July 13 Wednesday – Joe Twichell wrote to Sam.

Dear Mark: / We got home all right, and found Harmony and the small fry well. / Now we desire to waft back on formal, deliberate, and most hearty thanks for the hospitality that will always add sweetness to the memory of our golden little excursion. …

      With no end of love to all and every one of you—yours aff—but before I close, remember us to the delightful Whitmores. I shall long remember with satisfaction that wicked, wicked evening in my room.

      I know that I was very dull and unprofitable company yesterday and Monday, but the fact is I have got below the point of spontaneity for this year…I love you to-day as well as ever.

      But, my sakes, how lame my arm is. I can hardly write. Likewise my back and side and legs—all from those blessed ten pins. [MTP].

July 13–July 16 Saturday – Sometime during the week William Dean Howells came to Branford and “spent a day” with Sam, most likely after the Twichell’s visit [MTHL 1: 364].