November 1 Sunday – In London Sam wrote to H.H. Rogers, thinking that perhaps J. Henry Harper was “disgruntled” because he was “purposing” to give the new book (FE) to Frank Bliss.

My goodness, have I gone and weakened your hands! I didn’t know you were holding back a card in Tom Sawyer, Detective; and so when the Harpers wrote the other day to ask about how to fill out that book — what to use as padding, that is — I answered and told them to fill it out with anything they pleased (for in fact I was getting pretty impatient with the delay). Dear me, a year ago I was taking comfort in the fact that at last I was in the hands of the Harpers, but in truth I am feeling less restful about it now.

Sam advised Rogers to sign without waiting to hear from Livy on any agreement with Harpers, that he and Livy would be satisfied with his judgment. Sam wanted FE to be by subscription, which meant only Bliss could make it go, as Harpers was exclusively to the trade, that is, to buyers in bookstores. He wanted a cable when the Bliss-Harpers contracts were signed. Writing would be his income now, and he felt he had “several books” in his “skull” and he meant “to dig them out,” including his Autobiography which he felt should be sold by subscription.

Since I am cut off from the platform I am thinking much more about creating an income for my family than I am about paying creditors. That is not Mrs. Clemens’s attitude, but it is mine [MTHHR 243-4].