September 9 Friday – Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam in Elmira about completing certain domestic tasks, probably discussed on his Sept. 5 trip to Hartford.

I have attended to the brake on the carriage and have planned it all out for the workmen. I think it will do the business all right. John O’neil has had the Gun & I suppose he has killed a good many sparrows & perhaps eaten a pie or two of them [MTNJ 3: 304n17]. Note: John O’Neil was the Clemens family gardener; Patrick McAleer the coachman.

In Elmira Sam wrote to Charles Webster, acknowledging his illness and sharing their coming departure to New York. (Sam addressed the letter to Far Rockaway, “Somewhere off the port of New York, in New Jersey, or New York, or Staten Island, or Hellgate, or one of those other states around there somewhere. Keep on trying: & from time to time, send for more postage.”)

I hope to get down there for an hour myself, but your aunt Livy must wait; for she is wearing herself totally out, now, in these getting-ready days; & in New York she must make use of every hour at her disposal or she cannot complete the winter-shopping & will have to return again….We did not know you had been seriously ailing until Mr. Hall’s first letter, & did not realize the full extent & severity of it until his visit here…[MTP].

Note: Charles Webster’s son, Samuel writes of his father’s struggles:

“Starting a new publishing house on such an enormous scale, with worries and long hours, had broken his health. He spent the summer of 1887 at Far Rockaway, coming to the office when he could. His neuralgia was terrific. His mother and father came down to visit him and were shocked at his condition. He was very irritable, and the slightest thing would bring an outburst. His mother was often hurt by his irascibility, but the rest of the household understood the situation” [MTBus 387].

Check #  Payee  Amount  [Notes]

3812  Mssrs Goodwin Bros  10.88  Elmwood, Conn. mfgrs