Well, Livy darling, you can’t think what an immense burden of anxiety I have been toting around on my shoulders for the past two weeks. I probably have not spoken of it, for that is not my habit. The burden was the fact that I must exploit a new program in Chicago Feb. 2d (last night). Experience has taught me that it is better to go on the platform without a book, & fail, thatn to go on with one. So all these days I have been daily & nightly memorizing pieces (Buck Fanshaw', Agricultural Editor, & the Blue-Jays), & fearful labor it was, I can tell you; for when I am railroad-weary, my memory will hold nothing. I tried Buck Fanshaw “on a dog” a few nights ago, after spending a world of hard work on it—& immediately discarded it. Then I tried A the Agricultural on a dog, & was full of haltings & stammerings—hadn’t it half perfect. Last night I was not in good condition, but at 7.30 I drank a big cup of strong black coffee, & at 8.20 went on the platform before a big house & put the Agricultural editor through spiritedly & without a flaw. Then in answer to an encore I attempted “Dick Baker’s Cat,”—which I had never attempted in public before, & had no book here to refresh my memory upon—& it went a-booming. I had the Blue-Jays in the program; so I took another cup of black coffee & went on & made a rattling success of that, also. The whole evening was a success & a most gratifying one—& so my troubles for this season are at an end. Notwithstanding the coffee, I slept the night through without waking, & am refreshed & feel very fine & clear-headed this morning. Black coffee is a prodigious stimulant; it lifts you right out of the most hopeless dulness into the seventh heaven of happy snap & cheerfulness.

Yes, I tried to read the Bostonians, but couldn’t. To me it was unspeakably dreary. I dragged along half way through it & gave it up in despair.

Cable has asked me several times to assure you that the opening his letter wasn’t of the least consequence.

Speaking of Cable, he◊ is no ordinary man, he is a great man; & I believe that if he continues his fight for the negro (& he will,) his greatness will come to be recognized—& it will be a greatness of a kind & size that will overshadow his merits as a novelist & make them small by contrast.

I was charmed with Susie’s essay, & rather proud of it, too. I have read it several times, with my love for the little maiden to light the lines & enlarge & confirm my appreciation.

(Interrupted),