"Icommandthepeace！"heshoutedagain，stilllouder，butwithnoresult。

Astone—cutter’smalletlaythere，handy。JudgeClemensseizeditand，leaningoverthecombatants，gavetheupperone，MacDonald，asmartblowonthehead。

"Icommandthepeace！"hesaid，forthethirdtime，andstruckaconsiderablysmarterblow。

Thatsettledit。ThesecondblowwasofthesortthatmadeMacDonaldrollover，andpeaceensued。JudgeClemenshaledbothmenintohiscourt，finedthem，andcollectedhisfee。Suchenterpriseinthecauseofjusticedeservedpromptreward。

XI

DAYSOFEDUCATION

TheClemensfamilyhadmadeoneortwomovessinceitsarrivalinHannibal，buttheidentityofthesetemporaryresidencesandtheperiodofoccupationofeachcannolongerbeestablished。MarkTwainoncesaid：

"In1843myfathercaughtmeinalie。Itisnotthisfactthatgivesmethedate，butthehousewelivedin。Wewerethereonlyayear。"

Wemaybelieveitwastheactiveresultofthatliethatfixedhismemoryoftheplace，forhisfatherseldompunishedhim。Whenhedid，itwasathoroughandsatisfactoryperformance。

Itwasabouttheperiodofmovingintothenewhouse(1844)thattheTomSawyerdays——thatistosay，theboyhoodofSamuelClemens——maybesaidtohavebegun。UptothattimehewasjustLittleSam，achild——wild，andmischievous，oftenexasperating，butstillachild——adelicatelittleladtobeworriedover，mothered，orspankedandputtobed。Now，atnine，hehadacquiredhealth，withasturdyabilitytolookoutforhimself，asboyswill，inacommunitylikethat，especiallywherethefamilyisratherlargerthantheincomeandthereisstillayoungerchildtoclaimamother’sprotectingcare。So"Sam，"astheynowcalledhim，"grewup"atnine，andwasfullofknowledgeforhisyears。Notthathewasoldinspiritormanner——hewasneverthat，eventohisdeath——buthehadlearnedagreatnumberofthings，mostlyofakindnotacquiredatschool。

Theywerenotalwaysofapleasantkind；theywerelikelytobeofakindstartlingtoaboy，eventerrifying。OnceLittleSam——hewasstillLittleSam，then——sawanoldmanshotdownonthemainstreet，atnoonday。Hesawthemcarryhimhome，layhimonthebed，andspreadonhisbreastanopenfamilyBiblewhichlookedasheavyasananvil。Hethough，ifhecouldonlydragthatgreatburdenaway，thepoor，olddyingmanwouldnotbreathesoheavily。Hesawayoungemigrantstabbedwithabowie—knifebyadrunkencomrade，andnotedthespurtoflife—bloodthatfollowed；hesawtwoyoungmentrytokilltheiruncle，oneholdinghimwhiletheothersnappedrepeatedlyanAllenrevolverwhichfailedtogooff。Thentherewasthedrunkenrowdywhoproposedtoraidthe"Welshman’s"houseonedarkthreateningnight——hesawthat，too。Awidowandheronedaughterlivedthere，andtheruffianwokethewholevillagewithhiscoarsechallengesandobscenities。SamClemensandabooncompanion，JohnBriggs，wentuptheretolookandlisten。Themanwasatthegate，andthewarrenwereinvisibleintheshadowofthedarkporch。

Theboysheardtheelderwoman’svoicewarningthemanthatshehadaloadedgun，andthatshewouldkillhimifhestayedwherehewas。Herepliedwitharibaldtirade，andshewarnedthatshewouldcountten—

thatifheremainedasecondlongershewouldfire。Shebeganslowlyandcounteduptofive，withhimlaughingandjeering。Atsixhegrewsilent，buthedidnotgo。Shecountedon：seven——eight——nine——Theboyswatchingfromthedarkroadsidefelttheirheartsstop。Therewasalongpause，thenthefinalcount，followedasecondlaterbyagushofflame。

Themandropped，hisbreastriddled。Atthesameinstantthethunderstormthathadbeengatheringbrokeloose。Theboysfledwildly，believingthatSatanhimselfhadarrivedtoclaimthelostsoul。

Manysuchinstanceshappenedinatownlikethatinthosedays。Andtherewereeventsincidenttoslavery。Hesawaslavestruckdownandkilledwithapieceofslagforatriflingoffense。Hesawanabolitionistattackedbyamob，andtheywouldhavelynchedhimhadnotaMethodistministerdefendedhimonapleathathemustbecrazy。Hedidnotremember，inlateryears，thathehadeverseenaslaveauction，butheadded：

"Iamsuspiciousthatitisbecausethethingwasacommonplacespectacle，andnotanuncommonorimpressiveone。Idovividlyrememberseeingadozenblackmenandwomenchainedtogetherlyinginagrouponthepavement，waitingshipmenttoaSouthernslave—market。TheyhadthesaddestfacesIeversaw。"

