, or thought he did / 1879”