第1章

MARKTWAIN”SLETTERS1835[1853]-1866

ARRANGEDWITHCOMMENTBYALBERTBIGELOWPAINE

FOREWORD

Nowhereisthehumanbeingmoretrulyrevealedthaninhisletters。

Notinliteraryletters——preparedwithcare，andthethoughtofpossiblepublication——butinthoseletterswroughtoutofthepressofcircumstances，andwithnoideaofprintinmind。Acollectionofsuchdocuments，writtenbyonewhoselifehasbecomeofinteresttomankindatlarge，hasavaluequiteasidefromliterature，inthatitreflectsinsomedegreeatleastthesoulofthewriter。

ThelettersofMarkTwainarepeculiarlyoftherevealingsort。Hewasamanoffewrestraintsandofnoaffectations。Inhiscorrespondence，asinhistalk，hespokewhatwasinhismind，untrammeledbyliteraryconventions。

Necessarilysuchacollectiondoesnotconstituteadetailedlifestory，butissupplementarytoit。AnextendedbiographyofMarkTwainhasalreadybeenpublished。Hislettersareheregatheredforthosewhowishtopursuethesubjectsomewhatmoreexhaustivelyfromthestrictlypersonalside。Selectionsfromthiscorrespondencewereusedinthebiographymentioned。Mostoftheseareherereprintedinthebeliefthatanownerofthe“Letters“willwishthecollectiontobereasonablycomplete。

[EtextEditor”sNote：A。B。Paineconsidersthiscompendiumasupplementtohis“MarkTwain，ABiography“，Ihavearrangedthevolumesofthe“Letters“tocorrespondascloselyaspossiblewiththedatesoftheProjectGutenbergsixvolumesofthe“Biography“。D。W。]

MARKTWAIN”SLETTERS

MARKTWAIN——ABIOGRAPHICALSUMMARY

SAMUELLANGHORNECLEMENS，fornearlyhalfacenturyknownandcelebratedas“MarkTwain，“wasborninFlorida，Missouri，onNovember30，1835。

HewasoneoftheforemostAmericanphilosophersofhisday；hewastheworld”smostfamoushumoristofanyday。DuringthelateryearsofhislifeherankednotonlyasAmerica”schiefmanofletters，butlikewiseasherbestknownandbestlovedcitizen。

Thebeginningsofthatlifeweresufficientlyunpromising。Thefamilywasagoodone，ofoldVirginiaandKentuckystock，butitscircumstanceswerereduced，itsenvironmentmeageranddisheartening。Thefather，JohnMarshallClemens——alawyerbyprofession，amerchantbyvocation——hadbroughthishouseholdtoFloridafromJamestown，Tennessee，somewhatafterthemannerofjudgeHawkinsaspicturedinTheGildedAge。Floridawasasmalltownthen，amerevillageoftwenty-onehouseslocatedonSaltRiver，butjudgeClemens，ashewasusuallycalled，optimisticandspeculativeinhistemperament，believedinitsfuture。SaltRiverwouldbemadenavigable；Floridawouldbecomeametropolis。Heestablishedasmallbusinessthere，andlocatedhisfamilyinthehumbleframecottagewhere，fivemonthslater，wasbornababyboytowhomtheygavethenameofSamuel——afamilyname——andaddedLanghorne，afteranoldVirginiafriendofhisfather。

Thechildwaspuny，anddidnotmakeaverysturdyfightforlife。

Stillheweatheredalong，seasonafterseason，andsurvivedtwostrongerchildren，MargaretandBenjamin。By1839JudgeClemenshadlostfaithinFlorida。HeremovedhisfamilytoHannibal，andinthisMississippiRivertownthelittleladwhomtheworldwastoknowasMarkTwainspenthisearlylife。InTomSawyerwehaveapictureoftheHannibalofthosedaysandtheatmosphereofhisboyhoodthere。

Hisschoolingwasbriefandofadesultorykind。Itendedonedayin1847，whenhisfatherdiedanditbecamenecessarythateachoneshouldhelpsomewhatinthedomesticcrisis。HisbrotherOrion，tenyearshissenior，wasalreadyaprinterbytrade。Pamela，hissister；alsoconsiderablyolder，hadacquiredmusic，andnowtookafewpupils。

ThelittleboySam，attwelve，wasapprenticedtoaprinternamedAment。

Hiswagesconsistedofhisboardandclothes”moreboardthanclothes，“

asheonceremarkedtothewriter。

HeremainedwithAmentuntilhisbrotherOrionboughtoutasmallpaperinHannibalin1850。Thepaper，intime，wasmovedintoapartoftheClemenshome，andthetwobrothersranit，theyoungersettingmostofthetype。Astillyoungerbrother，Henry，enteredtheofficeasanapprentice。TheHannibaljournalwasnogreatpaperfromthebeginning，anditdidnotimprovewithtime。Still，itmanagedtosurvive——countrypapersnearlyalwaysmanagetosurvive——yearafteryear，bringinginsomesortofreturn。ItwasonthispaperthatyoungSamClemensbeganhiswritings——burlesque，asarule，oflocalcharactersandconditions——

usuallypublishedinhisbrother”sabsence；generallyresultingintroubleonhisreturn。Yettheymadethepapersell，andifOrionhadbutrealizedhisbrother”stalenthemighthaveturneditintocapitaleventhen。

In1853(hewasnotyeteighteen)SamClemensgrewtiredofhislimitationsandpinedforthewiderhorizonoftheworld。HegaveouttohisfamilythathewasgoingtoSt。Louis，buthekeptontoNewYork，whereaWorld”sFairwasthengoingon。InNewYorkhefoundemploymentathistrade，andduringthehotmonthsof1853workedinaprinting-

officeinCliffStreet。ByandbyhewenttoPhiladelphia，whereheworkedabrieftime；madeatriptoWashington，andpresentlysetoutfortheWestagain，afteranabsenceofmorethanayear。

Onion，meanwhile，hadestablishedhimselfatMuscatine，Iowa，butsoonafterremovedtoKeokuk，wherethebrotherswereoncemoretogether，tillfollowingtheirtrade。YoungSamClemensremainedinKeokukuntilthewinterof1856-57，whenhecaughtatouchoftheSouth-Americanfeverthenprevalent；anddecidedtogotoBrazil。HeleftKeokukforCincinnati，workedthatwinterinaprinting-officethere，andinApriltookthelittlesteamer，PaulJones，forNewOrleans，whereheexpectedtofindaSouth-Americanvessel。InLifeontheMississippiwehavehisstoryofhowhemetHoraceBixbyanddecidedtobecomeapilotinsteadofaSouthAmericanadventurer——jauntilysettinghimselfthestupendoustaskoflearningthetwelvehundredmilesoftheMississippiRiverbetweenSt。

LouisandNewOrleans——ofknowingitasexactlyandasunfailingly，eveninthedark，asoneknowsthewaytohisownfeatures。ItseemsincredibletothosewhoknewMarkTwaininhislateryears——dreamy，unpractical，andindifferenttodetails——thathecouldhaveacquiredsovastastoreofminutefactsaswererequiredbythattask。Yetwithineighteenmonthshehadbecomenotonlyapilot，butoneofthebestandmostcarefulpilotsontheriver，intrustedwithsomeofthelargestandmostvaluablesteamers。Hecontinuedinthatprofessionfortwoandahalfyearslonger，andduringthattimemetwithnodisasterthatcosthisownersasingledollarfordamage。

Thenthewarbrokeout。SouthCarolinasecededinDecember，1860andotherStatesfollowed。ClemenswasinNewOrleansinJanuary，1861，whenLouisianaseceded，andhisboatwasputintotheConfederateserviceandsentuptheRedRiver。Hisoccupationgone，hetooksteamerfortheNorth——thelastonebeforetheblockadeclosed。AblankcartridgewasfiredatthemfromJeffersonBarrackswhentheyreachedSt。Louis，buttheydidnotunderstandthesignal，andkepton。Presentlyashellcarriedawaypartofthepilot-houseandconsiderablydisturbeditsinmates。Theyrealized，then，thatwarhadreallybegun。

InthosedaysClemens”ssympathieswerewiththeSouth。HehurrieduptoHannibalandenlistedwithacompanyofyoungfellowswhowererecruitingwiththeavowedpurposeof“throwingofftheyokeoftheinvader。”Theywerereadyforthefield，presently，andsetoutingoodorder，asortofnondescriptcavalrydetachment，mountedonanimalsmorepicturesquethanbeautiful。Still，itwasaresoluteband，andmighthavedoneverywell，onlyitrainedagooddeal，whichmadesoldieringdisagreeableandhard。

LieutenantClemensresignedattheendoftwoweeks，anddecidedtogotoNevadawithOrion，whowasaUnionabolitionistandhadreceivedanappointmentfromLincolnasSecretaryofthenewTerritory。

In”RoughingIt”MarkTwaingivesusthestoryoftheoverlandjourneymadebythetwobrothers，andapictureofexperiencesattheotherend——trueinaspect，evenifhereandthereelaboratedindetail。HewasOrion”sprivatesecretary，buttherewasnoprivate-secretaryworktodo，andnosalaryattachedtotheposition。Theincumbentpresentlywenttomining，addingthattohisothertrades。

Hebecameaprofessionalminer，butnotarichone。HewasatAurora，California，intheEsmeraldadistrict，skimpingalong，withnotmuchtoeatandlesstowear，whenhewassummonedbyJoeGoodman，ownerandeditoroftheVirginiaCityEnterprise，tocomeupandtakethelocaleditorshipofthatpaper。Hehadbeencontributingsketchestoitnowandthen，underthepen，nameof“Josh，“andGoodman，amanoffineliteraryinstincts，recognizedatalentfullofpossibilities。Thiswasinthelatesummerof1862。Clemenswalkedonehundredandthirtymilesoververybadroadstotakethejob，andarrivedway-wornandtravel-

stained。Hebeganonasalaryoftwenty-fivedollarsaweek，pickingupnewsitemshereandthere，andcontributingoccasionalsketches，burlesques，hoaxes，andthelike。WhentheLegislatureconvenedatCarsonCityhewassentdowntoreportit，andthen，forthefirsttime，begansigninghisarticles“MarkTwain，“ariverterm，usedinmakingsoundings，recalledfromhispilotingdays。ThenamepresentlybecameknownupanddownthePacificcoast。Hisarticleswere，copiedandcommentedupon。Hewasrecognizedasoneoftheforemostamongalittlecoterieofoverlandwriters，twoofwhom，MarkTwainandBretHarte，weresoontoacquireaworld-widefame。

