‸ I sent the pamphlets & overshoes to Ithaca. ‸
Hartford Jan. 17.
Dear Mr. Boyesen:
You can’t imagine how much pleasure your visit gave us, & how sorry we were to let you go—nor how the whole household missed you when you were gone, nor how sincerely we all wished you back again. Whenever you get a holiday, mind you we are to have the biggest share of it that you can spare.
I wrote & asked Bayard Taylor to be our guest (he is to lecture here presently), & he has accepted. I was glad to hear what you said about him.
Harte
I have asked him to talk to our Young Girls, & I hope he will do it. Warner will talk to them next Saturday, & Gen. Hawley will entertain them soon. I shall make Howells talk to them when I get him here. Gen. Franklin is going to instruct them in military matters, or Gatling guns, or something.
I don’t know that I can spare Miss Hess—I’ll see about it. I have used a pen so little since she has been here that my fingers have lost facility & my brain too. Still, if you can’t get Miss Keane there without this sacrifice, I am afraid I shall have to submit.
Harte hasn’t come yet—so the play isn’t yet licked into shape—consequently I haven’t demanded Howells’s presence. (He is to come when the play is ready to be read & criticised.)
Mr. Millet the artist has b made a most Excellent portrait of me, & besides haus given us a week of social enjoyment, for his company is a high pleasure. We have to lose him tomorrow.
All the household join in expressions of high ‸warm‸ regard for you, & wishes for your speedy return to us. If we spend next summer in Elmira, you’ll certainly be raided upon in Ithaca, by
Your sincere friend
Samℓ. L. Clemens
Copy-text:Previous publication:Sotheby’s catalog, 19 June 2003, lot 32, excerpts.
Provenance:The Mark Twain House purchased the MS from Sotheby’s on 19 June 2003. It was formerly in the collection of Nick
Karanovich.
