December 25 Friday – In Redding, Conn. Sam wrote to Dorothy Butes.

December 24 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam inscribed a copy of P&P to Ossip Gabrilowitsch: “To Ossip Gabrilowitsch, all good wishes & a Merry Christmas, from the Author. Stormfield, Dec. 24/08” [MTP].  

December 23 Wednesday – In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Dec. 10 of L.M. Powers. “Published without my consent; & promptly suppressed. SLC /Don’t know where to find this one. It was a political brochure” [MTP].

December 22 Tuesday – Mansfield Hobbs, an attorney friend of Ralph W. Ashcroft filed incorporation papers for the Mark Twain Company, with $5,000 in capital stock. Clemens, Ashcroft, and Isabel Lyon were the original officers. Sam signed a document assigning and transferring all of his literary rights to the new corporation.

December 21 Monday – In Redding, Conn. Sam added to his Dec. 20 to Margaret Blackmer.

Next morning. 8 a.m. Before breakfast.

December 20 Sunday – In Redding, Conn. Sam began a letter to Margaret Blackmer that he finished on Dec. 21. The Dec. 20 segment:

December 19 Saturday – In Redding, Conn. Sam replied to the Dec. 18 from H.H. Rogers.

Dear Admiral:

December 18 Friday – In N.Y.C. H.H. Rogers wrote to Sam.

December 17 Thursday – In Redding, Conn. Sam sent a telegram to daughter Jean in Berlin, Germany.

[typed on form of Western Union Telegraph Company:]

December 16 Wednesday – William Dean Howells wrote to Sam.

Dear Clemens: