Elmira, June 22.
My Dear Bro—
Very well, then—if you have sworn it, doubtless you can keep [it. Therefore] do not send any more MS until you have finished. Send it then, all in one batch. One can tell nothing about it, reading a chapter or two a week; besides, I do not want my mind taken off my work. When I am at work I must not allow [MS page 2] myself to read anything that may chance to have any interest in it.
All are well, here—we go to the farm on the hill in a week or two.
Yr Bro
Sam
[MS page 3] Orion Clemens, Esq | Keokuk | Iowa. [return address:] if not delivered within 10 days, to be returned to [postmarked:] elmira n.y. jun 22 6 pm [and] [MS page 4] keokuk iowa correct jun 24
