December 5 Saturday – In Boston, Howells answered that he’d received the check, but didn’t think he could keep it. His dilemma was that Harpers, whom he’d recently contracted with, would not allow him to have his name on the title page of another publisher’s work, and that if there was no definite plan to publish, he felt the money did not belong to him. Howells suggested Sam contract “for the other half of $5,000” with Harris or Warner or Aldrich to use their name on the title page [MTHL 2: 541].

Orion Clemens wrote (Pamela Moffett to Jane Clemens Nov. 24 enclosed). Check for $155 rec’d. They’d had a “dreadful time” with Ma the night before. “She is fairly reasonable during the day, and ripping and tearing at night. The doctor promises to make her sleep tonight. Her cough is still bad” [MTP].