HeleftCarsonCityoneday，afterbecominginvolvedinaduel，theresultofaneditorialsquibwritteninGoodman”sabsence，andwentacrosstheSierrastoSanFrancisco。Theduelturnedoutfarcicallyenough，buttheNevadalaw，whichregardedevenachallengeoritsacceptanceasafelony，wasaninducementtohisdeparture。Furthermore，hehadalreadyaspiredtoawiderfieldofliteraryeffort。HeattachedhimselftotheMorningCall，andwroteoccasionallyforoneortwoliterarypapers——theGoldenEraandtheCalifornian——prosperingwellenoughduringthebetterpartoftheyear。BretHarteandtherestofthelittlePacific-slopegroupwerealsoonthestaffofthesepapers，andforatime，atleast，thenewschoolofAmericanhumormusteredinSanFrancisco。

TheconnectionwiththeCallwasnotcongenial。Induecourseitcametoanaturalend，andMarkTwainarrangedtodoadailySanFranciscoletterforhisoldpaper，theEnterprise。TheEnterpriselettersstirreduptrouble。TheycriticizedthepoliceofSanFranciscososeverelythattheofficialsfoundmeansofmakingthewriter”slifetheredifficultandcomfortless。WithJimGillis，brotherofaprinterofwhomhewasfond，andwhohadbeentheindirectcauseofhistroubles，hewentupintoCalaverasCounty，toacabinonjackassHill。JimGillis，alovable，picturesquecharacter(theTruthfulJamesofBretHarte)，ownedminingclaims。MarkTwaindecidedtospendhisvacationinpocket-mining，andsoonaddedthatsciencetohisstoreofknowledge。Itwasahalcyon，happythreemonthsthathelingeredthere，butdidnotmakehisfortune；

heonlylaidthecorner-stone。

TheytriedtheirfortuneatAngel”sCamp，aplacewellknowntoreadersofBretHarte。Butitrainedprettysteadily，andtheyputinmostoftheirtimehuddledaroundthesinglestoveofthedingyhotelofAngel”s，tellingyarns。AmongthestorieswasonetoldbyadrearynarratornamedBenCoon。Itwasaboutafrogthathadbeentrainedtojump，butfailedtowinawagerbecausetheownerofarivalfroghadsurreptitiouslyloadedhimwithshot。Thestoryhadbeencirculatedamongthecamps，butMarkTwainhadneverheardituntilthen。Thetaleandthetiresomefashionofitstellingamusedhim。Hemadenotestorememberit。

TheirstayinAngel”sCampcamepresentlytoanend。Oneday，whentheminingpartnerswerefollowingthespecksofgoldthatledtoapocketsomewhereupthehill，achill，drearyrainsetin。Jim，asusualwaswashing，andClemenswascarryingwater。The“color“becamebetterandbetterastheyascended，andGillis，possessedwiththeminingpassion，wouldhavegoneon，regardlessoftherain。Clemens，however，protested，anddeclaredthateachpailofwaterwashislast。Finallyhesaid，inhisdeliberatedrawl：

“Jim，Iwon”tcarryanymorewater。Thisworkistoodisagreeable。

Let”sgotothehouseandwaittillitclearsup。”

Gillishadjusttakenoutapanofearth。“Bringonemorepail，Sam，“hepleaded。

“Iwon”tdoit，Jim！Notadrop！NotifIknewtherewasamilliondollarsinthatpan！“

TheyleftthepanstandingthereandwentbacktoAngel”sCamp。TheraincontinuedandtheyreturnedtojackassHillwithoutvisitingtheirclaimagain。MeantimetherainhadwashedawaythetopofthepanofearthleftstandingontheslopeaboveAngel”s，andexposedahandfulofnuggets-puregold。Twostrangerscamealongand，observingit，hadsatdowntowaituntilthethirty-dayclaim-noticepostedbyJimGillisshouldexpire。Theydidnotmindtherain——notwiththatgoldinsight——

andtheminutethethirtydayswereuptheyfollowedtheleadafewpansfurther，andtookout-somesayten，somesaytwenty，thousanddollars。

Itwasagoodpocket。MarkTwainmisseditbyonepailofwater。Still，itisjustaswell，perhaps，whenoneremembersTheJumpingFrog。

MattershavingquieteddowninSanFrancisco，hereturnedandtookuphisworkagain。ArtemusWard，whomhehadmetinVirginiaCity，wrotehimforsomethingtouseinhis(Ward”s)newbook。Clemenssentthefrogstory，buthehadbeendilatoryinpreparingit，andwhenitreachedNewYork，Carleton，thepublisher，hadWard”sbookaboutreadyforthepress。

ItdidnotseemworthwhiletoCarletontoincludethefrogstory，andhandeditovertoHenryClapp，editoroftheSaturdayPress——aperishingsheet-saying：

“Here，Clapp，here”ssomethingyoucanuse。”

ThestoryappearedintheSaturdayPressofNovember18，1865。AccordingtotheaccountsofthattimeitsetallNewYorkinaroar，whichannoyed，ratherthangratified，itsauthor。Hehadthoughtverylittleofit，indeed，yethadbeenwonderingwhysomeofhismorehighlyregardedworkhadnotfoundfullerrecognition。

ButTheJumpingFrogdidnotdie。Papersprinteditandreprintedit，anditwastranslatedintoforeigntongues。Thenameof“MarkTwain“

becameknownastheauthorofthatsketch，andthetwowerepermanentlyassociatedfromthedayofitspublication。

Suchfameasitbroughtdidnotyieldheavyfinancialreturn。Itsauthorcontinuedtowinamoreorlessprecariouslivelihooddoingmiscellaneouswork，untilMarch，1866，whenhewasemployedbytheSacramentoUniontocontributeaseriesoflettersfromtheSandwichIslands。Theywerenotableletters，widelyreadandfreelycopied，andthesojourntherewasagenerallyfortunateone。Itwasduringhisstayintheislandsthatthesurvivorsofthewreckedvessel，theHornet，camein，afterlongprivationatsea。Clemenswassickatthetime，butAnsonBurlingame，whowasinHonolulu，onthewaytoChina，hadhimcarriedinacottothehospital，wherehecouldinterviewthesurvivingsailorsandtakedowntheirstory。Itprovedagreat“beat“fortheUnion，andaddedconsiderablytoitsauthor”sprestige。OnhisreturntoSanFranciscohecontributedanarticleontheHornetdisastertoHarper”sMagazine，andlookedforwardtoitspublicationasabeginningofarealcareer。But，alas！whenitappearedtheprinterandtheproof-readerhadsomehowconverted“MarkTwain“into“MarkSwain，“andhisdreamsperished。

Undecidedastohisplans，hewasonedayadvisedbyafriendtodeliveralecture。Hewasalreadyknownasanentertainingtalker，andhisadviserjudgedhispossibilitieswell。InRoughingItwefindthestoryofthatfirstlectureanditssuccess。HefolloweditwithotherlecturesupanddowntheCoast。Hehadaddedonemoreprofessiontohisintellectualstockintrade。

MarkTwain，nowprovidedwithmoney，decidedtopayavisittohispeople。HesetoutfortheEastinDecember，1866，viaPanama，arrivinginNewYorkinJanuary。Afewdayslaterhewaswithhismother，thenlivingwithhissister，inSt。Louis。AlittlelaterhelecturedinKeokuk，andinHannibal，hisoldhome。

ItwasaboutthistimethatthefirstgreatMediterraneansteamshipexcursionbegantobeexploited。Nosuchoceanpicnichadeverbeenplannedbefore，anditcreatedagooddealofinterestEastandWest。

MarkTwainheardofitandwantedtogo。Hewrotetofriendsonthe”AltaCalifornia”ofSanFrancisco，andthepublishersofthatpaperhadsufficientfaithtoadvancethemoneyforhispassage，ontheunderstandingthathewastocontributefrequentletters，attwentydollarsapiece。Itwasaliberaloffer，asrateswentinthosedays，andagodsendinthefullestsenseofthewordtoMarkTwain。

ClemensnowhurriedtoNewYorkinordertobethereingoodseasonforthesailingdate，whichwasinJune。InNewYorkhemetFrankFuller，whomhehadknownasterritorialGovernorofUtah，anenergeticandenthusiasticadmireroftheWesternhumorist。FullerimmediatelyproposedthatClemensgivealectureinordertoestablishhisreputationontheAtlanticcoast。Clemensdemurred，butFullerinsisted，andengagedCooperUnionfortheoccasion。Notmanyticketsweresold。

Fuller，however，alwaysreadyforanemergency，sentoutafloodofcomplimentariestotheschool-teachersofNewYorkandadjacentterritory，andthehousewascrammed。Itturnedouttobeanotableevent。MarkTwainwasathisbestthatnight；theaudiencelaugheduntil，assomeofthemdeclaredwhenthelecturewasover，theyweretooweaktoleavetheirseats。Hissuccessasalecturerwasassured。

TheQuakerCitywasthesteamerselectedforthegreatorientaltour。

Itsailedasadvertised，June8，1867，andwasabsentfivemonths，duringwhichMarkTwaincontributedregularlytothe”Alta-California”，andwroteseverallettersfortheNewYorkTribune。Theywerereadandcopiedeverywhere。Theypreachedanewgospelintravelliterature——

agospelofseeingwithanoverflowinghonesty；agospelofsincerityinaccordingpraisetowhateverheconsideredgenuine，andridiculetothethingsbelievedtobeshams。ItwasagospelthatMarkTwaincontinuedtopreachduringhiswholecareer。Itbecame，infact，hischiefliterarymessagetotheworld，aworldreadyforthatmessage。

Hereturnedtofindhimselffamous。Publisherswerereadywithplansforcollectingthelettersinbookform。TheAmericanPublishingCompany，ofHartford，proposedavolume，elaboratelyillustrated，tobesoldbysubscription。Heagreedwiththemastoterms，andwenttoWashington”

topreparecopy。Buthecouldnotworkquietlythere，andpresentlywasbackinSanFrancisco，puttinghisbooktogether，lecturingoccasionally，alwaystocrowdedhouses。HereturnedinAugust，1868，withthemanuscriptoftheInnocentsAbroad，andthatwinter，whilehisbookwasbeingmanufactured，lecturedthroughouttheEastandMiddleWest，makinghisheadquartersinHartford，andinElmira，NewYork。