Itisnotsurprisingthataboywouldgatherastoreofhumanknowledgeamidsuchhappeningsasthese。Theywerewild，disturbingthings。Theygotintohisdreamsandmadehimfearfulwhenhewokeinthemiddleofthenight。Hedidnotthenregardthemasaneducation。Insomevaguewayhesetthemdownaswarnings，orpunishments，designedtogivehimatasteforabetterlife。Hefeltthatitwashisownconsciencethatmadethesethingstorturehim。Thatwashismother’sidea，andhehadahighrespectforhermoralopinions，alsoforhercourage。Amongotherthings，hehadseenheronedaydefyaviciousdevilofaCorsican——acommonterrorinthetown—whowaschasinghisgrowndaughterwithaheavyropeinhishand，declaringhewouldwearitoutonher。Cautiouscitizensgotoutofherway，butJaneClemensopenedherdoorwidetotherefugee，andthen，insteadofrushinginandclosingit，spreadherarmsacrossit，barringtheway。Themansworeandthreatenedherwiththerope，butshedidnotflinchorshowanysignoffear。Shestoodthereandshamedhimandderidedhimanddefiedhimuntilhegaveuptheropeandslunkoff，crestfallenandconquered。Anyonewhocoulddothatmusthaveaperfectconscience，Samthought。Inthefearsomedarknesshewouldsayhisprayers，especiallywhenathunderstormwascoming，andvowtobeginabetterlifeinthemorning。HedetestedSunday—schoolasmuchasday—school，andonceOrion，whowasmoralandreligious，hadthreatenedtodraghimtherebythecollar；butasthethundergotlouderSamdecidedthathelovedSunday—schoolandwouldgothenextSundaywithoutbeinginvited。

Fortunatelytherewerepleasanterthingsthanthese。Therewerepicnicssometimes，andferry—boatexcursions。OncetherewasagreatFourth—of—

JulycelebrationatwhichitwassaidarealRevolutionarysoldierwastobepresent。Someonehaddiscoveredhimlivingalonesevenoreightmilesinthecountry。Butthisfeatureprovedadisappointment；forwhenthedaycameandhewastriumphantlybroughtinheturnedouttobeaHessian，andwasallowedtowalkhome。

ThehillsandwoodsaroundHannibalwhere，withhisplaymates，heroamedalmostatwillwereneverdisappointing。Therewasthecavewithitsmarvels；therewasBearCreek，where，afterrepeatedaccidents，hehadlearnedtoswim。Ithadcosthimheavilytolearntoswim。Hehadseentwoplaymatesdrown；also，timeandagainhehad，himself，beendraggedashoremoredeadthanalive，oncebyaslave—girl，anothertimebyaslaveman——NealChamp，ofthePaveyHotel。Intheendhehadconquered；

hecouldswimbetterthananyboyintownofhisage。

Itwastheriverthatmeantmoretohimthanalltherest。Itscharmwaspermanent。Itwasthepathofadventure，thegatewaytotheworld。Theriverwithitsislands，itsgreatslow—movingrafts，itsmarveloussteamboatsthatwerelikefairyland，itsstatelycurrentswingingtothesea！Hewouldsitbyitforhoursanddream。Hewouldventureoutonitinasurreptitiouslyborrowedboatwhenhewasbarelystrongenoughtoliftanoaroutofthewater。Helearnedtoknowallitsmoodsandphases。Hefeltitskinship。Insomeoccultwayhemayhaveknownitashisprototype——thatresistlesstideoflifewithitsever—changingsweep，itsshiftingshores，itsdepths，itsshadows，itsgorgeoussunsethues，itssolemnandtranquilentrancetothesea。

Hishungerforthelifeaboardthesteamersbecameapassion。Tobeeventhehumblestemployeeofoneofthosefloatingenchantmentswouldbeenough；tobeanofficerwouldbetoenterheaven；tobeapilotwastobeagod。

"Youcanhardlyimaginewhatitmeant，"hereflectedonce，"toaboyinthosedays，shutinaswewere，toseethosesteamboatspassupanddown，andnevertotakeatriponthem。"

Hehadreachedthematureageofninewhenhecouldendurethisnolonger。Oneday，whenthebigpacketcamedownandstoppedatHannibal，heslippedaboardandcreptunderoneoftheboatsontheupperdeck。

Presentlythesignal—bellsrang，thesteamboatbackedawayandswungintomidstream；hewasreallygoingatlast。Hecreptfrombeneaththeboatandsatlookingoutoverthewaterandenjoyingthescenery。Thenitbegantorain——aterrificdownpour。Hecreptbackundertheboat，buthislegswereoutside，andoneofthecrewsawhim。Sohewastakendownintothecabinandatthenextstopsetashore。ItwasthetownofLouisiana，andtherewereLamptonrelativestherewhotookhimhome。

JaneClemensdeclaredthathisfatherhadgottotakehiminhand；whichhedid，doubtlessimpressingtheadventureonhimintheusualway。

Thesewerealleducationalthings；thentherewasalwaysthefarm，whereentertainmentwasnolongeramatterofgirl—playsandswings，withacolorednursefollowingabout，butofmanliersportswithhisolderboycousins，whohadagunandwenthuntingwiththemenforsquirrelsandpartridgesbyday，forcoonsandpossumsbynight。Sometimesthelittleboyhadfollowedthehuntersallnightlongandreturnedwiththemthroughthesparklingandfragrantmorningfresh，hungry，andtriumphantjustintimeforbreakfast。

