August 7 Sunday – In Lee, Mass. Sam wrote to Joseph Gaylord Gessford, photographer.

I asked you for prices. But it was merely a formality. I always do that. But I always expect the pictures to be sent to me free of charge. I was expecting it in this case, for I had expended upon you more than a hundred & fifty dollars’ worth of my time—gratis, as it turns out. You made an appointment for a definite purpose—viz; to make some pictures for the Berkshire Topics. Very well, the engagement holds good. But you must not use any of the pictures outside of that paper, either to sell, exhibit, or give away [MTP].

Susan Crane wrote to Sam.

“Before your thoughtful letter of the 31st came, the papers had made us anxious, nevertheless I found a certain relief in knowing the facts from you, bad as they were—What a marvel that Jean was not instantly killed. How could it happen?” She also wrote about her late husband’s gravestone which was “not as large as Susy’s, and is marked as I suggest, without even the place of birth / September 26, 1831 / July 3, 1889. In the other case [Livy’s] it may be better to add Elmira / Florence, Italy. Let it be just as you wish” [MTP].