I am on the war-pathⒶemendation next winter, with George W. Cable—that is to say, on the platform. Therefore I dasn’t venture to accept your & The Snowshoe Club’s kind invitation, for I shan’t know for some time, yet, whether my route is going to carry me through Montreal during the Carnival or not, though I dearly hope it will either carry me thither or so near that I can run in & getⒶemendation a day’s glimpse of the sights. Mrs. Clemens & I offer to you & the Snowshoe f◊◊ Club our best thanks for the invitation, & we assure you that if my winter’s time were at my own command we would accept it straightway, per this mail.

I promise myself the great pleasure of shaking your hand again before many months have gone by, for without doubt ◊ I and my Presbyterian pal will read in Montreal, though hardly in Carnival time, since my agent will probably be too sagacious to pit us against the stronger attractions of that season.