HehadanespecialreasonforgoingtoElmira。OntheQuakerCityhehadmetayoungmanbythenameofCharlesLangdon，andoneday，intheBayofSmyrna，hadseenaminiatureoftheboy”ssister，OliviaLangdon，thenagirlofabouttwenty-two。Hefellinlovewiththatpicture，andstillmoredeeplyinlovewiththeoriginalwhenhemetherinNewYorkonhisreturn。TheLangdonhomewasinElmira，anditwasforthisreasonthatastimepassedhefrequentlysojournedthere。WhentheproofsoftheInnocentsAbroadweresenthimhetookthemalong，andheandsweet“Livy“Langdonreadthemtogether。Whathelackedinthosedaysinliterarydelicacyshedetected，andtogethertheypruneditaway。Shebecamehiseditorthatwinter——apositionwhichshehelduntilherdeath。

ThebookwaspublishedinJuly，1869，anditssuccesswasimmediateandabundant。Onhiswedding-day，February2，1870，Clemensreceivedacheckfromhispublishersformorethanfourthousanddollars，royaltyaccumulatedduringthethreemonthspreceding。Thesalessoonamountedtomorethanfiftythousandcopies，andhadincreasedtoverynearlyonehundredthousandattheendofthefirstthreeyears。Itwasabookoftravel，itslowestpricethreedollarsandfiftycents。Evenwithourincreasedreadingpopulationnosuchsaleisfoundforabookofthatdescriptionto-day。AndtheInnocentsAbroadholdsitsplace——stilloutsellseveryotherbookinitsparticularfield。[Thisin1917。D。W。]

MarkTwainnowdecidedtosettledown。HehadboughtaninterestintheExpress，ofBuffalo，NewYork，andtookuphisresidenceinthatcityinahousepresentedtotheyoungcouplebyMr。Langdon。Itdidnotproveafortunatebeginning。Sickness，death，andtroubleofmanykindsputablightonthehappinessoftheirfirstmarriedyearandgave，themadistasteforthehomeinwhichtheyhadmadesuchapromisingstart。

Ababyboy，LangdonClemens，camealonginNovember，buthewasneverastrongchild。BytheendofthefollowingyeartheClemenseshadarrangedforaresidenceinHartford，temporaryatfirst，latermadepermanent。ItwasinHartfordthatlittleLangdondied，in1872。

Clemens，meanwhile，hadsoldouthisinterestintheExpress，severedhisconnectionwiththeGalaxy，amagazineforwhichhewasdoingadepartmenteachmonth，andhadwrittenasecondbookfortheAmericanPublishingCompany，RoughingIt，publishedin1872。InAugustofthesameyearhemadeatriptoLondon，togetmaterialforabookonEngland，butwastoomuchsoughtafter，toocontinuouslyfeted，todoanywork。Hewentalone，butinNovemberreturnedwiththepurposeoftakingMrs。Clemensandthenewbaby，Susy，toEnglandthefollowingspring。

TheysailedinApril，1873，andspentagoodportionoftheyearinEnglandandScotland。TheyreturnedtoAmericainNovember，andClemenshurriedbacktoLondonalonetodeliveranotableseriesoflecturesunderthemanagementofGeorgeDolby，formerlymanagingagentforCharlesDickens。FortwomonthsMarkTwainlecturedsteadilytoLondonaudiences——thebigHanoverSquareroomsalwaysfilled。HereturnedtohisfamilyinJanuary，1874。

Meantime，ahomewasbeingbuiltfortheminHartford，andintheautumnof1874theytookupresidenceinitahappyresidence，continuedthroughseventeenyears——well-nighperfectyears。TheirsummerstheyspentinElmira，onQuarryFarm——abeautifulhilltop，thehomeofMrs。Clemens”ssister。ItwasinElmirathatmuchofMarkTwain”sliteraryworkwasdone。Hehadaspecialstudythere，somedistancefromthehouse，wherehelovedtoworkouthisfanciesandputthemintovisibleform。

ItwasnotsoeasytoworkatHartford；therewastoomuchgoingon。

TheClemenshomewasasortofgeneralheadquartersforliteraryfolk，nearandfar，andfordistinguishedforeignvisitorsofeverysort。

HowellsandAldrichuseditastheirhalf-waystationbetweenBostonandNewYork，andeveryforeignnotablewhovisitedAmericamadeapilgrimagetoHartfordtoseeMarkTwain。SomeevenwentasfarasElmira，amongthemRudyardKipling，whorecordedhisvisitinachapterofhisAmericanNotes。KiplingdeclaredhehadcomeallthewayfromIndiatoseeMarkTwain。

Hartfordhaditsownliterarygroup。Mrs。HarrietBeecherStowelivedneartheClemenshome；alsoCharlesDudleyWarner。TheClemensandWarnerfamilieswereconstantlyassociated，andTheGildedAge，publishedin1873，resultedfromthefriendshipofWarnerandMarkTwain。ThecharacterofColonelSellersinthatbookhasbecomeimmortal，anditisacharacterthatonlyMarkTwaincouldcreate，for，thoughdrawnfromhismother”scousin，JamesLampton，itembodies——andinnoveryexaggerateddegree——characteristicsthatwerehisown。Thetendencytomakemillionswasalwaysimminent；temptationwasalwayshardtoresist。Money-makingschemesarecontinuallybeingplacedbeforemenofmeansandprominence，andMarkTwain，tothedayofhisdeath，foundsuchschemesfatallyattractive。

ItwasbecauseoftheSellerscharacteristicsinhimthatheinvestedinatypesetting-machinewhichcosthimnearlytwohundredthousanddollarsandhelpedtowreckhisfortunesbyandby。Itwasbecauseofthischaracteristicthatheinvestedinnumberlessschemesoflesserimportance，butnolessdisastrousintheend。HisonesuccessfulcommercialventurewashisassociationwithCharlesL。WebsterinthepublicationoftheGrantMemoirs，ofwhichenoughcopiesweresoldtopayaroyaltyofmorethanfourhundredthousanddollarstoGrant”swidow——

thelargestroyaltyeverpaidfromanysinglepublication。ItsavedtheGrantfamilyfrompoverty。YeteventhistriumphwasamisfortunetoMarkTwain，foritledtoscoresoflessprofitablebookventuresandeventualdisaster。

Meanwhilehehadwrittenandpublishedanumberofbooks。TomSawyer，ThePrinceandthePauper，LifeontheMississippi，HuckleberryFinn，andAConnecticutYankeeinKingArthur”sCourtwereamongthevolumesthathadentertainedtheworldandinspireditwithadmirationandlovefortheirauthor。In1878-79hehadtakenhisfamilytoEurope，wheretheyspenttheirtimeintravelingovertheContinent。Itwasduringthisperiodthathewasjoinedbyhisintimatefriend，theRev。JosephH。

Twichell，ofHartford，andthetwomadeajourney，thestoryofwhichistoldinATrampAbroad。

In1891theHartfordhousewasagainclosed，thistimeindefinitely，andthefamily，nowfiveinnumber，tookupresidenceinBerlin。Thetypesetting-machineandtheunfortunatepublishingventureweredrawingheavilyonthefamilyfinancesatthisperiod，andthecostoftheHartfordestablishmentwastoogreattobemaintained。DuringthenextthreeyearshewasdistractedbythefinancialstrugglewhichendedinApril，1894，withthefailureofCharlesL。Webster&Co。MarkTwainnowfoundhimselfbankrupt，andnearlyonehundredthousanddollarsindebt。

Ithadbeenalosingfight，withthisbitterendingalwaysinview；

yetduringthisperiodofhard，hopelessefforthehadwrittenalargeportionofthebookwhichofallhisworkswillperhapssurvivethelongest——histenderandbeautifulstoryofJoanofArc。AllhislifeJoanhadbeenhisfavoritecharacterintheworld”shistory，andduringthosetryingmonthsandyearsoftheearlynineties——inBerlin，inFlorence，inParis——hewasconceivingandputtinghispictureofthatgentlegirl-warriorintoperfectliteraryform。ItwaspublishedinHarper”sMagazine——anonymously，because，ashesaid，itwouldnothavebeenreceivedseriouslyhaditappearedoverhisownname。Theauthorshipwaspresentlyrecognized。Exquisitely，reverently，asthestorywastold，ithadinitthe，touchofquaintandgentlehumorwhichcouldonlyhavebeengiventoitbyMarkTwain。

ItwasonlynowandthenthatMarkTwainlecturedduringtheseyears。

HehadmadeareadingtourwithGeorgeW。Cableduringthewinterof1884-85，butheabominatedtheplatform，andoftenvowedhewouldneverappearbeforeanaudienceagain。Yet，in1895，whenhewassixtyyearsold，hedecidedtorebuildhisfortunesbymakingareadingtouraroundtheworld。Itwasnotrequiredofhimtopayhisdebtsinfull。Thecreditorswerewillingtoacceptfiftypercent。oftheliabilities，andhadagreedtoasettlementonthatbasis。ButthisdidnotsatisfyMrs。

Clemens，anditdidnotsatisfyhim。Theydecidedtopaydollarfordollar。TheysailedforAmerica，andinJuly，1895，setoutfromElmiraonthelongtrailacrosslandandsea。Mrs。Clemens，andClaraClemens，joinedthispilgrimage，SusyandJeanClemensremainingatElmirawiththeiraunt。Lookingoutofthecarwindows，thetravelerssawSusywavingthemanadieu。Itwasapicturetheywouldlongremember。

Thereadingtourwasoneoftriumph。Highpricesandcrowdedhousesprevailedeverywhere。Theauthor-readervisitedAustralia，NewZealand，India，Ceylon，SouthAfrica，arrivinginEngland，atlast，withthemoneyandmaterialwhichwouldpayofftheheavyburdenofdebtandmakehimoncemorefreebeforetheworld。Andinthathouroftriumphcametheheavyblow。SusyClemens，neververystrong，hadbeenstruckdown。Thefirstcableannouncedherillness。ThemotherandClarasailedatonce。

Beforetheywerehalf-wayacrosstheoceanasecondcableannouncedthatSusywasdead。Thefatherhadtomeetandenduretheheartbreakalone；

hecouldnotreachAmerica，intimefortheburial。HeremainedinEngland，andwasjoinedtherebythesorrowingfamily。

