14 June 1879 • Paris, France (MS facsimile: Clemens 1932, pp. 45–46, UCCL 01669)
Enclosed please find wages of sin amounting to 40 fr. Go, & transgress no more. My scouts report that the balloon will not begin her passenger trips until Monday. I was getting afraid they would fill my order for tickets on Sunday . I preferred to draw the line for Sabbath-outrages at horse-racing. I imagined a conversation like this—& it made me shudder.
St. Peter. How did you come?
You & I. By balloon, your Reverence.
St. Peter. When did you leave?
I know my weakness; I should be sure to say, “Early Saturday morning, your Reverence.” Then the verdict would be fatal: “Guilty of ballooning on the Sabbath—in questionable company—& then lying about it.”
Detain Mrs. Deane, & let’s try it Monday, for instance.
MS facsimile, Clemens 1932, 45–46.
In 1932, the letter was owned by Mrs. C. M. Morris, daughter of General Lucius Fairchild.
More information on provenance may be found in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.