Elmira, N.Y., July 19/83.
Dear Mr. Dana—
All right, I’m a candidate, & shall keep myself open to conviction & swag. If I were in Hartford, I could run down; but Elmira is one of the furthest places from New York in the world, in hot weather; so I avoid the trip as much as I can. But our tribe will be returning home in September, & then I will look in on you as we pass through. The three summer months being my chief working time, I slave it without losing a day while we are here. I have written one small book, & am far along in a bigger one—& shall finish it if I don’t run around any; so I reckon I shan’t get down there till September.
Truly Yours
S. L. Clemens