But the best thing that has happened was here.  This great American Publishing Company kept on trying to bargain with me for a book till I thought I would cut the matter short by coming up for a talk.  I met Rev. Henry Ward Beecher in Brooklyn, and with his usual whole-souled way of dropping his own work to give other people a lift when he gets a chance, he said, “Now, here, you are one of the talented men of the age—­nobody is going to deny that—–­but in matters of business, I don’t suppose you know more than enough to came in when it rains.  I’ll tell you what to do, and how to do it.”  And he did.

And I listened well, and then came up here and made a splendid contract for a Quaker City book of 5 or 600 large pages, with illustrations, the manuscript to be placed in the publishers’ hands by the middle of July.  My percentage is to be a fifth more than they have ever paid any author, except Horace Greeley.  Beecher will be surprised, I guess, when he hears this.

But I had my mind made up to one thing—­I wasn’t going to touch a book unless there was money in it, and a good deal of it.  I told them so.  I had the misfortune to “bust out” one author of standing.  They had his manuscript, with the understanding that they would publish his book if they could not get a book from me, (they only publish two books at a time, and so my book and Richardson’s Life of Grant will fill the bill for next fall and winter)—­so that manuscript was sent back to its author today.

These publishers get off the most tremendous editions of their books you can imagine.  I shall write to the Enterprise and Alta every week, as usual, I guess, and to the Herald twice a week—­occasionally to the Tribune and the Magazines (I have a stupid article in the Galaxy, just issued) but I am not going to write to this, that and the other paper any more.

The Chicago Tribune wants letters, but I hope and pray I have charged them so much that they will not close the contract.  I am gradually getting out of debt, but these trips to New York do cost like sin.  I hope you have cut out and forwarded my printed letters to Washington —­please continue to do so as they arrive.

I have had a tip-top time, here, for a few days (guest of Mr. Jno.  Hooker’s family—­Beecher’s relatives-in a general way of Mr. Bliss, also, who is head of the publishing firm.) Puritans are mighty straight-laced and they won’t let me smoke in the parlor, but the Almighty don’t make any better people.

Love to all-good-bye.  I shall be in New York 3 days—­then go on to the
Capital. 
                    Yrs affly, especially Ma.,
                                                  Yr Sam.

I have to make a speech at the annual Herald dinner on the 6th of May.