It is 16 hours’ journey to Cleveland from here, & with a stroke of your reckless pen you cut it down to 6!1explanatory note We are always wanting to go out there to the end of the world, but it is too far for Livy’s strength—at least by land. But I propose to tackle the difficulty from the other side. It cannot be as far from San Francisco as it is from here; so we are going around, in the spring, & approach you from Asia.

I may not do this, but it is an elegant idea, nevertheless. No, our plan for the spring is this: To leave, the 1st of May, & settle down in some good old city of Germany, & never stir again for 6 months. Then come home. Clara Spaulding will doubtless go with h us.2explanatory note Of course you and Mollie wouldn’t consent to settle down in a German town for 6 months, but why not go along in the same ship with us, tarry a spell, make your little distressful European pilgrimage, then pick us up & fetch us home? Bring the head of the house, or Charley & his wife, to take care of the gang—for I should lose some of the crowd if I tried to take charge of it. If I don’t get you people I will take a full-fledged guide, right from New York. I’m not a good executive officer.3explanatory note in margin: (A lie repented of.)

Mother is up here on the hill, this being the last day of our summer vacation. She sends her especial & particular loves, Livy joins her, & so do I,—to you & Mollie & all.

When are you coming to Hartford to visit us?

Why do you always dodge this question?

We certainly would have come to see you if it had been within the possibilities.

We go home tomorrowⒶemendation.