November 26 Wednesday – Sam brought Susy home to Hartford from Bryn Mawr. She would not return. Evidently she failed an algebra exam and did not wish to redo it, though her teacher, Miss Thomas, was eager to give her another chance. She was described at being “rattled,” no doubt from the bad news about her grandmother, and also about sister Jean; Susy had also suffered from an acute case of homesickness. At about 10 p.m., Sam began a letter to Livy, still in Elmira; he wrote of the day’s trip:
Susy & I came up to New York in the ordinary car & were very comfortable. We lunched at Russell’s, then took the train for Hartford & arrived here on time. Jean was full of life & looking first rate but a trifle pale. A little trace of fever, but that is gone now and her skin is moist. She has had faithful, constant & excellent nursing; Katy & Anna have done nothing else since you left. They have never left her alone a moment. They are both as good as they can be. But Katy’s place has been a hard one. She fully believed the right thing both Saturday & Sunday night was to telegraph you to come home & Dr. Kellogg inclined to her side, but Clara overruled them & was positive it would be utterly wrong to subject you to such a journey….Katy’s instinct was right & that you ought most certainly to have been telegraphed for. Katy said, “I couldn’t help but feel Mrs. Clemens would never trust us again.”
Lilly Warner was in for a while this evening & Dr. Root; both were full of sorrow for mother & of sympathy for you. You are having a bitter hard time Dear heart, & I would wish I were with you, but that I was so glad to be here so that I could telegraph you the exact truth & remove your anxiety about Jean.
The children are over at the Warner’s & I guess I will send for them, as it is about half past 10. Good night Darling, I Love You & I dread what may be passing there [MTP]. Note: Sam added a paragraph the next day.
Frederick J. Hall wrote two notes Sam, the first forwarding the card of Mr. T.P. O’Connor (editor of the Pall Mall Gazette) , 61 Carlisle Mansions, Victoria Street, S.W.; the second enclosing reports for the past two weeks (not extant).
By the first of the year, however, we will have a stock of books on hand that will be sufficient to last us until next Fall, if not later. We are careful in manufacturing these books, only making those that we are having a steady sale and we are sure to dispose of. We are not piling up any dead material [MTP].
James B. Pond wrote to Sam on the letterhead of “Stanley’s American Tour, Under the direction of Maj. J. B. Pond, On Board Pulman Palace Car ‘Henry M. Stanley’ En route,” to which Pond has added in his own handwriting in faded black ink, “Cleveland to Buffalo”:
Dear Mark: We are sweeping the country, Stanley nightly receptions and orations. Will you & Mrs. Clemens come to N.Y. Dec. 3rd and hear the story of the “Rear Guard” and go with us to Washington the 4th? Mr. and Mrs. Stanley join in this invitation most heartily. Mr. S. is an Angel without wings. Yours Sincerely, J. B. Pond [The Twainian (Sept.-Oct. 1976) p.3-4].