September 12 Monday – During the last day in Elmira Sam wrote for himself and Livy to Dora Wheeler, who had invited them to “another charming holiday” in the Catskills (see Aug. 25, 1885 in vol I).

Alas, we dasn’t! — for more than 4,000 reasons; among which are these: that both Mrs. Clemens & I are obliged to stick steadily to Hartford for the next few months, for business reasons — mainly my business fetters, it is true, but they bind us both…. Mrs. Clemens & I are hoping that it will be convenient for you & your mother [Candace Wheeler] to come to us presently — say in the month of November, for instance — & have a visit & portrait sittings & so on…[MTP].

Alfred P. Burbank telegraphed Sam in care of Theodore Crane: “Very satisfactory performance in New Brunswick last Saturday night mailed you long letter yesterday” [MTP].

St. Paul Roller Mill Co. sent Sam a pinted audit with this date [MTP]. The faint postmark: Sept. 2.