characterized by E.C.  Stedman, 340, 341;
  comments on Mr. Stedman’s visit to Chicago, 341-345;
  his companionship with Slason Thompson, ii., 1-14;
  presents a cherished wedding gift to Mrs. Thompson, 1, 2;
  condition of his finances, 6, 7;
  obtains advances on his salary, 7-9;
  embarrasses Slason Thompson with postal-cards, 9-11;
  plays a Christmas prank. 12-14;
  character of handwriting, 15, 16;
  origin of use of colored inks, 16-18;
  reproduces Corot’s “St. Sebastian” and other pictures from written
    descriptions, 18-22;
  composes a German poem, 23, 24;
  his means of obtaining, and using, colored inks, 24-32;
  corresponds with Miss Thompson, 27, 28, 33, 34;
  two artistic efforts, 28-33;
  writes “Aunt Mary Matilda” series, 35, 36;
  character of his letters, 45;
  sends letters and poems to Slason Thompson, 47-58, 65-70, 77-105;
  dines at Thompson’s expense, 53-55;
  dedicates two ballads to “The Fair Unknown,” 59-64;
  his interest in baseball, 71-73;
  participates in the game of bowling, 73-76;
  describes a ball game, 77, 78, 80;
  plays a practical joke, 80, 81;
  verses to two of his friends, 82-84;
  celebrates Mrs. Morgan Bates’ birthday, 84-80;
  his first appearance as a reader, 101, 102;
  discusses pronunciation of Goethe’s name, 102;
  induces Miss Cleveland to retire from an editorship, 105, 106;
  publishes his first book, 107;
  description of “Culture’s Garland,” 108-114;
  resolves to master prose writing, 114, 115;
  writes a column of verse a day, 116-120;
  origin of “Little Boy Blue,” 121;
  contributions to America, 122;
  invents “The Shadwell Folio,” 122-129;
  proposes to privately publish two books of his verses and tales,
    130, 131;
  responses to his appeal, 131-133;
  publishes his “Little Books,” 133-137;
  his struggle with dyspepsia, 138;
  writes to E.D.  Cowen concerning his proposed visit to Europe, 139-
    142;
  and to Melvin L. Gray, 143, 144;
  arrives in London, 144-146;
  tells a story on James Whitcomb Riley, 147, 148;
  places his children in school, 148, 149;
  writes to Mr. Gray of his life in London, 149-153;
  tells yarns to Mrs. Humphry Ward, 153-155;
  publication of the limited edition of “Echoes from the Sabine
    Farm,” 155-157, 165, 166;
  collects rarities, 158;
  death of his eldest son, 159-161;
  his return to Chicago, 161;
  prepares other books for publication, 162, 163;
  describes burial of his son, 163, 164;
  ill-health, 166;
  writes Christmas stories, 166-168;
  becomes a bibliomaniac, 169-171;
  frequents McClurg’s store, 171;
  originates the “Saints’ and Sinners’ Corner,” 173-175;
  his relations with William F. Poole, 175-177;
  saves a coveted book, 178;
  reports two imaginary meetings in the “Saints’ and Sinners’ Corner,”