December 8 Wednesday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Mollie Clemens. He enclosed either a drawing or a model of a pig. “Fortunately the first attempt succeeded sufficiently well; I doubt if I could blind my eyes again & bring the ears on top of the head after traveling so far from the initial point.” Evidently, Mollie had written that Orion was spending an inordinate amount of time writing. Sam offered:

“…persons are almighty scarce who can write over 5 hours a day & 5 days a week & make literature which is worth anything but to kindle fires with” [MTLE 5: 220]. Also, Sam complimented someone named “Seddie” on her poetry.

Sam also wrote a note to A.M. Edwards, special inspector at the customhouse in Detroit, Michigan, who had notified Sam, probably on the entry of pirated copies of his books from Canada. Sam thanked Edwards and said he’d “communicate with a friend in the Department at Washington” [MTLE 5: 221].

Sam also wrote to his sister, Pamela Moffett. Sam advised her to let her son (Samuel Moffett) travel by boat, or to “put him in girl’s clothes” if she really wanted him to turn back and travel overland across the country. “Jean weighs a ton, & never cries, never is any trouble” [MTLE 5: 215].

Sam found an old notebook (Formerly NB 1, now MTP’s NB 2):

“(Notes made by me when I was learning to be a Mississippi River pilot, in 1856-7.) —

Found this book among some old rubbish today, Dec. 8, 1880. /S.L. Clemens.” [Note: Further down the page in Charles L. Webster’s hand: “This book was found in an old box of rubbish in Chas. L. Webster’s attic at Fredonia”] [MTNJ 1: 45-6].

William H. Bradley & Co., Builders and Dealers in Carriages, New Haven wrote to Sam. “I informed your Coachman when here on Monday that we would write you to day about a six seat sleigh…We will send it to you for $265” [MTP].

G.W. Hazelton wrote from Milwaukee, Wisc. to send Sam a folder of printed poems, inviting his comment [MTP]. Note: Sam wrote on the env., “No Reply”