The Library of Humor, the Life of Sheridan, and The Library of American Literature all sold very well; not so well as had been hoped, but the sales yielded a fair profit.  It was thought that if Clemens himself would furnish a new book now and then the business might regain something of its original standing.

We may believe that Clemens had not been always patient, not always gentle, during this process of decline.  He had differed with Webster, and occasionally had gone down and reconstructed things after his own notions.  Once he wrote to Orion that he had suddenly awakened to find that there was no more system in the office than in a nursery without a nurse.

“But,” he added, “I have spent a good deal of time there since, and reduced everything to exact order and system.”

Just what were the new features of order instituted it would be interesting to know.  That the financial pressure was beginning to be felt even in the Clemens home is shown by a Christmas letter to Mrs. Moffett.

Hartford, December 18, 1887.

Dear Pamela,—­Will you take this $15 & buy some candy or other trifle for yourself & Sam & his wife to remind you that we remember you?

If we weren’t a little crowded this year by the type-setter I’d send a check large enough to buy a family Bible or some other useful thing like that.  However, we go on & on, but the type-setter goes on forever—­at $3,000 a month; which is much more satisfactory than was the case the first 17 months, when the bill only averaged $2,000, & promised to take a thousand years.  We’ll be through now in 3 or 4 months, I reckon, & then the strain will let up and we can breathe freely once more, whether success ensues or failure.

Even with a type-setter on hand we ought not to be in the least scrimped-but it would take a long letter to explain why & who is to blame.

All the family send love to all of you, & best Christmas wishes for your prosperity.

Affectionately,
Sam.

CLXV

LETTERS, VISITS, AND VISITORS

There were many pleasanter things, to be sure.  The farm life never failed with each returning summer; the winters brought gay company and fair occasions.  Sir Henry and Lady Stanley, visiting.  America, were entertained in the Clemens home, and Clemens went on to Boston to introduce Stanley to his lecture audience.  Charles Dickens’s son, with his wife and daughter, followed a little later.  An incident of their visit seems rather amusing now.  There is a custom in England which requires the host to give the guest notice of bedtime by handing him a lighted candle.  Mrs. Clemens knew of this custom, but did not have the courage to follow it in her own home, and the guests knew of no other way to relieve the situation; as a result, all sat up much later than usual.  Eventually Clemens himself suggested that possibly the guests would like to retire.