Clemens had established Charles L. Webster, his nephew by marriage, in a New York office, as selling agent for the Mississippi book and for his plays.  He was also planning to let Webster publish the new book, Huck Finn.

     George W. Cable had proven his ability as a reader, and Clemens saw
     possibilities in a reading combination, which was first planned to
     include Aldrich, and Howells, and a private car.

But Aldrich and Howells did not warm to the idea, and the car was eliminated from the plan.  Cable came to visit Clemens in Hartford, and was taken with the mumps, so that the reading-trip was postponed.

The fortunes of the Sellers play were most uncertain and becoming daily more doubtful.  In February, Howells wrote:  “If you have got any comfort in regard to our play I wish you would heave it into my bosom.”

Cable recovered in time, and out of gratitude planned a great April-fool surprise for his host.  He was a systematic man, and did it in his usual thorough way.  He sent a “private and confidential” suggestion to a hundred and fifty of Mark Twain’s friends and admirers, nearly all distinguished literary men.  The suggestion was that each one of them should send a request for Mark Twain’s autograph, timing it so that it would arrive on the 1st of April.  All seemed to have responded.  Mark Twain’s writing-table on April Fool morning was heaped with letters, asking in every ridiculous fashion for his “valuable autograph.”  The one from Aldrich was a fair sample.  He wrote:  “I am making a collection of autographs of our distinguished writers, and having read one of your works, Gabriel Convoy, I would like to add your name to the list.”

Of course, the joke in this was that Gabriel Convoy was by Bret Harte, who by this time was thoroughly detested by Mark Twain.  The first one or two of the letters puzzled the victim; then he comprehended the size and character of the joke and entered into it thoroughly.  One of the letters was from Bloodgood H. Cutter, the “Poet Lariat” of Innocents Abroad.  Cutter, of course, wrote in “poetry,” that is to say, doggerel.  Mark Twain’s April Fool was a most pleasant one.

Rhymed letter by Bloodgood H. Cutter to Mark Twain: 

Littleneck, long island.

Long island farmer, to his friend and Pilgrim brother,
Samuel L. Clemens, Esq.

Friends, suggest in each one’s behalf
To write, and ask your autograph. 
To refuse that, I will not do,
After the long voyage had with you. 
That was a memorable time You wrote in prose, I wrote in Rhyme To
describe the wonders of each place, And the queer customs of each race.

That is in my memory yet
For while I live I’ll not forget. 
I often think of that affair
And the many that were with us there.