DEAR MOLLIE,--This is a superb Sunday for weather--very cloudy, and the

thermometer as low as 65. The city in the valley is purple with shade,

as seen from up here at the study. The Cranes are reading and loafing

in the canvas-curtained summer-house 50 yards away on a higher (the

highest) point; the cats are loafing over at "Ellerslie" which is the

children's estate and dwellinghouse in their own private grounds (by

deed from Susie Crane) a hundred yards from the study, amongst the

clover and young oaks and willows. Livy is down at the house, but

I shall now go and bring her up to the Cranes to help us occupy the

lounges and hammocks--whence a great panorama of distant hill and

valley and city is seeable. The children have gone on a lark through the

neighboring hills and woods. It is a perfect day indeed.

With love to you all.

SAM.

Two days after this letter was written we get a hint of what was the

beginning of business trouble--that is to say, of the failing health of

Charles L. Webster. Webster was ambitious, nervous, and not robust. He

had overworked and was paying the penalty. His trouble was neurasthenia,

and he was presently obliged to retire altogether from the business. The

"Sam and Mary" mentioned were Samuel Moffet and his wife.

****

708

The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete