From Samuel L. and
Olivia L. Clemens
to Mary Mason Fairbanks
29 May 1870 • Buffalo, N.Y.
(MS: CSmH, UCCL 00472)
c
Buf Ma May 29.
Dear Mother:
Our plans for the Adirondacks are pretty definitely fixed—start with the Twichellses 1st of Aug. & return middle of Sept.
I do wish we could trot out & see you, but it does seem impossible to do it soon. I have to get all literary work done up for a month or two ahead, so that I our proposed holiday will be a holiday with no compulsory labor in it. Not that I mean to lead a stupid, useless life in the woods—by no means. I shall exert myself in every way that promises to harden my muscles & toughen & strengthen my frame. E I shall use method in my exercises, too. I shall chang lie under a tree— —change & change about—not lying under one tree until suffering injury from [over-ex[er]tion ] sets in, but changing to another now & then. And I shall not “sit around” till [overheated], but will keep watch of my pulse & go to bed in time—as soon as I find I am [crowding ] my powers. Some people ruin their health by pure injudiciousness—but you never catch me ripping & tearing around. I go along careful. That is the reason why I never break myself down.
Well, I guess we shall have to go with you to California in the Spring, for the publishers are getting right impatient to see another book on the stocks, & I doubt if I could do better than rub up old Pacific memories & put them between covers along with some eloquent pictures. When we get to Cleveland—or when you come here—( please come, in June or July—it is no distance at all coming east’ard)—we’ll talk the Cal. trip all over.1
We would pack up & clear for Cleveland tomorrow, as true as ever I sit here, if it were not for Mr Langdon’s ill health. We want to go, badly, & would go but for that.—but for the fact that when we leave our nest, it is plainly understood that the destination must be Elmira. I can’t get time to trot around much, & so when we do move we are sure to be in arrears for a visit home, & thither we have to go. We were to have gone [ on yesterday ], but being dissatisfied with next Galaxy (July,) I begged a delay of Livy till I could make some changes d in the MSS. before mailing them to N. Y.2 Do you know, Madam, that I would rather write for a Magazine for $2 a page than for a newspaper at $10? I would. One takes more pains, the “truck” looks nicer in print, & one has a pleasanter audience. It is the difference between lecturing in “the States” & doing the same thing in delectable Nevada.
We shall hie to Cleveland (hie is a
pretty good word, considering that it was just hurled in without any study or
deliberation)—Yes, we shall hie to Cleveland the very first chance we
get—honest injun. Now you think I am lying [
under under ] a hallucination (how is hallucination “for high?”)
but I am not. To my mind a visit to Cleveland is comprehensive, corelative,
[
comp combustible ] & in every way subsequent & invidious, &
for one I am right anxious to make it. [in top margin: 
Samuel is a prettyie
boy—] All that Mrs Clemens desires, on this earth, is to sun herself
in the light of my countenance & eat. Consequently she is ready to start whenever I am.
I am at the other side
of the table so of course
I have to write up side down
He is good too—
I like um
Give our love to all the tribe.3 After drawing so much shrubbery & interlining so much, Livy would like to write another word or two maybe—so she may close this.
We both love you and want to see you. I wish that as it does not seem possible for us to go to you that you could come to us next month—one reason that we cannot go far from home, is that we want to reach father quickly in case he should want us— Of course we shall not go to the Adirondacs unless he is much better— Love to Allie, bring her and Molly‸the family‸ with you—
Lovingly Livy—
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:
L4, 144–146; MTMF, 130–33; McElderry, xiii, excerpt.
Provenance:see Huntington Library in Description of Provenance.
Emendations and textual notes:
over-ex[er]tion • over-ex-|tion
overheated • over-|heated
crowding • crou wding
on yesterday • [‘yesterday’ over ‘on’]
under under • under | under under [first ‘under’ miswritten]
comp combustible • compbustible [‘p’ partly formed]
