Explanatory Notes        Apparatus Notes ()

Source: Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y ([NPV])

Cue: "I am glad"

Source format: "MS"

Letter type: "[standard letter]"

Notes:

Last modified:

Revision History: AB

Published on MTPO: 2012

Print Publication:

MTPDocEd
To Jane L. Clemens
29 May 1882 • Hartford, Conn. (MS: NPV, UCCL 02192)
My Dear Mother:

I am glad you wrote the old gentleman. I don’t bear him a bit of malice, but the thing he asked me to do for him I wouldn’t do for myselfemendation nor for a man who had saved my life, nor for a brother or a father, or any human being.

As for the young man who prints the paper, he doesn’t need any “Encouragement;” his cheekemendation, his ignorance & his vanity together will carry him through this world a-booming. Whenever I can do anything to dsiscourageemendation him, I shall be entirely at his service. I have a strong aversion for him. I have a more constant contact with a selfish world than you have, Ma, & consequently my heart is much harder toward it than yours is. You see, you owe a debt of gratitude to a grandfather, & would pay it to a worthless grandson; whereas I should pay it to the grandson only on condition that he be worthy of it.

The trip to Keokuk is a good idea—go ahead, & let me pay the cost. If you could go from Buffalo to Chicago by water, or from Pittsburgh to Keokuk by water, I should think it would be more comfortable & less fatiguing than by rail.

Love to all

Yr son
Sam

letter docketed, probably by JLC: Let me pay cost

Textual Commentary
Source text(s):

MS, Jean Webster McKinney Family Papers, Special Collections, NPV.

Previous Publication:

MTBus, 186.

Provenance:

See McKinney Family Papers in Description of Provenanceclick to open link.

Emendations and Textual Notes
 myself ● my- | self self rewritten for clarity
 his cheek ● his che his cheek corrected miswriting
 dsiscourage ● ‘dis’ underlined after revision
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