Soitisnowonderthatatninehewasnolonger"LittleSam，"butSamClemens，quitematureandself—dependent，withawideknowledgeofmenandthingsandavarietyofaccomplishments。Hehadevenlearnedtosmoke——alittle——outthereonthefarm，andhadtriedtobacco—chewing，thoughthatwasafailure。Hehadbeenstungtothiseffortbyabiggirlataschoolwhich，withhiscousinPuss，hesometimesbrieflyattended。

"Doyouuseterbacker？"thebiggirlhadasked，meaningdidhechewit。

"No，"hesaid，abashedattheconfession。

"Haw！"shecriedtotheotherscholars；"here’saboythatcan’tchawterbacker。"

Degradedandashamed，hetriedtocorrecthisfault，butitonlymadehimveryill；andhedidnottryagain。

Hehadalsoacquiredtheuseofcertainstrong，expressivewords，andusedthem，sometimes，whenhismotherwassafelydistant。Hehadanimpressionthatshewould"skinhimalive"ifsheheardhimswear。Hiseducationhaddoubtfulspotsinit，butithadprovidedwisdom。

Hewasnotaparticularlyattractivelad。Hewasnottallforhisyears，andhisheadwassomewhattoolargeforhisbody。Hehada"greatruck"

oflight，sandyhairwhichheplastereddowntokeepitfromcurling；

keenblue—grayeyes，andratherlargefeatures。Still，hehadafair，delicatecomplexion，whenitwasnotblackenedbygrimeortan；agentle，winningmanner；asmilethat，withhisslow，measuredwayofspeaking，madehimafavoritewithhiscompanions。Hedidnotspeakmuch，andhismentalattainmentswerenothighlyregarded；but，forsomereason，wheneverhedidspeakeveryplaymateinhearingstoppedwhateverhewasdoingandlistened。Perhapsitwouldbeaplanforanewgameorlark；

perhapsitwassomethingdroll；perhapsitwasjustacommonplaceremarkthathispeculiardrawlmadeamusing。Whateveritwas，theyconsidereditworthwhile。Hismotheralwaysreferredtohisslowfashionofspeakingas"Sammy’slongtalk。"Herownspeechwasstillmoredeliberate，butsheseemednottonoticeit。Henry——amuchhandsomerladandregardedasfarmorepromising——didnothaveit。Hewasalovable，obedientlittlefellowwhomthemischievousSamtookdelightinteasing。

Forthisandotherreasonsthelatter’spunishmentswerefrequentenough，perhapsnotalwaysdeserved。Sometimeshechargedhismotherwithpartiality。Hewouldsay：

"Yes，nomatterwhatitis，Iamalwaystheonetogetpunished"；andhismotherwouldanswer：

"Well，Sam，ifyoudidn’tdeserveitforthat，youdidforsomethingelse。"

HenryClemensbecametheSidofTomSawyer，thoughHenrywasineverywayafinercharacterthanSid。HisbrotherSamalwayslovedhim，andfoughtforhimoftenerthanwithhim。

WiththedeathofBenjaminClemens，HenryandSamwerenaturallydrawnmuchclosertogether，thoughSamcouldseldomresistthetemptationoftormentingHenry。Aschoolmate，GeorgeButler(hewasanephewofGeneralButlerandafterwardfoughtbravelyintheCivilWar)，hadalittlebluesuitwithaleatherbelttomatch，andwastheenvyofall。

Mrs。ClemensfinallymadeSamandHenrysuitsofbluecottonvelvet，andthenextSunday，aftervariousserviceswereover，thetwosaunteredabout，sheddinggloryforatime，finallygoingforastrollinthewoods。Theywalkedalongproperlyenough，atfirst，thenjustaheadSamspiedthestumpofanewlycuttree，andwithawildwhoopingimpulsetookarunningleapoverit。Thereweresplintersonthestumpwherethetreehadbrokenaway，butheclearedthemneatly。Henrywantedtomatchtheperformance，butwasafraidtotry，soSamdaredhim。HekeptdaringhimuntilHenrywasgoadedtotheattempt。Heclearedthestump，butthehighestsplinterscaughttheslackofhislittlebluetrousers，andtheclothgaveway。Heescapedinjury，buttheprecioustrousersweredamagedalmostbeyondrepair。Sam，withaboy’sheartlessness，wasfairlyrollingonthegroundwithlaughteratHenry’sappearance。

"Cotton—tailrabbit！"heshouted。"Cotton—tailrabbit！"whileHenry，weeping，setoutforhomebyacircuitousandunfrequentedroad。Letushope，iftherewaspunishmentforthismishap，thatitfellintheproperlocality。

Thesetwobrotherswereofwidelydifferenttemperament。Henry，evenasalittleboy，wassturdy，industrious，anddependable。Samwasvolatileandelusive；hisindustryofanerratickind。Oncehisfathersethimtoworkwithahatchettoremovesomeplaster。Hehackedatitforatimewellenough，thenlaydownontheflooroftheroomandthrewhishatchetatsuchareasoftheplasteraswerenotineasyreach。Henrywouldhaveworkedsteadilyatatasklikethatuntilthelastbitwasremovedandtheroomsweptclean。