TheypassedthatwinterinLondon，whereheworkedatthestoryofhistravels，FollowingtheEquator，theproofsofwhichhereadthenextsummerinSwitzerland。Thereturnsfromit，andfromhisreadingventure，wipedawayMarkTwain”sindebtednessandmadehimfree。HecouldgobacktoAmerica；ashesaid，abletolookanymaninthefaceagain。

Yethedidnotgoimmediately。Hecouldlivemoreeconomicallyabroad，andeconomywasstillnecessary。ThefamilyspenttwowintersinVienna，andtheirapartmentsthereconstitutedaveritablecourtwheretheworld”snotablesgathered。AnotherwinterinEnglandfollowed，andthen，inthelatterpartof1900，theywenthome——thatis，toAmerica。Mrs。

ClemensnevercouldbringherselftoreturntoHartford，andneversawtheirhomethereagain。

MarkTwain”sreturntoAmerica，wasinthenatureofanationalevent。

Whereverheappearedthrongsturnedouttobidhimwelcome。Mightybanquetswereplannedinhishonor。

Inahouseat14WestTenthStreet，andinabeautifulplaceatRiverdale，ontheHudson，mostofthenextthreeyearswerepassed。ThenMrs。Clemens”shealthfailed，andintheautumnof1903thefamilywenttoFlorenceforherbenefit。There，onthe5thofJune，1904，shedied。

TheybroughtherbackandlaidherbesideSusy，atElmira。Thatwinterthefamilytookupresidenceat21FifthAvenue，NewYork，andremainedthereuntilthecompletionofStormfield，atRedding，Connecticut，in1908。

InhislaterlifeMarkTwainwasaccordedhighacademichonors。Already，in1888，hehadreceivedfromYaleCollegethedegreeofMasterofArts，andthesamecollegemadehimaDoctorofLiteraturein1901。AyearlatertheuniversityofhisownState，atColumbia，Missouri，conferredthesamedegree，andthen，in1907，camethecrowninghonor，whenvenerableOxfordtenderedhimthedoctor”srobe。

“Idon”tknowwhytheyshouldgivemeadegreelikethat，“hesaid，quaintly。“Ineverdoctoredanyliterature——Iwouldn”tknowhow。”

Hehadthoughtnevertocrosstheoceanagain，buthedeclaredhewouldtraveltoMarsandback，ifnecessary，togetthatOxforddegree。

Heappreciateditsfullmeaning-recognitionbytheworld”sforemostinstitutionoflearningoftheachievementsofonewhohadnolearningoftheinstitutionarykind。HesailedinJune，andhissojourninEnglandwasmarkedbyacontinuousovation。Hishotelwasbesiegedbycallers。

Twosecretarieswerebusynearlytwentyhoursadayattendingtovisitorsandmail。Whenheappearedonthestreethisnamewentechoingineverydirectionandthemultitudesgathered。Onthedaywhenherose，inhisscarletrobeandblackmortar-board，toreceivehisdegree(hemusthavemadeasplendidpictureinthatdress，withhiscrownofsilverhair)，thevastassemblywentwild。Whatatriumph，indeed，forthelittleMissouriprinter-boy！Itwastheclimaxofagreatcareer。

MarkTwain”sworkwasalwaysofakindtomakepeopletalk，alwaysimportant，evenwhenitwasmerehumor。Yetitwasseldomthat；therewasalwayswisdomunderit，andpurpose，andthesethingsgaveitdynamicforceandenduringlife。Someofhisaphorisms——soquaintinformastoinvitelaughter——areyetfairlystartlingintheirpurport。Hisparaphrase，“Whenindoubt，tellthetruth，“isofthissort。“Franknessisajewel；onlytheyoungcanaffordit，“heoncesaidtothewriter，aproposofalittlegirl”sremark。Hisdailyspeechwasfullofsuchthings。Thesecretofhisgreatcharmwashisgreathumanityandthegentlequaintnessandsincerityofhisutterance。

Hisworkdidnotceasewhenthepressingneedofmoneycametoanend。

Hewasfullofideas，andlikelytobeginanewarticleorstoryatanytime。Hewroteandpublishedanumberofnotablesketches，articles，stories，evenbooks，duringtheselateryears，amongthemthatmarvelousshortstory”TheManThatCorruptedHadleyburg。”Inthatstory，asinmostofhislaterwork，heprovedtotheworldthathewasmuchmorethanahumorist——thathewas，infact，agreatteacher，moralist，philosopher——

thegreatest，perhaps，ofhisage。

HislifeatStormfield——hehadneverseentheplaceuntilthedayofhisarrival，June18，1908——wasapeacefulandsereneoldage。Notthathewasreallyold；heneverwasthat。Hisstep，hismanner，hispointofview，wereallandalwaysyoung。Hewasfondofchildrenandfrequentlyhadthemabouthim。Hedelightedingames——especiallyinbilliards——andinbuildingthehouseatStormfieldthebilliard-roomwasfirstconsidered。Hehadagenuinepassionforthesport；withoutithisafternoonwasnotcomplete。Hismorningshewaslikelytopassinbed，smoking——hewasalwayssmoking——andattendingtohiscorrespondenceandreading。Historyandthesciencesinterestedhim，andhisbedwasstrewnwithbiographiesandstoriesofastronomicalandgeologicalresearch。

Thevastnessofdistancesandperiodsalwaysimpressedhim。Hehadnoheadforfigures，buthewouldlaborforhoursoverscientificcalculations，tryingtocompassthemandtograsptheirgiganticimport。

Irememberoncefindinghimhighlyelatedoverthefactthathehadfiguredoutforhimselfthelengthinhoursandminutesofa“lightyear。”Heshowedmethepagescoveredwithfigures，andwasmoreproudofthemthaniftheyhadbeenthepagesofanimmortalstory。Thenweplayedbilliards，butevenhisfavoritegamecouldnotmakehimaltogetherforgethissplendidachievement。

ItwasonthedaybeforeChristmas，1909，thatheavybereavementoncemorecameintothelifeofMarkTwain。HisdaughterJean，longsubjecttoepilepticattacks，wasseizedwithaconvulsionwhileinherbathanddiedbeforeassistancereachedher。Hewasdazedbythesuddennessoftheblow。Hisphilosophysustainedhim。Hewasglad，deeplygladforthebeautifulgirlthathadbeenreleased。

“Inevergreatlyenviedanybodybutthedead，“hesaid，whenhehadlookedather。“Ialwaysenvythedead。”

Thecovetedestateofsilence，time”sonlyabsolutegift，itwastheonebenefactionhehadeverconsideredworthwhile。

YettheyearswerenotunkindlytoMarkTwain。Theybroughthimsorrow，buttheybroughthimlikewisethecapacityandopportunityforlargeenjoyment，andatthelasttheylaiduponhimakindofbenediction。

Naturallyimpatient，hegrewalwaysmoregentle，moregenerous，moretractableandconsiderateastheseasonspassed。Hisfinaldaysmaybesaidtohavebeenspentinthetranquillightofasummerafternoon。

Hisownendfollowedbyafewmonthsthatofhisdaughter。Therewerealreadyindicationsthathisheartwasseriouslyaffected，andsoonafterJean”sdeathhesoughtthewarmclimateofBermuda。Buthismaladymaderapidprogress，andinAprilhereturnedtoStormfield。Hediedtherejustaweeklater，April21，1910。

AnyattempttodesignateMarkTwain”splaceintheworld”sliteraryhistorywouldbepresumptuousnow。YetIcannothelpthinkingthathewillmaintainhissupremacyinthecenturythatproducedhim。Ithinksobecause，ofallthewritersofthathundredyears，hisworkwasthemosthumanhisutteranceswentmostsurelytothemark。Inthelonganalysisoftheagesitisthetruththatcounts，andheneverapproximated，nevercompromised，butpronouncedthoseabsoluteveritiestowhicheveryhumanbeingofwhateverrankmustinstantlyrespond。

Hisunderstandingofsubjectivehumannature——thevast，unwrittenlifewithin——wassimplyamazing。Suchknowledgeheacquiredatthefountainhead——thatis，fromhimself。Herecognizedinhimselfanextremeexampleofthehumanbeingwithalltheattributesofpowerandofweakness，andhemadehisexpositioncomplete。

TheworldwilllongmissMarkTwain；hisexampleandhisteachingwillbeneitherignorednorforgotten。Geniusdefiesthelawsofperspectiveandloomslargerasitrecedes。ThememoryofMarkTwainremainstousalivingandintimatepresencethattoday，evenmorethaninlife，constitutesastatelymoralbulwarkrearedagainsthypocrisyandsuperstition——amightynationalmenacetosham。

MARKTWAIN”SLETTERS

I

EARLYLETTERS，1853。NEWYORKANDPHILADELPHIA

WehavenorecordofMarkTwain”searliestletters。Verylikelytheyweresoiledpencilnotes，writtentosomeschoolsweetheart——

to“BeckyThatcher，“perhaps——andtossedacrossatluckymoments，orotherwise，withhappyordisastrousresults。Oneofthosesmudgy，much-foldedschoolnotesoftheTomSawyerperiodwouldbepricelessto-day，andsomewhereamongforgottenkeepsakesitmayexist，butweshallnotbelikelytofindit。Noletterofhisboyhood，noscrapofhisearlierwriting，hascometolightexcepthispenciledname，SAMCLEMENS，laboriouslyinscribedontheinsideofasmallwornpursethatonceheldhismeager，almostnon-existentwealth。Hebecameaprinter”sapprenticeattwelve，butashereceivednosalary，theneedofapursecouldnothavebeenurgent。

Hemusthavecarrieditprettysteadily，however，fromitsappearance——asakindofsymbolofhope，maybe——atokenofthatSellers-optimismwhichdominatedhisearlylife，andwasneverentirelysubdued。

NootherwritingofanykindhasbeenpreservedfromSamClemens”sboyhood，nonefromthatperiodofhisyouthwhenhehadservedhisapprenticeshipandwasacapableprinteronhisbrother”spaper，acontributortoitwhenoccasionserved。Lettersandmanuscriptsofthosedayshavevanished——evenhiscontributionsinprintedformareunobtainable。ItisnotbelievedthatasinglenumberofOrionClemens”spaper，theHannibalJournal，existsto-day。

ItwasnotuntilhewasseventeenyearsoldthatSamClemenswrotealetteranyportionofwhichhassurvived。HewasnolongerinHannibal。Orion”sunprosperousenterprisedidnotsatisfyhim。

