I have written the Galaxy people that I will never furnish them another article long or short, for any price but $500.00 cash—­and have requested them not to ask me for contributions any more, even at that price.

I hope that lets them out, for I will stick to that.  Now do try and leave me clear out of the ‘Publisher’ for the present, for I am endangering my reputation by writing too much—­I want to get out of the public view for awhile.

I am still nursing Livy night and day and cannot write anything.  I am nearly worn out.  We shall go to Elmira ten days hence (if Livy can travel on a mattress then,) and stay there till I have finished the California book—­say three months.  But I can’t begin work right away when I get there—­must have a week’s rest, for I have been through 30 days’ terrific siege.

That makes it after the middle of March before I can go fairly to work —­and then I’ll have to hump myself and not lose a moment.  You and Bliss just put yourselves in my place and you will see that my hands are full and more than full.

When I told Bliss in N. Y. that I would write something for the Publisher I could not know that I was just about to lose fifty days.  Do you see the difference it makes?  Just as soon as ever I can, I will send some of the book M.S. but right in the first chapter I have got to alter the whole style of one of my characters and re-write him clear through to where I am now.  It is no fool of a job, I can tell you, but the book will be greatly bettered by it.  Hold on a few days—­four or five—­and I will see if I can get a few chapters fixed to send to Bliss.

I have offered this dwelling house and the Express for sale, and when we go to Elmira we leave here for good.  I shall not select a new home till the book is finished, but we have little doubt that Hartford will be the place.

We are almost certain of that.  Ask Bliss how it would be to ship our furniture to Hartford, rent an upper room in a building and unbox it and store it there where somebody can frequently look after it.  Is not the idea good?  The furniture is worth $10,000 or $12,000 and must not be jammed into any kind of a place and left unattended to for a year.

The first man that offers $25,000 for our house can take it—­it cost that.  What are taxes there?  Here, all bunched together—­of all kinds, they are 7 per cent—­simply ruin.

The things you have written in the Publisher are tip-top. 
                         In haste,
                                   Yr Bro
          
                                   Sam