[Original Autograph Letter, Signed ("Father"), to His Daughter, Jean Clemens] by Clemens, Samuel L - 1908

New York, 1908. Four pages, in ink, on folded quarto sheet of simple letterhead (21 Fifth Avenue), ca. 275 words, with envelope addressed in his hand, with signed ("S. L. Clemens") return address. A warm and loving letter from Clemens to his youngest daughter, Jean (1880 - 1909), then at Eastern Point in Gloucester, Mass, during one of the extended separations from her family due to her need for special care for her epilepsy: "Your beautiful letter has come, Jean dear, & I draw a deep breath of relief - you like the place & my anxieties have vanished away! I had a growing fear - founded on nothing - that you would feel the other way about it. I am unspeakably glad that it pleases you, & now I hope & believe you will have a happy summer. By your description, it is a place that would delight the heart of any one that has the seeing eye for the graciousness of the woods & fields & rocks & their wild inhabitants & for the majestic ocean. You can live out of doors there. You were virtually in prison at Greenwich, & would still have been in prison if you had occupied the whole forlorn & uninspiring town ...." He continues at length about his own activities, assuring her not to "... trouble about me! I am a happy & vigorous loafer." He recounts attendance at speeches and political banquets, games of billiards and the like, then turns to family matters, detailing efforts by Clara and the house staff to keep distresses from him "unless it is something I could remedy ... They know I desire this; for I am taking my holiday, now after 60 years of work & struggle & worry & vexation ... But whenever there is anything that depends upon me & my help, I want to know all about it." He closes: "With ever & ever & ever so much love, dear child, Father."