November 26 Thursday – Thanksgiving – Sam returned to Hartford. 

Twichell’s journal:

“We dined—nine of us –ie all but the two youngest children with our dear friends Mr & Mrs C. D. Warner. / In the evening we passed a couple of delightful hours at M.T’s. where there was dancing and charade actings for the young folks” [Yale, copy at MTP].

Livy’s diary entry:

More than two months since I have made any entry in this book. We arrived home safely on the 18th of Sept. and the children began their lessons on the 21st. They have been going on busily ever since, being also much occupied with their Christmas work. Mr Clemens has had to be much in New York seeing to the publication of Gen’l Grants book reading proof of it &c. Today we have had a quiet day having only Miss Corey to dinner and Jean also eating with us, but we had a merry time this evening. I invited Miss Foote, Ward Foote, Hattie Foote, Daisy, Fanny Friese, the Twichell children and two or three other children – the grown people came with them and we had a most merry time –dancing, we all danced the Virginia Reel—Mr Twichell, Mr Clemens, both Mr Warners, and then charades in which the gentlemen led and all together a very good wholesome time for the children [MTP].

Orion Clemens wrote: “I am spending Thanksgiving principally in Ma’s room. She has had a pretty tough time—doctor here twice yesterday; but she is better to-day, and chances good.” He enclosed more of his history research for the game [MTP].