From Samuel L. and
Olivia L. Clemens
to Jervis and Olivia Lewis Langdon
16 and 17 April 1870 • Buffalo, N.Y.
(MS: CtHMTH, UCCL 00455)
Dear Father & Mother—
Day before yesterday I loaned Mr. Larned $3,000, on taking as security one-half of his ownership in the e Express—the loan is for one year. Bowen & Rogers drew the papers at Mr. Slee’s instance. Took Mr Slee’s advice in everything. I have concluded to keep him here, for I cannot well do without him, but will get you a good man in his place. My wife will still need Mrs. Slee for some time yet, also, & so there it seems absolutely necessary that we retain the family here for the present.2
Yesterday received a letter from Kennett asking if it would be convenient for me to pay something now as he has a couple of the Clapp notes to meet. I told him we might spend the summer in Europe, & in that case I would need the money myself. If he makes it an object to me I will let him have two or three thousand dollars, but not [ otherwise, ‸ I think ‸, unless he is content to wait a fortnight or so ] otherwise, I think.3
We have had the twins here for ten days—Allie & Clara Spaulding—& we all enjoyed it [exceedingly. They ] went home day before yesterday— partly because Miss Clara had some trees to plant, & partly because we were beginning to look for my tribe from St. Louis. In which case we should want both the spare rooms.
Livy discharged Harriet yesterday, after a week of solemn & imposing preparation, & I tell you I am glad the thing is done, for it hung over us like a pall & shadowed all our [sunshine ]. Toward the last the mere mention of it was sufficient to make me shudder, & I came to regard it as an awful ordeal which we had got to pass through & which might let go in the midst & blow up us to Jericho. But it is all over, now, & we still live. But I had rather discharge the a perilous & unsound cannon than the soundest servant girl that ever was.
Livy overhauled her books yesterday & demonstrated that our living expenses average exactly fifty dollars a week. Other expenses will not m amount to more than fifty more, & so we are safe, beyond all peradventure. Every cent of the returns from the book can go to the liquidation of the “Express” debt if necessary. [in margin: (That includes servants & all—Livy)] 4
Mr. Beecher came Saturday & preached morning & evening. The evening [ sem sermon ], to a crowded house, was received with prodigious favor & he went away from here with leaving a great fame behind him. From Elmira we learn that M Dr Heacock created a similar furore in the [Opera ] House Sunday night. It does these people good to change off & shin around a little. {I was going to put that “move around,” but Livy said “shin around” was pleasanter. ‸it is‸ ([ is it ] is a fabrication)}5
We think of you oftener than we write you, & a good deal oftener, too. There is no spot & no article in our lovely home but remind us of your love & loving care for [us. And ] we will write you oftener, too, in future—my word on that. I will now leave the other page to Livy.
Lovingly Yr Son
Samℓ.
Dear Father and Mother
I feel as if it was a little too bad to have had visits from so many of our friends before you have been here— I think that I shall be very proud when I can entertain you here— I am sure that you would luxuriate in the quiet of our dear little nest— We expect Mr Clemens friends now every day—after their visit I want Ida to come— 6 Then some time I want Emma Sayles and Sue 7 to come together— We f
We find that we are located in a very delightful neighborhood, there are four young married people that live on in the block below them, the four ladies are very pleasant, we have met only two of the gentlemen—another young married lady who has called here is going to move into the block this Spring— I liked what I saw of her very much—
Lovingly Livy—
I neglected to bring my hand glass with me—did you send it in one of the boxes— It is too bad to trouble you with these things but I do not see any way to help it— I I know that it would be well for me to open the boxes before I write of these things, but I have not the time now to take care of the things—
Mrs Moffett says “give my love to your Mother”— 8
Mr Clemens and I went to church to day, Mr Dr Heacock gave us a very good sermon, at first I was afraid that it was to be treatise like, the sentences were perfect, the language felicitous, but at the end he gave us reflections on the subject (Our Father which who art in Heaven) which brought it home to our hearts—
Dr Heacock has and exceedingly fine face, when he was preaching, there would sometimes come into his face an expression that reminded me of Anna Dickinson— 9 I came about as near having a touch of home-sickness this morning in church as I have at any time— I thought of you in church, with the Spauldings 10 sitting in front of you, all listening to our teacher—and I thought that I should like to be there with you—
Lovingly Livy—
Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary
To-morrow the Rev. Thomas K. Beecher, of Elmira,
will preach in Rev. Dr. Heacock’s place, in the Lafayette
Street Church. Mr. Beecher is one of the ablest divines of the day,
and will give the members of Dr. Heacock’s church a
discourse worth listening to. (“The Churches,”
4) Beecher gave complete satisfaction in both morning and
evening sermons, although the Express singled out
the first of these as “very able and eloquent,”
printing a long synopsis (“The Pulpit,” 11 Apr 70,
4). Heacock’s performances in Elmira, in the morning at
Congregational Church, and later at the Elmira Opera House,
Beecher’s controversial Sunday evening stand (L3, 57 n. 9, 183 n. 7), demonstrated that he was “justly
entitled to the reputation which he enjoys, of being one of the ablest
and most eloquent Divines in the State.” The Langdons, who
were still traveling in the South, missed the excitement
(“City and Neighborhood,” Elmira Advertiser, 11 Apr 70, 4; 27 Mar 70 to the
Langdons, n. 2; Buffalo Commercial
Advertiser: “Religious,” 9 Apr 70, 3;
“Church Services Yesterday,” 11 Apr 70, 3).
Source text(s):Previous publication:
L4, 109–113; Eastman, 139, excerpt.
Provenance:donated to CtHMTH in 1963 by Ida Langdon.
Emendations and textual notes:
16 17. • 167.[possibly ‘167.’]
otherwise, ‸ I think ‸, unless he is content to wait a fortnight or so otherwise • other-| wise, ‸ I think.‸ unless he is content to wait a fortnight or so | wise
exceedingly. They • exceedingly.—|They
sunshine • sun-|shine
sem sermon • semrmon
Opera • Oprera
is it • ist
us. And • us.—|And
