7;
obtains advances on his salary, 7-9;
embarrasses Slason Thompson with postal-cards, 9-11;
plays a Christmas prank. 12-14;
character of handwriting, 15, 16;
origin of use of colored inks, 16-18;
reproduces Corot's "St. Sebastian" and other pictures from written
descriptions, 18-22;
composes a German poem, 23, 24;
his means of obtaining, and using, colored inks, 24-32;
corresponds with Miss Thompson, 27, 28, 33, 34;
two artistic efforts, 28-33;
writes "Aunt Mary Matilda" series, 35, 36;
character of his letters, 45;
sends letters and poems to Slason Thompson, 47-58, 65-70, 77-105;
dines at Thompson's expense, 53-55;
dedicates two ballads to "The Fair Unknown," 59-64;
his interest in baseball, 71-73;
participates in the game of bowling, 73-76;
describes a ball game, 77, 78, 80;
plays a practical joke, 80, 81;
verses to two of his friends, 82-84;
celebrates Mrs. Morgan Bates' birthday, 84-80;
his first appearance as a reader, 101, 102;
discusses pronunciation of Goethe's name, 102;
induces Miss Cleveland to retire from an editorship, 105, 106;
publishes his first book, 107;
description of "Culture's Garland," 108-114;
resolves to master prose writing, 114, 115;
writes a column of verse a day, 116-120;
origin of "Little Boy Blue," 121;
contributions to America, 122;
invents "The Shadwell Folio," 122-129;
proposes to privately publish two books of his verses and tales,
130, 131;
responses to his appeal, 131-133;
publishes his "Little Books," 133-137;
his struggle with dyspepsia, 138;
writes to E.D. Cowen concerning his proposed visit to Europe, 139-
142;
and to Melvin L. Gray, 143, 144;
arrives in London, 144-146;
tells a story on James Whitcomb Riley, 147, 148;
places his children in school, 148, 149;
writes to Mr. Gray of his life in London, 149-153;
tells yarns to Mrs. Humphry Ward, 153-155;
publication of the limited edition of "Echoes from the Sabine
Farm," 155-157, 165, 166;
collects rarities, 158;
death of his eldest son, 159-161;
his return to Chicago, 161;
prepares other books for publication, 162, 163;
describes burial of his son, 163, 164;
ill-health, 166;
writes Christmas stories, 166-168;
becomes a bibliomaniac, 169-171;
frequents McClurg's store, 171;
originates the "Saints' and Sinners' Corner," 173-175;
his relations with William F. Poole, 175-177;
saves a cov