February 4 Friday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Howells, who wrote on Jan. 17 that he was “heartily in for” the “Encyclopedia of Humor” project, if he could gain from $3-5,000 for his work, preferably the higher amount as it was “somehow more attractive to the imagination.” Sam wrote:

Sir Gebbie was to be here to-day, but has telegraphed & postponed till next Friday. If ever I make a contract with this dallying Scot, it will be drawn almighty tight, as sure as he is born. Yrs Ever  Mark. P.S. Oh, yes, if I can’t make a contract with him that will enable me to pay you $5,000, you can rest most assured that there won’t be any contract made. S L C [MTHL 1: 347-8].

Sam also wrote to Edward House saying he liked “the articles ever so much” (unidentified) and encouraged him to submit them to Osgood for publication. Sam expected “Ned” and daughter Aoki Koto: 

“…tomorrow, next day, Saturday & Monday—shall look for you & hope for you—but lord, you are such a disappointing lot, who knows!” [MTP]. Note: House was single, but had adopted Koto, a brilliant young student of his, who was contemplating suicide after a failed marriage [Huffman 17].

Sam also wrote to Pamela Moffett, trying to arrange for the daughter of Ella Lampton to visit with Annie Moffett for a week, and felt that Pamela might make the offer without Ella being offended. He didn’t wish for Ella to visit, just her daughter. Sam thought it natural, however, that the daughter might have inherited her mother’s dislike of him [MTP].

H.O. Griswold, Hartford merchant, billed Sam $27.30 for Jan. 25 delivery of hickory wood and 22 bushels of potatoes; paid [MTP].

Pamela Moffett wrote with a detailed accounting of money she’d spent for their mother’s benefit [MTP]. Note: Pamela’s of Feb. 7 noted two letters rec’d from Sam, neither extant, but likely a reply to this.