15 January 1883 • Hartford, Conn. (MS: LNT, UCCL 02336)
I have just finished my book at last, & was about to return the volumes you so kindly lent me. I’ll get ’m started this afternoon or tomorrow. I am a little short-handed, in the executive department, the coachman’s family being down with scarlet fever—so I find myself a trifle overloaded with jobs which I don’t know the hang of. Two of our children are pretty sick, too—& 2½ weeks ago my secretary went home with scarlet fever, & since then I have disposed of 120 letters, January bills, & so on. My life is a trifle too busy these days.
When an audience do not complain, it is a compliment; & when they do it is a sort of confession that compliment, too, if unaccompanied by violence.
Geo. W. C remainder torn away | 229 remainder torn away written across left end of envelope: No Stuart in the lot, but give me the full title & I’ll rob a library for you. return address: return to s. l. clemens, hartford, conn., if not delivered within 10 days. postmark torn away
MS, LNT.
Cardwell 1953, 89; MicroPUL, reel 2.