HiswishtoearnmoneyandtoseetheworldhadcarriedhimfirsttoSt。Louis，wherehissisterPamelawasliving，thentoNewYorkCity，whereaWorld”sFairinaCrystalPalacewasinprogress。

Thelettertellsofavisittothisgreatexhibition。Itisnotcomplete，andthefragmentbearsnodate，butitwaswrittenduringthesummerof1853。

FragmentofaletterfromSamL。ClemenstohissisterPamelaMoffett，inSt。Louis，summerof1853：……Fromthegallery(secondfloor)youhaveaglorioussight——theflagsofthedifferentcountriesrepresented，theloftydome，glitteringjewelry，gaudytapestry，&c。，withthebusycrowdpassingtoandfro——tisaperfectfairypalace——beautifulbeyonddescription。

TheMachinerydepartmentisonthemainfloor，butIcannotenumerateanyofitonaccountofthelatenessofthehour(past8o”clock。)Itwouldtakemorethanaweektoexamineeverythingonexhibition；andasIwasonlyinalittleovertwohourstonight，Ionlyglancedataboutone-

thirdofthearticles；andhavingapoormemory；Ihaveenumeratedscarcelyanyofeventheprincipalobjects。ThevisitorstothePalaceaverage6，000daily——doublethepopulationofHannibal。Thepriceofadmissionbeing50cents，theytakeinabout$3，000。

TheLattingObservatory(heightabout280feet)isnearthePalace——fromityoucanobtainagrandviewofthecityandthecountryround。TheCrotonAqueduct，tosupplythecitywithwater，isthegreatestwonderyet。ImmensesewersarelaidacrossthebedoftheHudsonRiver，andpassthroughthecountrytoWestchestercounty，whereawholeriveristurnedfromitscourse，andbroughttoNewYork。FromthereservoirinthecitytotheWestchestercountyreservoir，thedistanceisthirty-

eightmiles！andifnecessary，theycouldsupplyeveryfamilyinNewYorkwithonehundredbarrelsofwaterperday！

IamverysorrytolearnthatHenryhasbeensick。Heoughttogotothecountryandtakeexercise；forheisnothalfsohealthyasMathinksheis。Ifhehadmywalkingtodo，hewouldbeanotherboyentirely。FourtimeseverydayIwalkalittleoveronemile；andworkinghardallday，andwalkingfourmiles，isexercise——Iamusedtoit，now，though，anditisnotrouble。WhereisitOrion”sgoingto？TellMamypromisesarefaithfullykept，andifIhavemyhealthIwilltakehertoKy。inthespring——Ishallsavemoneyforthis。TellJimandalltherestofthemtowrite，andgivemeallthenews。IamsorrytohearsuchbadnewsfromWillandCaptainBowen。IshallwritetoWillsoon。TheChatham-

squarePostOfficeandtheBroadwayofficetoo，areoutofmyway，andI

alwaysgototheGeneralPostOffice；soyoumustwritethedirectionofmylettersplain，“NewYorkCity，N。Y。，“withoutgivingthestreetoranythingofthekind，ortheymaygotosomeoftheotheroffices。(Ithasjuststruck2A。M。andIalwaysgetupat6，andamatworkat7。)

YouaskmewhereIspendmyevenings。Wherewouldyousuppose，withafreeprinters”librarycontainingmorethan4，000volumeswithinaquarterofamileofme，andnobodyathometotalkto？IshallwritetoEllasoon。WritesoonTrulyyourBrotherSAM。

P。S。IhavewrittenthisbyalightsodimthatyounorMacouldnotreadbyit。

Hewaslodginginamechanics”cheapboarding-houseinDuaneStreet，andwemayimaginethebarenessofhisroom，thefeeblepovertyofhislamp。

“TellMamypromisesarefaithfullykept。”ItwasthedaywhenhehadleftHannibal。Hismother，JaneClemens，aresolute，wirywomanofforty-nine，hadputtogetherhisfewbelongings。Then，holdingupalittleTestament：

“Iwantyoutotakeholdoftheendofthis，Sam，“shesaid，“andmakemeapromise。Iwantyoutorepeataftermethesewords：”IdosolemnlyswearthatIwillnotthrowacard，ordrinkadropofliquorwhileIamgone。”“

Itwasthisoath，repeatedafterher，thathewaskeepingfaithfully。TheWillBowenmentionedisaformerplaymate，oneofTomSawyer”soutlawband。Hehadgoneontherivertolearnpilotingwithanelderbrother，the“Captain。”Whatthebadnewswasisnolongerremembered，butitcouldnothavebeenveryserious，fortheBowenboysremainedontheriverformanyyears。

“Ella“wasSamuelClemens”scousinandone-timesweetheart，EllaCreel。“Jim“wasJimWolfe，anapprenticeinOrion”soffice，andtheheroofanadventurewhichlongafterMarkTwainwroteunderthetitleof，“JimWolfeandtheCats。”

ThereisscarcelyahintofthefutureMarkTwaininthisearlyletter。Itistheletterofaboyofseventeenwhoisbeginningtotakehimselfratherseriously——who，findinghimselfforthefirsttimefarfromhomeandequaltohisownresponsibilities，iswillingtocarrytheresponsibilityofothers。Henry，hisbrother，threeyearsyounger，hadbeenleftintheprinting-officewithOrion，who，afteralong，profitlessfight，isplanningtoremovefromHannibal。

Theyoungtravelerisconcernedastothefamilyoutlook，andwillfurnishadviceifinvited。Hefeelstheapproachofprosperity，andwilltakehismotheronalong-covetedtriptoheroldhomeinthespring。Hisevenings？Whereshouldhespendthem，withafreelibraryoffourthousandvolumescloseby？Itisdistinctlyayouthfulletter，abitpretentious，andwantinginthespontaneityandhumorofalatertime。Itinvitescomment，now，chieflybecauseitisthefirstsurvivingdocumentinthelonghumanstory。

Hewasworkingintheprinting-officeofJohnA。GrayandGreen，onCliffStreet，andremainedtherethroughthesummer。Hemusthavewrittenmorethanonceduringthisperiod，butthenextexistingletter——alsotoSisterPamela——waswritteninOctober。Itisperhapsashademorenaturalintonethantheearlierexample，andthereisahintofMarkTwaininthefirstparagraph。

ToMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis：

NEWYORK……，Oct。Saturday”53。

MYDEARSISTER，——Ihavenotwrittentoanyofthefamilyforsometime，fromthefact，firstly，thatIdidn”tknowwheretheywere，andsecondly，becauseIhavebeenfoolingmyselfwiththeideathatIwasgoingtoleaveNewYorkeverydayforthelasttwoweeks。Ihavetakenalikingtotheabominableplace，andeverytimeIgetreadytoleave，Iputitoffadayorso，fromsomeunaccountablecause。ItisashardonmyconsciencetoleaveNewYork，asitwaseasytoleaveHannibal。IthinkIshallgetoffTuesday，though。

EdwinForresthasbeenplaying，forthelastsixteendays，attheBroadwayTheatre，butIneverwenttoseehimtilllastnight。Theplaywasthe“Gladiator。”Ididnotlikepartsofitmuch，butotherportionswerereallysplendid。Inthelatterpartofthelastact，wherethe“Gladiator“(Forrest)diesathisbrother”sfeet，(inallthefiercepleasureofgratifiedrevenge，)theman”swholesoulseemsabsorbedinthepartheisplaying；anditisreallystartlingtoseehim。IamsorryIdidnotseehimplay“DamonandPythias“theformercharacterbeinghisgreatest。HeappearsinPhiladelphiaonMondaynight。

Ihavenotreceivedaletterfromhomelately，butgota“”Journal”“theotherday，inwhichIseetheofficehasbeensold。IsupposeMa，OrionandHenryareinSt。Louisnow。IfOrionhasnootherprojectinhishead，heoughttotakethecontractforgettingoutsomeweeklypaper，ifhecannotgetaforemanship。Now，forsuchapaperasthe“Presbyterian“

(containingabout60，000，——[Sixtythousandems，typemeasurement。])

hecouldget$20or$25perweek，andheandHenrycouldeasilydothework；nothingtodobutsetthetypeandmakeuptheforms……

Ifmylettersdonotcomeoften，youneednotbotheryourselfaboutme；

forifyouhaveabrothernearlyeighteenyearsofage，whoisnotabletotakecareofhimselfafewmilesfromhome，suchabrotherisnotworthone”sthoughts：andifIdon”tmanagetotakecareofNo。1，beassuredyouwillneverknowit。Iamnotafraid，however；Ishallaskfavorsfromnoone，andendeavortobe(andshallbe)as“independentasawood-sawyer”sclerk。”

IneversawsuchaplaceformilitarycompaniesasNewYork。Goonthestreetwhenyouwill，youaresuretomeetacompanyinfulluniform，withalltheusualappendagesofdrums，fifes，&c。Isawalargecompanyofsoldiersof1812theotherday，witha”76veteranscatteredhereandthereintheranks。AndasIpassedthroughoneoftheparkslately，Icameuponacompanyofboysonparade。Theiruniformswereneat，andtheirmusketsabouthalfthecommonsize。Someofthemwerenotmorethansevenoreightyearsofage；buthadevidentlybeenwell-drilled。

PassagetoAlbany(160miles)onthefineststeamersthatply”theHudson，isnow25cents——cheapenough，butisgenerallycheaperthanthatinthesummer。

IwantyoutowriteassoonasItellyouwheretodirectyourletter。

Iwouldletyouknownow，ifIknewmyself。Imayperhapsbehereaweeklonger；butIcannottell。Whenyouwritetellmethewhereaboutsofthefamily。MylovetoMr。MoffettandElla。TellEllaIintendtowritetohersoon，whethershewantsmetonornot。

TrulyyourBrother，SAMLL。CLEMENS。

HewasinPhiladelphiawhenhewrotethenestletterthathascomedowntous，andapparentlysatisfiedwiththechange。ItisalettertoOrionClemens，whohaddisposedofhispaper，butevidentlywasstillinHannibal。AnextendeddescriptionofatriptoFairmountParkisomittedbecauseofitslength，itschiefinterestbeingthetendencyitshowstodescriptivewriting——thefieldinwhichhewouldmakehisfirstgreatfame。Thereis，however，nohintofhumor，andonlyamildsuggestionoftheauthoroftheInnocentsAbroadinthisearlyattempt。Theletterasheregivenisotherwisecomplete，theomissionsbeingindicated。

