December 21 Sunday – Sam wrote from Hartford to Mary Mason Fairbanks. Sam gave the usual excuses and apologies for not writing. Evidently, Mary’s last letter said that her financial crisis was over. Sam blamed “confound speculation, anyway!” Sam was beginning his days by writing and ending it the same way, and had “to be dragged to dinner by the hair” [MTLE 4: 183]. 

Robert S. Critchell wrote to Sam after sending him some prairie chickens. The letter is not extant but referred to in Sam’s Dec. 26-31 reply. See entry.

December 21 and 23 Tuesday – Orion and Mollie Clemens wrote to Sam and Livy (Mollie to Livy, Orion to Sam). Orion wrote of his struggles with writing, his gratitude for Sam’s aid, their 25th anniversary, and Christmas wishes [MTP].