Thehomeincidentsin’TomSawyer’，mostofthem，reallyhappened。SamClemensdidclodHenryforgettinghimintotroubleaboutthecoloredthreadwithwhichhesewedhisshirtwhenhecamehomefromswimming；hedidinveiglealotofboysintowhitewashing，afenceforhim；hedidgivePain—killertoPeter，thecat。Therewasacholerascarethatyear，andPain—killerwasregardedasapreventive。Samhadbeenorderedtotakeitliberally，andperhapsthoughtPetertooshouldbesafeguarded。

Asforescapingpunishmentforhismisdeedsinthemannerdescribedinthatbook，thiswasadailymatter，andthemethodsadaptedthemselvestotheconditions。IntheintroductiontoTomSawyerMarkTwainconfessestothegeneraltruthofthehistory，andtotherealityofitscharacters。"HuckFinnwasdrawnfromlife，"hetellsus。"TomSawyeralso，butnotfromanindividual——heisacombinationofthecharacteristicsofthreeboyswhomIknew。"

Thethreeboyswere——himself，chiefly，andinalesserdegreeJohnBriggsandWillBowen。JohnBriggswasalsotheoriginalofJoeHarperinthatbook。AsforHuckFinn，hisoriginalwasTomBlankenship，neitherelaboratednorqualified。

TherewereseveraloftheBlankenships：therewasoldBen，thefather，whohadsucceeded"General"Gainsasthetowndrunkard；youngBen，theeldestson——ahardcasewithcertaingoodtraits；andTom——thatistosay，Huck——whowasjustasheisdescribedinTomSawyer：aruinofrags，ariver—rat，anirresponsiblebitofhumandrift，kindofheartandpossessingthatpricelessboon，absoluteunaccountabilityofconducttoanylivingsoul。Hecouldcameandgoashechose；heneverhadtoworkorgotoschool；hecoulddoallthings，goodorbad，thattheotherboyslongedtodoandwereforbidden。Herepresentedtothemtheveryembodimentofliberty，andhisgeneralknowledgeofimportantmatters，suchasfishing，hunting，trapping，andallmannerofsignsandspellsandhoodoosandincantations，madehimimmenselyvaluableasacompanion。

Thefactthathissocietywasprohibitedgaveitavastlyaddedcharm。

TheBlankenshipspickedupaprecariouslivingfishingandhunting，andlivedatfirstinamiserablehouseofbark，underatree，butlatermovedintoquiteapretentiousbuildingbackofthenewClemenshomeonHillStreet。Itwasreallyanoldbarnofaplace——poorandramshackleeventhen；butnow，morethansixtyyearslater，apartofitisstillstanding。Thesidingofthepartthatstandsisofblackwalnut，whichmusthavebeenveryplentifulinthatlong—agotime……OlddrunkenBenBlankenshipneverdreamedthatpiecesofhishousewouldbecarriedoffasrelicsbecauseoftheliteraryfameofhissonTom——afamefoundedonirresponsibilityandinconsequence。OrionClemens，whowasconcernedwithmissionaryworkaboutthistime，undertooktoimprovetheBlankenshipsspiritually。Samadoptedthem，outright，andtookthemtohisheart。Hewaslikelytobethereatanyhouroftheday，andheandTomhadcat—callsignalsatnightwhichwouldbringhimoutonthebacksingle—storyroof，anddownalittlearborandflightofsteps，tothegroupofbooncompanionswhich，besidesTom，includedJohnBriggs，theBowenboys，WillPitts，andoneortwoothercongenialspirits。Theywerenotviciousboys；theywerenotreallybadboys；theywereonlymischievous，fun—lovingboys—thoughtless，andratherdisregardfulofthecomfortsandtherightsofothers。

XII

TOMSAWYER’SBAND

TheyrangedfromHolliday’sHillonthenorthtotheCaveonthesouth，andoverthefieldsandthroughallthewoodsabout。Theynavigated。

theriverfromTurtleIslandtoGlasscock’sIsland(nowPearl，orTomSawyer’sIsland)，andfarbelow；theypenetratedthewildernessoftheIllinoisshore。Theycouldrunlikewildturkeysandswimlikeducks；

theycouldhandleaboatasifborninone。Noorchardormelonpatchwasentirelysafefromthem；nodogorslavepatrolsovigilantthattheydidnotsoonerorlatereludeit。Theyborrowedboatswhentheirownerswerenotpresent。Oncewhentheyfoundthistoomuchtrouble，theydecidedtoownaboat，andoneSundaygaveacertainborrowedcraftacoatofredpaint(formerlyithadbeengreen)，andsecludeditforaseasonupBearCreek。Theyborrowedthepaintalso，andthebrush，thoughtheycarefullyreturnedthesethesameeveningaboutnightfall，sothepaintercouldhavethemMondaymorning。TomBlankenshipriggedupasailforthenewcraft，andSamClemensnameditCecilia，afterwhichtheydidn’tneedtoborrowboatsanymore，thoughtheownerofitdid；

andhesometimesusedtoobserveashesawitpassthat，ifithadbeenanyothercolorbutred，hewouldhaveswornitwashis。

