Keokuk, May 2, 1877.
My Dear Brother:—
I enclose a picture of the leech that draws the blood that Col. Sellers makes.
I went to all the job offices in town this morning, and meant to go to the Gate City (morning paper) but found that three or four subs were watching the Constitution—an evening paper—for a chance, and became discouraged. I left my address to be sent for if there should be a spurt. ‸anywhere.‸ It seemed like Sunday all round.
In your absorption preparing your new play I suppose you forgot me this quarter. If you can spare me the usual checks I will get Judge Newman at the August term to appoint me to assist in defending some scoundrel for misdemeanor or felony (the latter penitentiary, the former under that degree) [OC’s parenthetical remark underlined by SLC, with accompanying comment in margin: the legal instinct to explain.] and see what luck I can have in criminal practice. I see bigger fools than I am sit to be prosecuting or district attorneys and get good wages. It seems improbable, but it is so.
Love to all,
Your Brother,
Orion.
When the papers say anything about your play can’t you send it to me? I hear of things here, vaguely. I never see anything.
[in top margin of second page:]
Here is as pathetic a conjunction, Howells, as ever was: this forced hilarity & this [broken-hearted] face.
2½ years civil “practice” has yielded him just one case. He will try criminal law, now, poor fellow.
Mark.
Textual Commentary
Copy-text:Previous publication:
MTHL, 1:176–77.
Provenance:See Howells Letters in Description of Provenance.
Emendations and textual notes:
broken-hearted • broken-|hearted
