August 9 Sunday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to daughter Jean in Gloucester, Mass.
Jean dear, don’t trouble about those financial matters; there will be no occasion for that; the expenses were fair & reasonable, & in any case Miss Lyon will take care of my interests. I knew all about the arrangement when it was made, & not only approved it but helped to make it.
It will be a pity to try to bind George in any way. You might greatly regret it. He should be left quite free. None of us can make plans very far ahead for ourselves, much less for others, & I am particularly opposed to that kind of unwisdom.
The Stanchfields are coming next Friday [Aug. 14], & I am full of anticipations. They will be able to tell me all about your prospects in Germany, which I think will be full of pleasure & interest for you & turn out splendidly successful—which God grant, for all our sakes!
I was gone two days to New York to the funereal; & the shock of the tragedy, & the blistering heat, & the heavy black clothes & the pathetic sight of the broken-hearted family, was a heavy drain upon me & struck me down; but I am getting over it now, & indeed am about as well as I was before I went.
Be happy, dear love, & put all disturbing solicitudes away from you, & bury yourself in cheerful books & pleasant thoughts. Oh, yes, dear Jean, dear heart, shut your eyes & your heart to all burden of life, & be happy. / Your loving / Father [MTP]. Note: the guestbook shows a visit on Aug. 14-15 by Mr. & Mrs. John B. Stanchfield, with daughter.
Isabel Lyon’s journal: “A quiet lazy day with just Benares, and Hearts. We played by the hour” [MTP: IVL TS 59].
Susan L. Crane wrote to express her “loving sympathy” at the loss of Samuel E. Moffett. She recalled his humanity and kindness to Jean, and also reported the drowning of Ralph Wales. She also reported the return of Charley Langdon on June 14, but seemingly without gain in his health.. She was happy that Clemens found a home he wanted to stay in year around, and said she’d rec’d a letter from Jean, who was enjoying the seaside (in Gloucester, Mass.) [MTP].
Mrs. Kim C. Tabley wrote from St. John, New Brunswick to thank Sam for the autographed copy of “Adam’s Diary” [MTP]. Note: Tabley had requested the book on Feb. 17.