Someoftheirexpeditionswereinnocentenough。TheyoftencruiseduptoTurtleIsland，abouttwomilesaboveHannibal，andspentthedayfeasting。Youcouldhaveloadedacarwithturtlesandtheireggsupthere，andtherewerequantitiesofmusselsandplentyoffish。Fishingandswimmingweretheirchiefpastimes，withgeneralmaraudingforadventure。Wheretherailroad—bridgenowendsontheMissourisidewastheirfavoriteswimming—hole——thatandalongBearCreek，asecludedlimpidwaterwithspecialinterestsofitsown。SometimesateveningtheyswamacrosstoGlasscock’sIsland——therendezvousofTomSawyer’s"BlackAvengers"andthehiding—placeofHuckandNiggerJim；then，whentheyhadfrolickedonthesand—barattheheadoftheislandforanhourormore，theywouldswimbackinthedusk，adistanceofhalfamile，breastingthestrong，steadyMississippicurrentwithoutexhaustionorfear。Theycouldswimallday，likelyenough，thosegracelessyoungscamps。Once——thoughthiswasconsiderablylater，whenhewassixteen——

SamClemensswamacrosstotheIllinoisside，andthenturnedandswambackagainwithoutlanding，adistanceofatleasttwomiles，ashehadtogo。Hewasseizedwithacramponthereturntrip。Hislegsbecameuseless，andhewasobligedtomaketheremainingdistancewithhisarms。

Itwasahardylifetheyled，anditisnotrecordedthattheyeverdidanyseriousdamage，thoughtheynarrowlymisseditsometimes。

OneoftheirSundaypastimeswastoclimbHolliday’sHillandrolldownbigstones，tofrightenthepeoplewhoweredrivingtochurch。

Holliday’sHillabovetheroadwassteep；astoneoncestartedwouldgoplungingandleapingdownandboundacrosstheroadwiththedeadlyswiftnessofatwelve—inchshell。Theboyswouldgetastonepoised，thenwaituntiltheysawateamapproaching，and，calculatingthedistance，wouldgiveitastart。Droppingdownbehindthebushes，theywouldwatchthedramaticeffectuponthechurch—goersasthegreatmissileshotacrosstheroadafewyardsbeforethem。ThiswasHomericsport，buttheycarriedittoofar。StonesthathadahabitofgettingloosesonumerouslyonSundaysandsorarelyonotherdaysinvitedsuspicion，andthe"Patterollers"(riverpatrol——akindofpoliceofthosedays)wereputonthewatch。SotheboysfoundotherdiversionsuntilthePatterollersdidnotwatchanymore；thentheyplannedagrandcoupthatwouldeclipseanythingbeforeattemptedinthestone—rollingline。

Arockaboutthesizeofanomnibuswaslyingupthere，inagoodpositiontogodownhill，once，started。Theydecideditwouldbeagloriousthingtoseethatgreatbouldergosmashingdown，ahundredyardsorsoinfrontofsomeunsuspectingandpeaceful—mindedchurch—

goer。Quarrymenweregettingoutrocknotfaraway，andlefttheirpicksandshovelsoverSundays。Theboysborrowedthese，andwenttoworktounderminethebigstone。Itwasaheavierjobthantheyhadcountedon，buttheyworkedfaithfully，SundayafterSunday。Iftheirparentshadwantedthemtoworklikethat，theywouldhavethoughttheywerebeingkilled。

FinallyoneSunday，whiletheyweredigging，itsuddenlygotlooseandstarteddown。Theywerenotquitereadyforit。Nobodywascomingbutanoldcoloredmaninacart，soitwasgoingtobewasted。Itwasnotquitewasted，however。Theyhadplannedforathrillingresult；andtherewasthrillenoughwhileitlasted。Inthefirstplace，thestonenearlycaughtWillBowenwhenitstarted。JohnBriggshadjustthatmomentquitdiggingandhandedWillthepick。WillwasabouttostepintotheexcavationwhenSamClemens，whowasalreadythere，leapedoutwithayell：

"Lookout，boys，she’scoming！"

Shecame。Thehugestonekepttothegroundatfirst，then，gatheringawildmomentum，itwentboundingintotheair。Abouthalf—waydownthehillitstruckatreeseveralinchesthroughandcutitcleanoff。Thisturneditscoursealittle，andthenegrointhecart，whoheardthenoise，sawitcomecrashinginhisdirectionandmadeawildefforttowhipuphishorse。Itwasalsoheadedtowardacooper—shopacrosstheroad。Theboyswatcheditwithgrowinginterest。Itmadelongerleapswitheverybound，andwheneveritstruckthefragmentsthedustwouldfly。Theywerecertainitwoulddemolishthenegroanddestroythecooper—shop。Theshopwasempty，itbeingSunday，buttherestofthecatastrophewouldinvitecloseinvestigation，withresults。Theywantedtofly，buttheycouldnotmoveuntiltheysawtherockland。Itwasmakingmightyleapsnow，andtheterrifiednegrohadmanagedtogetdirectlyinitspath。Theystoodholdingtheirbreath，theirmouthsopen。Thensuddenlytheycouldhardlybelievetheireyes；theboulderstruckaprojectionadistanceabovetheroad，andwithamightyboundsailedclearoverthenegroandhismuleandlandedinthesoftdirtbeyond—onlyafragmentstrikingtheshop，damagingbutnotwreckingit。

