ABSTRACT
Spring regenerated the hillsides of Elmira. Sunshine, blossoms, gentle breezes helped to restore Livy and her husband. Once totally prostrate, she could now walk a few steps holding onto a chair. After a year of ever-worsening strains on Livy's health, Clemens once again could call her “bright and cheerful.” Her strength improved enough that in April they planned a trip to Cleveland to visit Mary Fairbanks. Clemens's confidence in his work returned. “My stock is looking up.” By May he felt his book was half done, and he started to receive offers to write and to lecture. His writing went so well that he gave up the Cleveland trip for fear “I couldn't dare make another break in my work lest I fail entirely.”
