It is a long time since I wrote you—since then what pleasant things have happened to you and to us:—How happy you must be to see how much—very much—the world thinks of Mr. Clemens and his genius—and how every day they learn to appreciate him more—I think one of the grandest things on earth to be the wife of a great man—Karl thinks that it is much finer to be the only writer the only great humorist—than to be mentioned with hundreds of others as simply a writer of a book—(this is what I think and Karl also) but you will not tell Mr. Clemens—will you? because he cannot understand that we really think so. I am afraid he would say I ought not to tell you it because ever so many people might say so for reasons—but I have none—only do not think me silly—We had a very nice time when Mr. and Mrs. Warner—were here—I believe Mrs Warners’ health is so poor that she cannot travel SLC drew two long crossing lines through the following words: in Spain or Italy but stays in Germany—When can will you come here—this next summer please do—if it is possible I think we should be perfectly happy and content if we could see you once. I have been drawing in the Louvre for nearly a month and made much progress Karl thinks and one day the sculpteur that took Second Grand Prix—was in the Louvre—it seems saw a young girl drawing a fawn and seemed to like it so much that two or three days after—he was telling the others in the canceled by SLC: others in the Atelier—Karl said to a young fellow who speaks English that he wished it was his wife that he was speaking about in such high terms—he thought it could not be me—because I was drawing a centaur with young cupid on his back—Karl asked him to go to the Louvre with him and tell him which young girl it was—it so happened that it was the week before that he was in and it was Hattie me he told k Karl that added by SLC: I went to work like an old student and blocked it in like a painter—and said my proportions were excellent—isn’t it strange?

Karl’s good news—

Saturday morning—the day for Karls Prof—came and he was there before many of the others had arrived for a long time he stood and looked at the figure finally came and placed his hand on Karls shoulder and looked at him ’till Karl did not know what to make of it—then said “very well—very well continue [”]—then when all the students had arrived he called them all around it and made them look at it in all directions asked them if it did not stand firmly on its feet if it was not just like life—strongly modelled and then said—you have made great progress great and very rapid progress then turned and asked them if it was not so—it is remarkable it is the finest—most life-like in the Atelier (not excepting the one sculptor in the Louvre I spoke of) this week added by SLC: ; and to show added by SLC: ( as a compliment to his genius talent & progress added by SLC: ,) underlined by SLC: next week it his figure shall be cast in plaster at the expense of the school—Mons. Pesch the strong sculptor—said that it had never been done for a foreigner before and very few times for a french pers man—except when a medal is given—It does not seem like Karl and I at all added by SLC: ; I have to pinch myself to believe it is so—does no’t it seem like a beautiful dream—? It will make us work harder than ever—As ask the little children to forgive me for not sending them Christmas presents—we hope to send something by March—with much love to all and the brightest happiest New Years