July 2 Tuesday – Sam responded to James B. Pond’s letter of June 28 asking him to do more introductions for Edgar W. “Bill” Nye and James Whitcomb Riley during the summer. (Sam introduced the pair on Feb. 28 in Boston.

It is too late, old man. June was the only idle month I was to have for a year, & June just escaped from us. We are in deep trouble here. Mrs. Clemens’s brother-in-law (Mr. Crane) is believed to be dying, after ten months of wearing illness [MTP].

He also wrote a short note to Franklin G. Whitmore, directing him to send in a coupon from Clearfield Bituminous Coal Corp. for the prior July 1, 1888 that could be collected. He added, “Crane still lingers, but is very low” [MTP].

Sam also started a note to Frederick J. Hall, and referred him to R.B. Birch, an artist Sam felt capable of illustrating CY. He added a PS the next day, July 3 [MTLTP 253].

James W. Paige telegraphed Sam a message he longed to hear:

The machine OK; come & see it work. J.W.P. [MTP; MTNJ 3: 498]. Note: second source slightly diff.

Webster & Co. wrote to Sam c/o Theo Crane in Elmira, sending a “Books Sold Report for June of 1889,” 5,409 total with Sheridan’s two volumes leading with 570 and 578 [MTP].