August 20 Friday – In Elmira Sam wrote to longtime family friend, Clara L. Spaulding, who had obviously written to him (not extant) concerning some disagreement; she was about to be married. Sam offered wisdom about words spoken in argument, how to keep peace, and quoted from the Rubáiyát, by Omar Khayam:

      “A moment’s Halt’ — a momentary taste/Of Being, at the well amid the waste”…etc.

No member shall be called to account for words spoken in debate

The secret of eternal peace in the family lies concealed in that golden commandment! All conversations are but debates, whether they get utterance in a capitol or a cabin; & in them one is always apt to say more than he meant to say. And whenever he does that, just let him alone; don’t call him to account — he will do that himself, every time. …

There isn’t time — so brief is life — for bickerings, apologies, heart-burnings, callings to account. There is only time for loving — & but an instant, so to speak, for that…” [MTP].