December 28 Monday

Livy wrote to Mary Mason Fairbanks in Providence, R.I., a letter which seems like a response to one not extant from Mary.

We are going on as well as we can. We even talk to each other and smile and perhaps a stranger coming in would not see that we are a broken-hearted family, yet such we are and such I think we must always remain. This is of course the first terrible staggering blow that we have had and I realize that for me there can be but one worse.

      Mr. Clemens is going on with his work but he has found it very up hill work. Now however I think he is getting a little bit more interested in it. I wish I were where I could sit by you and have a little talk with you. I write this in place of Mr. Clemens because I try to take all letters off his mind. He goes to his study directly after breakfast & works until seven o’clock in the evening [MTLMF 278].