hartford conn. july 8th 1882.
dear judge:—
i have been a long time about it, but we have had scarlet fever in the house ever since i reached home, consequently my correspondence has been considerably neglected. i have written a scrap and i will refer you for further particulars, to ed brownell and [all paterson], with the fullest confidence. i observe only one error in all paterson’s statement; that is in regard to the dog; the impression conveyed, is that the dog tied behind our wagon, was our dog. this is a mistake. with this exception the statement is historically correct.
with the kindest regards to yourself and the other hospitable ones whom i met that night, i am
truly yours,
s. l. clemens
[enclosure:]Elsewhere in this volume appears a statement, by Mr. Jo. Patterson, that when I first began to write & lecture, the greatest surprise to my immediate friends & relatives was my familiar quotations from the Bible, as I “was never known to read that book.” Since that old day I have reformed, & have ceased from sinning: therefore it is but right that I should now come out & make contrite & humble confession that, under the inspiration of the devil, I did manufacture a lot of bogus Biblical “quotations” & play them off on the Patterson & the others, knowing that they would not be able to detect the swindle. But long since, I have repented of it, bitterly, most bitterly.
Mark Twain
Textual Commentary
Source text(s):Previous publication:
McDermott 1968, 197–98, partial publication; MicroPUL, reel 2.
Emendations and textual notes:
all paterson • [sic]
