From Olivia L. and Samuel L. Clemens
to Susan L. Crane
16 April 1870 • Buffalo, N.Y.
(MS: CtHMTH, UCCL 00454)
c
Buffalo April 16th
1870
My darling Little Woman
It seems as if it was a month since I had heard from you or Father and Mother— We had a letter from Father about ten days ago, that is the last that we have heard,1 we do love you and we do desire to hear from you— We had a delightful visit with the girls,2 it was quiet and was not the least of a tax— It seems strange that no [ones ] going leaves loneliness— We are so happy that nothing seems able to mar our joy— Our little home is just as pleasant as ever and we do love it— There is only one thing that I would like to add to the pleasures that we have, that is the hills about our valey, as the Spring days come, it makes me sorry that we cannot go into the woods— I love you little woman—
Yesterday morning I had a talk with Harriet, and told her that as she could not agree with Ellen, I thought it was better for both of us that we make a change, I got on very easily with it after I had really taken hold of it, she thought it was best and said that she wanted a rest this Spring— I had a bad dream last night— I am on track of an other girl, I went yesterday and left word to have her come and see me— Ellen told me yesterday that she had written Mary Crossey that she wished that she would come on here, I told Ellen that she ought not to have written that because I did not want to take Mary away from Mother— She said that Mary Crossey’s Mother would not let [m][ her ] come any way.
I dreamed last night that after the German girl had been hired and commenced her work, that Mary came, and there was a great stir and I had a deal of trouble—
The girl that I am going to have comes well recommended, she has lived three years with the family that she is now with, and only leaves them because the work is too hard—
The Ivy in my hanging basket does well, but the other things do not seem to flourish as well— Susie dear, when some one is coming here, will you send, if you have them and it is no inconvenience to you, two slips of ivy, I want to train them about my dining room window—you know if it is not entirely convenient we can get some here, I can find out where to get [Iv] them— and Susie dear, will you send us a couple of cats by the next minister or other party that is coming this way. We have not a cat on the place, & the mice will not patronize the little trap because it is cheap & small & uncomfortable, & not in keeping with the other furniture of the house. If you could send us a kitten or two like “Livy,” it would suit Mr. Clemens.’s idea of what a house-cat should be.
What a witch it is, I left my letter for two or three minutes, and lo when I return, the page is filled— Ellen wants to know every little while if I have written Mr Crane to know about the price of tea & coffee by the chest, if Theodore knows let him tell me, but he need not take any thought or step about it— Susie dear, you will think this letter is filled with requests, but one more thing, will you see if mother can spare one pair of pillow cases like that would fit my large pillows, I have only one pair, so the pillows have to go without 3
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
For Langdon’s Shamokin cares, see 1
Apr 70 to the Langdons, n. 5. The McIntyre Coal Company, evidently troublesome as well, was a new enterprise of his to mine
bituminous coal in Pennsylvania: see 30 Aug 71 to Smith, n. 1. Nothing has been learned of his “Seamless Kegg”
concerns.
Source text(s):Previous publication:
L4, 107–9.
Provenance:donated to CtHMTH in 1963 by Ida Langdon.
Emendations and textual notes:
ones • ones ones [corrected miswriting]
m • [partly formed]
her • her her [rewritten for clarity]
Iv • [‘v’ partly formed]