Halfburiedintheground，thatboulderlaytherefornearlyfortyyears；

thenitwasblastedupformillingpurposes。Itwasthelastrocktheboyseverrolleddown。Theybegantosuspectthatthesportwasnotaltogethersafe。

Sometimestheboysneededmoney，whichwasnoteasytogetinthosedays。

Ononeoccasionofthissort，TomBlankenshiphadtheskinofacoonhehadcaptured，whichrepresentedtheonlycapitalinthecrowd。AtSelms’sstoreonWildCatcornerthecoonskinwouldbringtencents，butthatwasnotenough。Theyarrangedaplanwhichwouldmakeitpayagooddealmorethanthat。Selins’swindowwasopen，itbeingsummer—time，andhispileofpeltswasprettyhandy。Huck——thatistosay，Tom——wentinthefrontdoorandsoldtheskinfortencentstoSelms，whotosseditbackonthepile。Tomcamebackwiththemoneyandafterareasonableperiodwentaroundtotheopenwindow，crawledin，gotthecoonskin，andsoldittoSelmsagain。Hedidthisseveraltimesthatafternoon；thenJohnPierce，Selins’sclerk，said：

"Lookhere，Selms，thereissomethingwrongaboutthis。Thatboyhasbeensellinguscoonskinsalltheafternoon。"

Selmswenttohispileofpelts。Therewereseveralsheepskinsandsomecowhides，butonlyonecoonskin——theonehehadthatmomentbought。

Selmshimselfusedtotellthisstoryasagreatjoke。

PerhapsitisnotaddingtoMarkTwain’sreputationtosaythattheboySamClemens——aprettysmallboy，agooddeallessthantwelveatthistime——wastheleaderofthisunhallowedband；yetanyotherrecordwouldbelessthanhistoric。Ifthebandhadaleader，itwashe。Theywerealwaysreadytolistentohim——theywouldevenstopfishingtodothat——

andtofollowhisprojects。Theylookedtohimforideasandorganization，whethertheundertakingwastoberealormake—believe。

Whentheyplayed"Bandit"or"Pirate"or"Indian，"SamClemenswasalwayschief；whentheybecamerealraidersitisrecordedthathewasnolessdistinguished。LikeTomSawyer，helovedtheglareandtrappingsofleadership。WhentheChristianSonsofTemperancecamealongwitharegalia，andaredsashthatcarriedwithitrankandtheprivilegeofinventingpass—words，thegaudofthesethingsgotintohiseyes，andhegaveupsmoking(whichhedidrathergingerly)andswearing(whichhedidonlyunderheavyexcitement)，alsoliquor(thoughhehadnevertastedityet)，andmarchedwiththenewlywashedandpureinheartforafullmonth——amonthofsplendidleadershipandservitude。Theneventheredsashcouldnotholdhiminbondage。HelookedupTomBlankenshipandsaid：

"Say，Tom，I’mblamedtiredofthis！Let’sgosomewhereandsmoke！"

Whichmusthavebeenagooddealofasacrifice，fortheuniformwasapreciousthing。

LimelightandthecenterofthestagewasapassionofSamClemens’sboyhood，aloveofthespectacularthatneverwhollydied。Itseemsalmostapitythatinthosefar—offbarefootolddayshecouldnothavelookeddowntheyearstoatimewhen，withtheworldathisfeet，venerableOxfordshouldclothehiminascarletgown。

Hecouldnotbyanychancehavedreamedofthatstatelyhonor。Hisambitionsdidnotlieinthedirectionofmentalachievement。Itistruethatnowandthen，onFridayatschool，hereadacomposition，oneofwhich——apersonalburlesqueoncertainolderboys——camenearresultinginbodilydamage。Butanyliteraryambitionhemayhavehadinthosedayswasafleetingthing。Hispermanentdreamwastobeapirate，orapilot，orabandit，oratrapper—scout；somethinggorgeousandactive，wherehisword——hisnod，even——constitutedsufficientlaw。Theriverkeptthepilotambitionalwaysfresh，andthecavesuppliedabackgroundforthoseotherthings。

Thecavewasanenduringandsubstantialjoy。Itwasarealcave，notmerelyahole，butasubterraneanmarvelofdeeppassagesandvaultedchambersthatledawayintobluffsandfardownintotheearth’sblacksilences，evenbelowtheriver，somesaid。ForSamClemensthecavehadafascinationthatneverfaded。Otherlocalitiesanddiversionsmightpall，butanymentionofthecavefoundhimalwayseagerandreadyforthethree—milewalkorpullthatbroughtthemtoitsmysticdoor。Withitslongcorridors，itsroyalchambershungwithstalactites，itsremotehiding—places，itspossibilitiesasthehomeofagallantoutlawband，itcontainedeverythingthataromanticboycouldloveorlongfor。InTomSawyerIndianJoediesinthecave。Hedidnotdiethereinreallife，butwaslostthereonce，andwaslivingonbatswhentheyfoundhim。Hewasadissolutereprobate，andwhen，onenight，hediddietherecameupathunder—stormsoterrificthatSamClemensathomeandinbedwascertainthatSatanhadcomeinpersonforthehalf—breed’swickedsoul。

