July 8 Monday – At Quarry Farm Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, again delayed on coming to New York.

A telephone message from town has stopped me just as I was about to put on my clothes for the first time in 44 days. Dr. Wales had just gone, not pleased about the New York journey, and outspokenly discontented because a professional nurse (mighty capable man), was going with me instead of Mrs. Clemens. After all the trouble the tribe of us had been at, to persuade her to remain here! She is not well, and I could not endure the idea of her making that big journey — no good preparation for the long trip Pacfic-ward. My uneasiness about her would have made the journey all the harder for me.

Of course I shall obey all orders from New York; but I was all keyed up and ready for the examination; and now in a day or two I’ll have to do all that keying-up over again, I judge. All right, I’ll manage it.

Sam felt he could have made the journey and had planned it to go straight to bed once reaching the Everett House. He felt he wouldn’t be able to stand on a platform before starting west, and wouldn’t get a chance to practice his reading.

Nothing in this world can save it from being a shabby poor disgusting performance.

I’ve got to stand; I can’t sit and talk to a house — and how in the nation am I going to do it? Land of Goshen, it’s this night week! Pray for me.

Doctor Rogers — look you! I can’t stand to have that N.Y. examination postponed beyond Friday [MTHHR 164-5].

Notes: Theron Augustus Wales, M.D. was the Elmira doctor treating Sam. The “supplementary examination” brought by Thomas Russell, bookbinder for $5,046, was to determine if Sam had hidden assets which could be used to satisfy the judgment. It took place on July 11. The other creditors were being patient.