July 16 Sunday – Sam wrote from Elmira to E.R. Holden of the Erie, Lackawanna Railroad

“I & my family wish to thank you after a limitless fashion for your good offices in our behalf. Mr. Reasoner furnished us a new sleeping car which was the perfection of comfort & cleanliness. (I wore a white Irish-linen suit all day, & did not smut it.)” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Charles Webster. Once again Orion aggravated Sam by referring to the Tennessee Land, an old wound.

I found a copy of Orion’s letter here—sent by him. It took me several hours to answer it, I had to tear up so many answers that were too severe…I told him his meddling was unwarrantable, considering that this matter was none of his business, & that I would like him to put his pen in the fire, since it was exactly as useful as a match in the hands of a child, & exactly as dangerous. I said that when Ma’s pocket shall have suffered as much from your mismanagement of her Tennessee land as it has from his, it will be time for him to begin to belch holy indignation upon you [MTP].