ToOrionClemens，inHannibal：

PHILADELPHIA，PA。Oct。26，1853。

MYDEARBROTHER，——ItwasatleasttwoweeksbeforeIleftNewYork，thatIreceivedmylastletterfromhome：andsincethen，notawordhaveI

heardfromanyofyou。Andnow，sinceIthinkofit，itwasn”taletter，either，butthelastnumberofthe“DailyJournal，“sayingthatthatpaperwassold，andIverynaturallysupposedfromthat，thatthefamilyhaddisbanded，andtakenupwinterquartersinSt。Louis。Therefore，I

havebeenwritingtoPamela，tillI”vetiredofit，andhavereceivednoanswer。Ihavebeenwritingforthelasttwoorthreeweeks，tosendMasomemoney，butdeviltakemeifIknewwhereshewas，andsothemoneyhasslippedoutofmypocketsomehoworother，butIhaveadollarleft，andagooddealowingtome，whichwillbepaidnextMonday。Ishallenclosethedollarinthisletter，andyoucanhandittoher。Iknowit”sasmallamount，butthenitwillbuyherahandkerchief，andatthesametimeserveasaspecimenofthekindofstuffwearepaidwithinPhiladelphia，foryouseeit”sagainstthelaw，inPennsylvania，tokeeporpassabilloflessdenominationthan$5。IhaveonlyseentwoorthreebankbillssinceIhavebeenintheState。OnMondaythehandsarepaidoffinsparklinggold，freshfromtheMint；soyourdreamsarenottroubledwiththefearofhavingdoubtfulmoneyinyourpocket。

IamsubbingattheInquireroffice。OnemanhasengagedmetoworkforhimeverySundaytillthefirstofnextApril，(whenIshallreturnhometotakeMatoKy；)andanotherhasengagedmyservicesforthe24thofnextmonth；andifIwantit，Icangetsubbingeverynightoftheweek。

Igotoworkat7o”clockintheevening，andworktill3o”clockthenextmorning。Icangotothetheatreandstaytill12o”clockandthengototheoffice，andgetworkfromthattill3thenextmorning；whenI

gotobed，andsleeptill11o”clock，thengetupandloaftherestoftheday。Thetypeismostlyagateandminion，withsomebourgeois；andwhenonegetsagoodagatetake，——[“Agate，““minion，“etc。，sizesoftype；“take，“apieceofwork。Typemeasurementisbyems，meaningthewidthoftheletter”m”。]——heissuretomakemoney。Imade$2。50lastSunday，andwaslaughedatbyallthehands，thepoorestofwhomsets11，000onSunday；andifIdon”tset10，000，atleast，nextSunday，I”llgivethemleavetolaughasmuchastheywantto。Outofthe22

compositorsinthisoffice，12atleast，set15，000onSunday。

UnlikeNewYork，IlikethisPhiladelphiaamazingly，andthepeopleinit。Thereisonlyonethingthatgetsmy“dander“up——andthatisthehandsarealwaysencouragingme：tellingme”it”snousetogetdiscouraged——nousetobedown-hearted，forthereismoreworkherethanyoucando！““Down-hearted，“thedevil！IhavenothadaparticleofsuchafeelingsinceIleftHannibal，morethanfourmonthsago。Ifancythey”llhavetowaitsometimetilltheyseemedown-heartedorafraidofstarvingwhileIhavestrengthtoworkandaminacityof400，000

inhabitants。WhenIwasinHannibal，beforeIhadscarcelysteppedoutofthetownlimits，nothingcouldhaveconvincedmethatIwouldstarveassoonasIgotalittlewayfromhome……

ThegraveofFranklinisinChristChurch-yard，cornerofFifthandArchstreets。Theykeepthegateslocked，andonecanonlyseetheflatslabthatliesoverhisremainsandthatofhiswife；butyoucannotseetheinscriptiondistinctlyenoughtoreadit。Theinscription，Ibelieve，readsthus：

“Benjamin|

and|Franklin“

Deborah|

Icounted27cannons(6pounders)plantedintheedgeofthesidewalkinWaterSt。theotherday。Theyaredrivenintotheground，aboutafoot，withthemouthendupwards。Aballisdrivenfastintothemouthofeach，toexcludethewater；theylooklikesomanyposts。Theywereputthereduringthewar。Ihavealsoseenthemplantedinthismanner，roundtheoldchurches，inN。Y……

ThereisonefinecustomobservedinPhila。Agentlemanisalwaysexpectedtohandupalady”smoneyforher。Yesterday，Isatinthefrontendofthe”bus，directlyunderthedriver”sbox——aladysatoppositeme。Shehandedmehermoney，whichwasright。But，Lord！

aSt。Louisladywouldthinkherselfruined，ifsheshouldbesofamiliarwithastranger。InSt。Louisamanwillsitinthefrontendofthestage，andseealadystaggerfromthefarend，topayherfare。ThePhila。”busdriverscannotcheat。Inthefrontofthestageisathinglikeanofficeclock，withfiguresfrom0to40，markedonitsface。

Whenthestagestarts，thehandoftheclockisturnedtowardthe0。

Whenyougetinandpayyourfare，thedriverstrikesabell，andthehandmovestothefigure1——thatis，“onefare，andpaidfor，“andthereisyourreceipt，asgoodasifyouhaditinyourpocket。Whenapassengerpayshisfareandthedriverdoesnotstrikethebellimmediately，heisgreeted“Strikethatbell！willyou？“

Imustclosenow。IintendvisitingtheNavyYard，Mint，etc。，beforeI

writeagain。Youmustwriteoften。YouseeIhavenothingtowriteinterestingtoyou，whileyoucanwritenothingthatwillnotinterestme。Don”tsaymylettersarenotlongenough。TellJimWolfetowrite。

TellalltheboyswhereIam，andtowrite。JimRobinson，particularly。

IwrotetohimfromN。Y。TellmeallthatisgoingoninH——l。

TrulyyourbrotherSAM。

Thosewereprimitivetimes。Imagineapassengerintheseeasy-goingdayscallingtoadriverorconductorto“Strikethatbell！“

“H——l“ishisabbreviationforHannibal。Hehadfirstuseditinatitleofapoemwhichafewyearsbefore，duringoneofOrion”sabsences，hehadpublishedinthepaper。“ToMaryinHannibal“wastoolongtosetasadisplayheadinsinglecolumn。Thepoemhadnogreatmerit，butundertheabbreviatedtitleitcouldhardlyfailtoinvitenotice。Itwasoneofseveralthingshedidtolivenupthecirculationduringabriefperiodofhisauthority。

Thedoubtfulmoneyhementionswasthepaperissuedbyprivatebanks，“wildcat，“asitwascalled。HehadbeenpaidwithitinNewYork，andfounditusuallyatadiscount——sometimesevenworthless。WagesandmoneywerebothbetterinPhiladelphia，butthefundforhismother”striptoKentuckyapparentlydidnotgrowveryrapidly。

Thenextletter，writtenamonthlater，isalsotoOrionClemens，whohadnowmovedtoMuscatine，Iowa，andestablishedthereanewpaperwithanoldtitle，”TheJournal”。

ToOrionClemens，inMuscatine，Iowa：

PHILADELPHIA，Nov。28th，1853。

MYDEARBROTHER，-Ireceivedyourlettertoday。IthinkMaoughttospendthewinterinSt。Louis。Idon”tbelieveinthatclimate——it”stoocoldforher。

Theprinters”annualballandsuppercameofftheothernight。Theproceedsamountedtoabout$1，000。Theprinters，aswellasotherpeople，areendeavoringtoraisemoneytoerectamonumenttoFranklin，buttherearesomanyabominableforeignershere(andamongprinters，too，)whohateeverythingAmerican，thatIamverycertainasmuchmoneyforsuchapurposecouldberaisedinSt。Louis，asinPhiladelphia。

IwasinFranklin”soldofficethismorning——the“NorthAmerican“

(formerly“PhiladelphiaGazette“)andtherewasatleastoneforeignerforeveryAmericanatworkthere。

HowmanysubscribershastheJournalgot？Whatdoesthejob-workpay？

andwhatdoesthewholeconcernpay？……

Iwilltrytowriteforthepaperoccasionally，butIfearmyletterswillbeveryuninteresting，forthisincessantnight-workdullsone”sideasamazingly。

Fromsomecause，IcannotsettypenearlysofastaswhenIwasathome。

Sundayisalongday，andwhileothersset12and15，000，yesterday，I

onlyset10，000。However，Iwillshakethislazinessoff，soon，Ireckon……

Howdoyoulike“free-soil？“——Iwouldlikeamazinglytoseeagoodold-

fashionednegro。

MylovetoallTrulyyourbrotherSAM。

Wemaybelievethatitneveroccurredtotheyoungprinter，lookinguplandmarksofBenFranklin，thattimewouldshowpointsofresemblancebetweenthegreatFranklin”scareerandhisown。Yettheseseemnowratherstriking。LikeFranklin，hehadbeentakenoutofschoolveryyoungandputattheprinter”strade；likeFranklin，hehadworkedinhisbrother”soffice，andhadwrittenforthepaper。Likehim，too，hehadleftquietlyforNewYorkandPhiladelphiatoworkatthetradeofprinting，andintimeSamuelClemens，likeBenjaminFranklin，wouldbecomeaworld-figure，many-

sided，human，andofincrediblepopularity。TheboySamClemensmayhavehadsuchdreams，butwefindnotraceofthem。

Thereisbutonemoreletterofthisearlyperiod。YoungClemensspentsometimeinWashington，butifhewrotefromtherehislettershavedisappeared。ThelastletterisfromPhiladelphiaandseemstoreflecthomesickness。Thenoveltyofabsenceandtravelwaswearingthin。

ToMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis：

PHILADELPHIA，Dec。5，”53。

MYDEARSISTER，——Ihavealreadywrittentwoletterswithinthelasttwohours，andyouwillexcusemeifthisisnotlengthy。IfIhadthemoney，IwouldcometoSt。Louisnow，whiletheriverisopen；butwithinthelasttwoorthreeweeksIhavespentaboutthirtydollarsforclothing，soIsupposeIshallremainwhereIam。Ionlywanttoreturntoavoidnight-work，whichisinjuringmyeyes。Ihavereceivedoneortwolettersfromhome，buttheyarenotwrittenastheyshouldbe，andI

knownomoreaboutwhatisgoingontherethanthemaninthemoon。Oneonlyhastoleavehometolearnhowtowriteaninterestinglettertoanabsentfriendwhenhegetsback。IsupposeyouboardatMrs。Hunter”syet——andthat，Ithink，issomewhereinOlivestreetaboveFifth。

