Elmira, N. Y. July 31/82
(Summer address.)
Dear Capt. Gray—
Hang it, no! I haven’t received Dad’s photograph. Maybe it was sent to Osgood, Boston, instead of to me, at Hartford. Was it?—if so, it’s all right & I shall get it.
Wish you would tell Lem to tell his Missouri-meerschaum maker to send me a couple of dozen of those cob pipes to Elmira, N. Y. & forward the bill by mail—or send the things C. O. D., no difference which. I only stopped smoking the one Lem gave me, three weeks ago—she got so strong nobody would let me stay around.
Day before yesterday I wrote a chapter which Lem has got to back up, next spring winter or spring, when it is printed. You tell him so. He must swear it all occurred just as I say. I have some reputation for telling the petrified truth ‸(or maybe the putrefied truth.)‸ I don’t want to begin receiving have it damaged by people with inaccurate memories, who think a thing occurred in a certain way when I know it happened in an entirely different way altogether.
I will write Osgood about that photograph.
Please remember me in the kindest & most appreciative way to Capt McCord, & Lem & Dad, & the same to yourself.
Truly Yours
S. L. Clemens
Gold Dust [remainder of address not visible in photocopy] [return address:] return to s. l. clemens, hartford, conn., if not delivered within 10 days. [postmarked:] elmira n.y. aug 1 11am
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