It was during these days that he wrote his first story for a magazine, and the following letter shows that it was something of a milestone in his career.
PHILADELPHIA.
August, 1888.
DEAR FAMILY: The St.Nicholas people sent me a check for $50 for the "pirate" story.
It would be insupportable affectation to say that I was not delighted.
Jennings Crute and I were waiting for breakfast when I found the letter.

I opened it very slowly, for I feared they would bluff me with some letter about illustrations or revision, or offering me a reduced subscription to the magazine.

There was a letter inside and a check.
I read the letter before I looked at the check, which I supposed would be for $30, as the other story was valued at $20.

The note said that a perfect gentleman named Chichester would be pleased if I would find enclosed a check for $50.

I looked at Jenny helplessly, and said, "It's for fifty, Jenny." Crute had an insane look in his eyes as he murmured "half a hundred dollars, and on your day off, too." Then I sat down suddenly and wondered what I would buy first, and Crute sat in a dazed condition, and abstractedly took a handful of segars out of the box dear old Dad gave me.