Hecoveredhisheadandsaidhisprayersindustriously，inthefearthattheevilonemightconcludetosaveanothertripbytakinghimalong，too。

Thetreasure—diggingadventureinthebookhadafoundationinfact。

TherewasatraditionconcerningsomeFrenchtrapperswholongbeforehadestablishedatrading—posttwomilesaboveHannibal，onwhatiscalledthe"bay。"Itissaidthat，whileoneofthesetrapperswasouthunting，Indiansmadearaidonthepostandmassacredtheothers。Thehunteronreturningfoundhiscomradeskilledandscalped，buttheIndianshadfailedtofindthetreasurewhichwasburiedinachest。Heleftitthere，swamacrosstoIllinois，andmadehiswaytoSt。Louis，wherehetoldofthemassacreandtheburialofthe，chestofgold。Thenhestartedtoraiseapartytogobackforit，butwastakensickanddied。

LatersomemencameupfromSt。Louislookingforthechest。Theydidnotfindit，buttheytoldthecircumstances，andafterwardagoodmanypeopletriedtofindthegold。

TomBlankenshiponemorningcametoSamClemensandJohnBriggsandsaidhewasgoingtodigupthetreasure。Hesaidhehaddreamedjustwhereitwas，andsaidiftheywouldgowithhimanddighewoulddivideup。

Theboyshadgreatfaithindreams，especiallyTom’sdreams。Tom’sunlimitedfreedomgavehimalargeimportanceintheireyes。Thedreamsofaboylikethatwereprettysuretomeansomething。TheyfollowedTomtotheplacewithsomeshovelsandapick，andheshowedthemwheretodig。Thenhesatdownundertheshadeofapapaw—treeandgaveorders。

Theydugnearlyallday。Nowandthentheystoppedtorest，andmaybetowonderalittlewhyTomdidn’tdigsomehimself；but，ofcourse，hehaddonethedreaming，whichentitledhimtoanequalshare。

Theydidnotfinditthatday，andwhentheywentbacknextmorningtheytooktwolongironrods；thesetheywouldpushanddriveintothegrounduntiltheystrucksomethinghard。Thentheywoulddigdowntoseewhatitwas，butitneverturnedouttobemoney。Thatnighttheboysdeclaredtheywouldnotdiganymore。ButTomhadanotherdream。Hedreamedthegoldwasexactlyunderthe，littlepapaw—tree。Thissoundedsocircumstantialthattheywentbackandduganotherday。Itwashotweathertoo，August，andthatnighttheywerenearlydead。EvenTomgaveitup，then。Hesaidtherewassomethingaboutthewaytheydug，butheneverofferedtodoanydigginghimself。

Thisdiffersconsiderablyfromthediggingincidentinthebook，butitgivesusanideaoftherespecttheboyshadfortheragamuffinoriginalofHuckleberryFinn。——[MuchofthedetailinthischapterwasfurnishedtothewriterbyJohnBriggsshortlybeforehisdeathin1907。]——TomBlankenship’sbrother，Ben，wasalsodrawnuponforthatcreation，atleastsofarasoneimportantphaseofHuck’scharacterisconcerned。Hewasconsiderablyolder，aswellasmoredisreputable，thanTom。Hewasinclinedtotormenttheboysbytyingknotsintheirclotheswhentheywentswimming，orbythrowingmudatthemwhentheywantedtocomeout，andtheyhadnodeeploveforhim。ButsomewhereinBenBlankenshiptherewasafinegenerousstrainofhumanitythatprovidedMarkTwainwiththatimmortalepisodeinthestoryofHuckFinn——inshelteringtheNiggerJim。

Thisistherealstory：

AslaveranofffromMonroeCounty，Missouri，andgotacrosstheriverintoIllinois。Benusedtofishandhuntoverthereintheswamps，andonedayfoundhim。Itwasconsideredamostworthyactinthosedaystoreturnarunawayslave；infact，itwasacrimenottodoit。Besides，therewasforthisonearewardoffiftydollars，afortunetoraggedoutcastBenBlankenship。Thatmoneyandthehonorhecouldacquiremusthavebeentemptingtothewaif，butitdidnotoutweighhishumansympathy。Insteadofgivinghimupandclaimingthereward，Benkepttherunawayoverthereinthemarshesallsummer。ThenegrowouldfishandBenwouldcarryhimscrapsofotherfood。Then，byandby，itleakedout。Somewood—chopperswentonahuntforthefugitive，andchasedhimtowhatwascalled"BirdSlough。"Theretryingtocrossadrifthewasdrowned。

Inthebook，theauthormakesHuck’sstruggleapsychologicalonebetweenconscienceandthelaw，ononeside，andsympathyontheother。WithBenBlankenshipthestruggle——iftherewasastruggle——wasprobablybetweensympathyandcupidity。Hewouldcareverylittleforconscienceandstilllessforlaw。Hissympathywiththerunaway，however，wouldbelargeandelemental，anditmusthavebeenverylargetooffsetthelureofthatreward。

