mechanism I have ever met with. Now about the West, this week, I am
willing that you shall retain all the Western engagements. But what I
shall want next week is still with God.

Let us not profane the mysteries with soiled hands and prying eyes of
sin.
Yours,
MARK.

P. S. Shall be here 2 weeks, will run up there when Nasby comes.


ELMIRA, N. Y. Sept. 15, 1871.
DEAR REDPATH,--I wish you would get me released from the lecture at
Buffalo. I mortally hate that society there, and I don't doubt they
hired me. I once gave them a packed house free of charge, and they never
even had the common politeness to thank me. They left me to shift for
myself, too, a la Bret Harte at Harvard. Get me rid of Buffalo!
Otherwise I'll have no recourse left but to get sick the day I lecture
there. I can get sick easy enough, by the simple process of saying the
word--well never mind what word--I am not going to lecture there.
Yours,
MARK.


BUFFALO, Sept. 26, 1871.
DEAR REDPATH,--We have thought it all over and decided that we can't
possibly talk after Feb. 2.

We shall take up our residence in Hartford 6 days from now