PhiladelphiaisoneofthehealthiestplacesintheUnion。Iwantedtospendthiswinterinawarmclimate，butitistoolatenow。Idon”tlikeourpresentprospectforcoldweatheratall。

TrulyyourbrotherSAM。

ButhedidnotreturntotheWestforanotherhalfyear。Thelettershewroteduringthatperiodhavenotsurvived。Itwaslateinthesummerof1854whenhefinallystartedforSt。Louis。Hesatupforthreedaysandnightsinasmoking-cartomakethejourney，andarrivedexhausted。TheriverpacketwasleavinginafewhoursforMuscatine，Iowa，wherehismotherandhistwobrotherswerenowlocated。Hepaidhissisterabriefvisit，andcaughttheboat。

Worn-out，hedroppedintohisberthandsleptthethirty-sixhoursofthejourney。

Itwasearlywhen-hearrived——tooearlytoarousethefamily。Intheofficeofthelittlehotelwherehewaitedfordaylighthefoundasmallbook。ItcontainedportraitsoftheEnglishrulers，withthebrieffactsoftheirreigns。YoungClemensentertainedhimselfbylearningthisinformationbyheart。Hehadafinememoryforsuchthings，andinanhourortwohadtheprinteddataperfectlyandpermanentlycommitted。Thisincidentallyacquiredknowledgeprovedofimmensevaluetohim。ItwashisgroundworkforallEnglishhistory。

II

LETTERS1856-61。KEOKUK，ANDTHERIVER。ENDOFPILOTING

Therecomesaperiodnowofnearlyfouryears，whenSamuelClemenswaseitherapoorcorrespondentorhislettershavenotbeenpreserved。Onlytwofromthistimehavesurvived——happilyofintimatebiographicalimportance。

YoungClemenshadnotremainedinMuscatine。Hisbrotherhadnoinducementstooffer，andhepresentlyreturnedtoSt。Louis，whereheworkedasacompositorontheEveningNewsuntilthefollowingspring，roomingwithayoungmannamedBurrough，ajourneymanchair-

makerwithatastefortheEnglishclassics。OrionClemens，meantime，onatriptoKeokuk，hadcasuallymarriedthere，andalittlelaterremovedhisofficetothatcity。Hedidnotmovethepaper；perhapsitdidnotseemworthwhile，andinKeokukheconfinedhimselftocommercialprinting。TheBenFranklinBookandJobOfficestartedwithfairprospects。HenryClemensandaboynamedDickHinghamweretheassistants，andsomewhatlater，whenbrotherSamcameupfromSt。Louisonavisit，anofferoffivedollarsaweekandboardinducedhimtoremain。Later，whenitbecameincreasinglydifficulttopaythefivedollars，Oriontookhisbrotherintopartnership，whichperhapsrelievedthefinancialstress，thoughtheofficemethodswouldseemtohaveleftsomethingtobedesired。Itisaboutatthispointthatthefirstofthetwolettersmentionedwaswritten。Thewriteraddressedittohismotherandsister——JaneClemenshavingbythistimetakenupherhomewithherdaughter，Mrs。Moffett。

ToMrs。ClemensandMrs。Moffett，inSt。Louis：

KEOKUK，Iowa，June10th，1856。

MYDEARMOTHER&SISTER，——Ihavenothingtowrite。Everythingisgoingonwell。TheDirectoryiscomingonfinely。Ihavetoworkonitoccasionally，whichIdon”tlikeaparticleIdon”tliketoworkattoomanythingsatonce。TheytakeHenryandDickawayfrommetoo。BeforewecommencedtheDirectory，Icouldtellbeforebreakfastjusthowmuchworkcouldbedoneduringtheday，andmanageaccordingly——butnow，theythrowallmyplansintodisorderbytakingmyhandsawayfromtheirwork。

Ihavenothingtodowiththebook——ifIdidIwouldhavethetwobookhandsdomoreworkthantheydo，orelseIwoulddropit。Itisnotameresuppositionthattheydonotworkfastenough——Iknowit；foryesterdaythetwobookhandswereatworkallday，HenryandDickalltheafternoon，ontheadvertisements，andtheysetupfivepagesandahalf-

andIsetuptwopagesandaquarterofthesamematteraftersupper，nightbeforelast，andIdon”tworkfastonsuchthings。Theyareeitherexcessivelyslowmotionedorverylazy。Iamnotgettingalongwellwiththejobwork。Ican”tworkblindly——withoutsystem。IgaveDickajobyesterday，whichIcalculatedhewouldsetintwohoursandIcouldworkoffinthree，andthereforejustfinishitbysuppertime，buthewastransferredtotheDirectory，andthejob，promisedthismorning，remainsuntouched。Throughallthegreatpressureofjobworklately，Ineverbeforefailedinapromiseofthekind。

YourSonSAM

Excusebrevitythisismy3rdletterto-night。

SamuelClemenswasnevercelebratedforhispatience；wemayimaginethatthedisorderoftheofficetriedhisnerves。Heseems，onthewhole，however，tohavebeenratherhappyinKeokuk。Therewereplentyofyoungpeoplethere，andhewasafavoriteamongthem。Buthehadgrowndissatisfied，andwhenonedaysomeweekslatertherefellintoHishandsanaccountoftherichesofthenewlyexploredregionsoftheupperAmazon，hepromptlydecidedtofindhisfortuneattheheadwatersofthegreatSouth-Americanriver。Thesecondletterreportsthismomentousdecision。ItwaswrittentoHenryClemens，whowastemporarilyabsent-probablyinHannibal。

ToHenryClemens：

KEOKUK，August5th，”56。

MYDEARBROTHER，……WardandIheldalongconsultation，Sundaymorning，andtheresultwasthatwetwohavedeterminedtostarttoBrazil，ifpossible，insixweeksfromnow，inordertolookcarefullyintomattersthereandreporttoDr。MartinintimeforhimtofollowonthefirstofMarch。WeproposegoingviaNewYork。Now，betweenyouandIandthefenceyoumustsaynothingaboutthistoOrion，forhethinksthatWardistogoclearthroughalone，andthatIamtostopatNewYorkorNewOrleansuntilhereports。Butthatdon”tsuitme。Myconfidenceinhumannaturedoesnotextendquitethatfar。Iwon”tdependuponWard”sjudgment，oranybody”selse——Iwanttoseewithmyowneyes，andformmyownopinion。ButyouknowwhatOrionis。Whenhegetsanotionintohishead，andmoreespeciallyifitisanerroneousone，theDevilcan”tgetitoutagain。SoIknowbetterthantocombathisargumentslong，butapparentlyyielded，inwardlydeterminedtogoclearthrough。

Maknowsmydetermination，butevenshecounselsmetokeepitfromOrion。ShesaysIcantreathimasIdidherwhenIstartedtoSt。LouisandwenttoNewYork——IcanstarttoNewYorkandgotoSouthAmerica！

AlthoughOriontalksgrandlyaboutfurnishingmewithfiftyorahundreddollarsinsixweeks，Icouldnotdependuponhimfortendollars，soI

have“feelers“outinseveraldirections，andhavealreadyaskedforahundreddollarsfromonesource(keepittoyourself。)Iwilllayonmyoarsforawhile，andseehowthewindsets，whenImayprobablytrytogetmore。Mrs。Creelisagreatfriendofmine，andhassomeinfluencewithMaandOrion，thoughIreckontheywouldnotacknowledgeit。Iamgoinguptheretomorrow，topressherintomyservice。IshalltakecarethatMaandOrionareplentifullysuppliedwithSouthAmericanbooks。

TheyhaveHerndon”sReportnow。WardandtheDr。andmyselfwillholdagrandconsultationtonightattheoffice。Wehaveagreedthatnomoreshallbeadmittedintoourcompany。

IbelievetheGuardswentdowntoQuincytodaytoescortourfirstlocomotivehome。

Writesoon。

YourBrother，SAM。

ReadersfamiliarwiththelifeofMarkTwainknowthatnoneofthewould-beadventurersfoundtheirwaytotheAmazon：Histwoassociatesgaveuptheplan，probablyforlackofmeans。YoungClemenshimselffoundafifty-dollarbillonebleakNovemberdayblowingalongthestreetsofKeokuk，andafterdulyadvertisinghisfindwithoutresult，setoutfortheAmazon，bywayofCincinnatiandNewOrleans。

“IadvertisedthefindandleftfortheAmazonthesameday，“heoncedeclared，astatementwhichwemaytakewithaliterarydiscount。

HeremainedinCincinnatithatwinter(1856-57)workingathistrade。Nolettershavebeenpreservedfromthattime，excepttwothatweresenttoaKeokukweekly，theSaturdayPost，andasthesewerewrittenforpublication，andareratherapoorattemptatburlesquehumor——theirchieffeaturebeingapretendedilliteracy——

theywouldseemtobearnorelationtothiscollection。Heroomedthatwinterwitharugged，self-educatedScotchman——amechanic，butamanofbooksandphilosophies，wholeftanimpressonMarkTwain”smentallife。

InAprilhetookuponcemorethejourneytowardSouthAmerica，butpresentlyforgottheAmazonaltogetherinthenewcareerthatopenedtohim。AllthroughhisboyhoodandyouthSamuelClemenshadwantedtobeapilot。Nowcamethelong-deferredopportunity。OnthelittleCincinnatisteamer，thePaulJones，therewasapilotnamedHoraceBixby。YoungClemensidlinginthepilot-housewasonemorningseizedwiththeoldambition，andlaidsiegetoBixbytoteachhimtheriver。ThetermsfinallyagreeduponspecifiedafeetoBixbyoffivehundreddollars，onehundreddown，thebalancewhenthepupilhadcompletedthecourseandwasearningmoney。Butallthishasbeentoldinfullelsewhere，andisonlysummarizedherebecausethelettersfailtocompletethestory。

BixbysoonmadesometripsuptheMissouriRiver，andinhisabsenceturnedhisapprentice，or“cub，“overtootherpilots，suchbeingtherivercustom。YoungClemens，inlovewiththelife，andafavoritewithhissuperiors，hadahappytimeuntilhecameunderapilotnamedBrown。Brownwasilliterateandtyrannical，andfromthebeginningoftheirassociationpilotandapprenticedislikedeachothercordially。

