I am very glad to have that book for sea entertainment, and I thank you ever so much for it.

I’ve had a little visit with Warner at last; I was getting afraid I wasn’t going to have a chance to see him at all.  I forgot to tell you how thoroughly I enjoyed your account of the country printing office, and how true it all was and how intimately recognizable in all its details.  But Warner was full of delight over it, and that reminded me, and I am glad, for I wanted to speak of it.

You have given me a book; Annie Trumbull has sent me her book; I bought a couple of books; Mr. Hall gave me a choice German book; Laflan gave me two bottles of whisky and a box of cigars—­I go to sea nobly equipped.

Good-bye and all good fortune attend you and yours—­and upon you all I leave my benediction. 
                              Mark.

Mention has already been made of the Ross home being very near to Viviani, and the association of the Ross and Clemens families.  There was a fine vegetable garden on the Ross estate, and it was in the interest of it that the next letter was written to the Secretary of Agriculture.

To Hon. J. Sterling Morton, in Washington, D. C.: 
Editorial Department Century Magazine, Union Square,

NewYork, April 6, 1893.  To the Hon.  J. Sterling Morton,—­Dear Sir:  Your petitioner, Mark Twain, a poor farmer of Connecticut—­indeed, the poorest one there, in the opinion of many-desires a few choice breeds of seed corn (maize), and in return will zealously support the Administration in all ways honorable and otherwise.

To speak by the card, I want these things to hurry to Italy to an English lady.  She is a neighbor of mine outside of Florence, and has a great garden and thinks she could raise corn for her table if she had the right ammunition.  I myself feel a warm interest in this enterprise, both on patriotic grounds and because I have a key to that garden, which I got made from a wax impression.  It is not very good soil, still I think she can grow enough for one table and I am in a position to select the table.  If you are willing to aid and abet a countryman (and Gilder thinks you are,) please find the signature and address of your petitioner below.

Respectfully and truly yours. 
                              Mark Twain,

67 Fifth Avenue, New York.

P. S.—­A handful of choice (Southern) watermelon seeds would pleasantly add to that lady’s employments and give my table a corresponding lift.

His idea of business values had moderated considerably by the time
he had returned to Florence.  He was not hopeless yet, but he was
clearly a good deal disheartened—­anxious for freedom.

To Fred J. Hall, in New York: 

FlorenceMay 30, ’93 dear Mr. Hall,—­You were to cable me if you sold any machine royalties —­so I judge you have not succeeded.