September 13 Monday – In Elmira, Sam wrote to Harriet Whitmore (Mrs. Franklin Whitmore), responding to her letter about her husband’s recent illness. Frank was better and Sam offered that he would “hurry up Whitmore’s health in the billiard room” when both families returned to Hartford in the fall. He wrote for Livy, who still wasn’t up to writing. The Whitmores were staying in Branford, Conn. [MTLE 5: 158].

Frank Bliss back from a “short absence, wrote congratulations to Clemens. “Father pulls along pretty slowly. Is very much better than he was a month ago.” TA sales were slow. He gave a statement of the book sales to Perkins [MTP].

Bissell & Co. wrote to Clemens advising that his last deposit was $60 and the account balance was $5,309.63 [MTP].

Edward H. House wrote from Parker House, Boston to Clemens. He’d be there a week or longer, “…rising from the dead into which Buffalo disappointment plunged me. I shall never go to that town again. It makes me creep to remember Mr David. If ever there was a dead man walking the earth—it is he.” He would give notice when he left Boston and would try to see Sam [MTP]. Note: David Gray had been ill.