From Olivia L. and Samuel L. Clemens to Mary Mason Fairbanks
27 June 1871 • Elmira, N.Y.
(Paraphrase and transcript: MTMF, 154 n. 3, UCCL 00625)

[June 27]

. . . .

[paraphrase: Livy regrets that her husband is too busy to write, and to make the promised visit to Cleveland] the first of next month. 1 Mr. Clemens feels that it will be a month or six weeks before his book will be finished.

. . . .

P. S. I have hoped through [thick [&] thin], that we would have our holiday with you, but it ain’t any use—I have lost so much time that I am obliged to give it up. This book has been dragging along just 12 months, now, & I am so sick & tired of it.2 If I were to chance another break or another move before I finish it I fear I never should get it done.

Lovingly yrs.

Saml.

Explanatory Notes | Textual Commentary

Editorial Signs

Click to add citation to My Citations.

1 The trip had been planned in January (12 Jan 71 to OLC).

Click to add citation to My Citations.

2 Although Clemens had announced his decision to “do up Nevada & Cal.” on 15 July 1870, he had not begun writing Roughing It until late August. And there had been several long interruptions since then (15 July 70 to OC; 4 Sept 70 to Bliss).

Description of Texts and Provenance

Source text(s):

Paraphrase and transcript, MTMF, 154 n. 3.

Previous publication: L4, 418–419; Hill , 54, brief excerpt.

Provenance:In 1949, Wecter wrote in MTMF that the letter “dated June 27, is found in the T. N. Fairbanks Collection”; its present location is not known.

Emendations and textual notes:

June 27 • [reported, not quoted]

[in pencil:] • Clemens himself adds in pencil:

thick [&] thin • thick thin [sic]