Itisatthispointthatthelettersbeginoncemore——thefirsthavingbeenwrittenwhenyoungClemens，nowtwenty-twoyearsold，hadbeenontherivernearlyayear。LifewithBrown，ofcourse，wasnotallsorrow，andinthisletterwefindsomeofthefiercejoyofadventurewhichinthosedaysSamuelClemensloved。

ToOnionClemensandWife，inKeokuk，Iowa：

SAINTLOUIS，March9th，1858。

DEARBROTHERANDSISTER，——Imusttakeadvantageoftheopportunitynowpresentedtowriteyou，butIshallnecessarilybedull，asIfeeluncommonlystupid。Wehavehadahardtripthistime。LeftSaintLouisthreeweeksagoonthePennsylvania。Theweatherwasverycold，andtheicerunningdensely。Wegot15milesbelowtown，landedtheboat，andthenonepilot。SecondMateandfourdeckhandstookthesoundingboatandshovedoutintheicetohuntthechannel。Theyfailedtofindit，andtheicedriftedthemashore。Thepilotleftthemenwiththeboatandwalkedbacktous，amileandahalf。Thentheotherpilotandmyself，withalargercrewofmenstartedoutandmetwiththesamefate。

Wedriftedashorejustbelowtheotherboat。Thenthefuncommenced。Wemadefastaline20fathomslong，tothebowoftheyawl，andputthemen(bothcrews)toitlikehorses，ontheshore。Brown，thepilot，stoodinthebow，withanoar，tokeepherheadout，andItookthetiller。Wewouldstartthemen，andallwouldgowelltilltheyawlwouldbringuponaheavycakeofice，andthenthemenwoulddroplikesomanyten-

pins，whileBrownassumedthehorizontalinthebottomoftheboat。

Afteranhour”shardworkwegotback，withicehalfaninchthickontheoars。Sentbackandwarpeduptheotheryawl，andthenGeorge(thefirstmentionedpilot，)andmyself，tookadoublecrewoffreshmenandtrieditagain。Thistimewefoundthechannelinlessthanhalfanhour，andlandedonanislandtillthePennsylvaniacamealongandtookusoff。

Thenextdaywascolderstill。Iwasoutintheyawltwice，andthenwegotthrough，buttheinfernalsteamboatcamenearrunningoverus。Wewenttenmilesfurther，landed，andGeorgeandIclearedoutagain——foundthechannelfirsttrial，butgotcaughtinthegorgeanddriftedhelplesslydowntheriver。TheOceanSpraycamealongandstartedintotheiceafterus，butalthoughshedidn”tsucceedinherkindintentionoftakingusaboard，herwaveswashedusout，andthatwasallwewanted。

Welandedonanisland，builtabigfireandwaitedfortheboat。Shestarted，andranaground！Itcommencedrainingandsleeting，andaveryinterestingtimewehadonthatbarrensandbarforthenextfourhours，whentheboatgotoffandtookusaboard。Thenextdaywasterriblycold。WesoundedHatIsland，warpeduparoundabarandsoundedagain——

butinordertounderstandoursituationyouwillhavetoreadDr。Kane。

Itwouldhavebeenimpossibletogetbacktotheboat。ButtheMariaDenningwasagroundattheheadoftheisland——theyhailedus——weranalongsideandtheyhoistedusinandthawedusout。Wehadthenbeenoutintheyawlfrom4o”clockinthemorningtillhalfpast9withoutbeingnearafire。Therewasathickcoatingoficeovermen，yawl，ropesandeverythingelse，andwelookedlikerock-candystatuary。WegottoSaintLouisthismorning，afteranabsenceof3weeks——thatboatgenerallymakesthetripin2。

Henrywasdoinglittleornothinghere，andIsenthimtoourclerktoworkhiswayforatrip，bymeasuringwoodpiles，countingcoalboxes，andotherclerklyduties，whichheperformedsatisfactorily。Hemaygodownwithusagain，forIexpecthelikesourbilloffarebetterthanthatofhisboardinghouse。

IgotyourletteratMemphisasIwentdown。Thatisthebestplacetowritemeat。Thepostofficehereisalwaysoutofmyroute，somehoworother。Rememberthedirection：“S。L。C。，SteamerPennsylvaniaCareDuval&Algeo，Wharfboat，Memphis。”Icannotcorrespondwithapaper，becausewhenoneislearningtheriver，heisnotallowedtodoorthinkaboutanythingelse。

Iamgladtoseeyouinsuchhighspiritsabouttheland，andIhopeyouwillremainso，ifyounevergetricher。Iseldomventuretothinkaboutourlandedwealth，for“hopedeferredmakeththeheartsick。”

Ididintendtoansweryourletter，butIamtoolazyandtoosleepynow。

Wehavehadaroughtimeduringthelast24hoursworkingthroughtheicebetweenCairoandSaintLouis，andIhavehadbutlittlerest。

Igotheretoolatetoseethefuneralofthe10victimsbytheburningofthePacifichotelin7thstreet。Masaystherewere10hearses，withthefirecompanies(theirenginesinmourning——firemeninuniform，)thevariousbenevolentsocietiesinuniformandmourning，andamultitudeofcitizensandstrangers，forming，altogether，aprocessionof30，000

persons！Onesteamfireenginewasdrawnbyfourwhitehorses，withcrapefestoonsontheirheads。

WellIam——just——about——asleep——

YourbrotherSAM。

Amongotherthings，wegatherfromthisletterthatOrionClemenshadfaithinhisbrotherasanewspapercorrespondent，thoughthetwocontributionsfromCincinnati，alreadymentioned，werenotpromising。Furthermore，wegetanintimationofOrion”sunfailingconfidenceinthefutureofthe“land“——thatistosay，thegreattractoflandinEasternTennesseewhich，inanearlierday，hisfatherhadboughtasaheritageforhischildren。ItisthesameTennesseelandthathad“millionsinit“forColonelSellers——thelandthatwouldbecome，asOrionClemenslongafterwardphrasedit，“theworryofthreegenerations。”

TheDoctorKaneofthisletteris，ofcourse，Dr。ElishaKentKane，theAmericanArcticexplorer。AnybookofexplorationalwaysappealedtoMarkTwain，andinthosedaysKanewasafavorite。

TheparagraphconcerningHenry，andhisemploymentonthePennsylvania，beginsthestoryofatragedy。Thestoryhasbeenfullytoldelsewhere，——[MarkTwain：ABiography，bysameauthor。]——

andneedonlybesketchedbrieflyhere。Henry，agentle，faithfulboy，sharedwithhisbrothertheenmityofthepilotBrown。Sometwomonthsfollowingthedateoftheforegoingletter，onadowntripofthePennsylvania，anunprovokedattackmadebyBrownupontheboybroughthisbrotherSamtotherescue。Brownreceivedagoodpummelingatthehandsofthefuturehumorist，who，thoughupheldbythecaptain，decidedtoquitthePennsylvaniaatNewOrleansandtocomeuptheriverbyanotherboat。TheBrownepisodehasnospecialbearingonthemaintragedy，thoughnowinretrospectitseemscloselyrelatedtoit。SamuelClemens，cominguptheriverontheA。T。Lacey，twodaysbehindthePennsylvania，heardavoiceshoutastheyapproachedtheGreenville，Mississippi，landing：

“ThePennsylvaniaisblownupjustbelowMemphis，atShipIsland！

Onehundredandfiftyliveslost！“

Itwasatruereport。Atsixo”clockofawarm，mid-Junemorning，whileloadingwood，sixtymilesbelowMemphis，thePennsylvania”sboilershadexplodedwithfearfulresults。HenryClemenswasamongtheinjured。HewasstillalivewhenhisbrotherreachedMemphisontheLacey，butdiedafewdayslater。SamuelClemenshadidolizedtheboy，andregardedhimselfresponsibleforhisdeath。Theletterthatfollowsshowsthathewasoverwroughtbythescenesabouthimandthestrainofwatching，yettheanguishofitisnonethelessreal。

ToMrs。OnionClemens：

MEMPHIS，TENN。，Friday，June18th，1858。

DEARSISTERMOLLIE，——Longbeforethisreachesyou，mypoorHenrymydarling，mypride，myglory，myall，willhavefinishedhisblamelesscareer，andthelightofmylifewillhavegoneoutinutterdarkness。

(O，God！thisishardtobear。Hardened，hopeless，——aye，lost——lost——

lostandruinedsinnerasIam——I，evenI，havehumbledmyselftothegroundandprayedasnevermanprayedbefore，thatthegreatGodmightletthiscuppassfromme——thathewouldstrikemetotheearth，butsparemybrother——thathewouldpouroutthefulnessofhisjustwrathuponmywickedhead，buthavemercy，mercy，mercyuponthatunoffendingboy。Thehorrorsofthreedayshavesweptoverme——theyhaveblastedmyyouthandleftmeanoldmanbeforemytime。Mollie，therearegrayhairsinmyheadtonight。Forforty-eighthoursIlaboredatthebedsideofmypoorburnedandbruised，butuncomplainingbrother，andthenthestarofmyhopewentoutandleftmeinthegloomofdespair。Mentakemebythehandandcongratulateme，andcallme“lucky“becauseIwasnotonthePennsylvaniawhensheblewup！MayGodforgivethem，fortheyknownotwhattheysay。

MollieyoudonotunderstandwhyIwasnotonthatboat——Iwilltellyou。

IleftSaintLouisonher，butonthewaydown，Mr。Brown，thepilotthatwaskilledbytheexplosion(poorfellow，)quarreledwithHenrywithoutcause，whileIwassteering。Henrystartedoutofthepilot-house——Brownjumpedupandcollaredhim——turnedhimhalfwayaroundandstruckhimintheface！——andhimnearlysixfeethigh——struckmylittlebrother。Iwaswildfromthatmoment。Ilefttheboattosteerherself，andavengedtheinsult——andtheCaptainsaidIwasright——thathewoulddischargeBrowninN。Orleansifhecouldgetanotherpilot，andwoulddoitinSt。

Louis，anyhow。OfcoursebothofuscouldnotreturntoSt。Louisonthesameboat——nopilotcouldbefound，andtheCaptainsentmetotheA。T。

Lacey，withorderstoherCaptaintobringmetoSaintLouis。Hadanotherpilotbeenfound，poorBrownwouldhavebeenthe“lucky“man。