Aforetime, I would have jumped at the chance to pay a part & lighten that debt; but now I am like everybody else—everything tied up in properties that cannot be sold except at fearful loss. It has been the roughest twelve-month I can remember, for losses, ill luck, & botched business. My new book is draining me day by day, & will continue the drain several months yet.

Which preamble has not for its meaning that I wish to be let wholly off for the present, but that it will be a great convenience to me if you will can reduce it, or bear with me till I am out of this pressure. But don’t do it if it is to cause you great inconvenience. I would rather increase the strain & furnish the money than have that happen. So, speak out frankly.

My days are given up to cursings—both loud & deep—for I am reading the H. Finn proofs. They don’t make a very great many mistakes; but those that do occur are of a nature to make a man curse his teeth loose.