It is glorious news that you like Tom Sawyer so well. I mean to see to it that your review of it shall have plenty of time to appear before the other notices. Mrs. Clemens decides with you that the book should issue as a book for boys, pure and simple – and so do I. It is surely the correct idea. As to that last chapter, I think of just leaving it off and adding nothing in its place. Something told me that the book was done when I got to that point – and so the strong temptation to put Huck’s life at the widow’s into detail instead of generalizing it in a paragraph, was resisted. Just send Sawyer to me by Express – I enclose money for it. If it should get lost it will be no great matter.
Company interfered last night, and so “Private Theatricals” goes over till this evening, to be read aloud. Mrs. Clemens is mad, but the story will take that all out. This is going to be a splendid winter night for fireside reading, anyway.
I am almost at a dead stand-still with my new story, on account of the misery of having to do it all over again.
We-all send love to you-all.
Yrs ever
Mark.