Therewasagruesomesequeltothisincident。Somedaysfollowingthedrowningoftherunaway，SamClemens，JohnBriggs，andtheBowenboyswenttothespotandwerepushingthedriftabout，whensuddenlythenegrorosebeforethem，straightandterrible，abouthalfhislengthoutofthewater。Hehadgonedownfeetforemost，andthelooseneddrifthadreleasedhim。Theboysdidnotstoptoinvestigate。Theythoughthewasafterthemandflewinwildterror，neverstoppinguntiltheyreachedhumanhabitation。

Howmanygruesomeexperiencesthereappeartohavebeeninthoseearlydays！In’TheInnocentsAbroad’MarkTwaintellsofthemurderedmanhesawonenightinhisfather’soffice。Theman’snamewasMcFarlane。HehadbeenstabbedthatdayintheoldHudson—McFarlanefeudandcarriedintheretodie。SamClemensandJohnBriggshadrunawayfromschoolandhadbeenskylarkingallthatday，andknewnothingoftheaffair。Samdecidedthathisfather’sofficewassaferforhimthantofacehismother，whowasprobablysittingup，waiting。Hetellsushowhelayonthelounge，andhowashapeonthefloorgraduallyresolveditselfintotheoutlinesofaman；howasquareofmoonlightfromthewindowapproacheditandgraduallyrevealedthedeadfaceandtheghastlystabbedbreast。

"Iwentoutofthere，"hesays。"IdonotsaythatIwentawayinanysortofahurry，butIsimplywent；thatissufficient。Iwentoutofthewindow，andIcarriedthesashalongwithme。Ididnotneedthesash，butitwashandiertotakeitthanto，leaveit，andsoItookit。

Iwasnotscared，butIwasconsiderablyagitated。"

Hewasnotyettwelve，forhisfatherwasnolongeralivewhentheboyreachedthatage。Certainlytheseweredisturbing，hauntingthings。

Thentherewasthecaseofthedrunkentrampinthecalaboosetowhomtheboyskind—heartedlyenoughcarriedfoodandtobacco。SamClemensspentsomeofhispreciousmoneytobuythetrampaboxofLucifermatches——abrandnewinventionthen，scarceandhigh。Thetrampstartedafirewiththematchesandburneddownthecalaboose，himselfinit。Forweekstheboywastortured，awakeandinhisdreams，bythethoughtthatifhehadnotcarriedthemanthematchesthetragedycouldnothavehappened。

RemorsewasalwaysSamuelClemens’ssurestpunishment。Tohislastdaysonearthheneveroutgrewitspangs。

Whatanumberofthingscrowdedthemselvesintoafewbriefyears！ItisnoteasytocurtailtheseboyhoodadventuresofSamClemensandhisscapegracefriends，butonemightgoonindefinitelywiththeirmaddoings。Theywereanunpromisinglot。Ministersandothersober—mindedcitizensfreelyprophesiedsuddenandviolentendsforthem，andconsideredthemhardlyworthprayingfor。Theymusthaveprovenadisappointinglottothoseprophets。TheBowenboysbecamefineriver—

pilots；WillPittswasinduetimealeadingmerchantandbankdirector；

JohnBriggsgrewintoawell—to—doandhighlyrespectedfarmer；evenHuckFinn——thatistosay，TomBlankenship——isreputedtohaverankedasanhonoredcitizenandjusticeofthepeaceinaWesterntown。Butinthosedaystheywereariotous，fun—lovingbandwithlittlerespectfororderandevenlessforordinance。

XIII

THEGENTLERSIDE

Hisassociationswerenotallofthatlawlessbreed。Athisschool(hehadsampledseveralplacesoflearning，andwasnowatMr。Cross’sontheSquare)wereanumberoflessadventurous，evenifnotintrinsicallybetterplaymates。TherewasGeorgeRobards，theLatinscholar，andJohn，hisbrother，ahandsomeboy，whorodeawayatlastwithhisfatherintothesunset，toCalifornia，hisgoldencurlsflyinginthewind。AndtherewasJimmyMcDaniel，akind—heartedboywhosecompanywasworthwhile，becausehisfatherwasaconfectioner，andheusedtobringcandyandcaketoschool。AlsotherewasBuckBrown，arivalspeller，andJohnMeredith，thedoctor’sson，andJohnGarth，whowasonedaytomarrylittleHelenKercheval，andintheendwouldberememberedandhonoredwithabeautifulmemorialbuildingnotfarfromthesiteoftheoldschool。

Furthermore，therewereagoodmanygirls。TomSawyerhadanimpressionableheart，andSamClemensnolessso。TherewasBettieOrmsley，andArtemisiaBriggs，andJennieBrady；alsoMaryMiller，whowasnearlytwicehisageandgavehimhisfirstbrokenheart。

"IbelieveIwasasmiserableasagrownmancouldbe，"hesaidonce，remembering。

TomSawyerhadheartsorrowstoo，andwemayimaginethathisemotionsatsuchtimesweretheemotionsofSamClemens，sayattheageoften。

But，asTomSawyerhadonefaithfulsweetheart，sodidhe。Theywereoneandthesame。BeckyThatcherinthebookwasLauraHawkinsinreality。

TheacquaintanceofthesetwohadbegunwhentheHawkinsfamilymovedintotheVirginiahouseonthecornerofHillandMainstreets。——[TheHawkinsfamilyinreallifeborenoresemblancetothefamilyofthatnameinTheGildedAge。JudgeHawkinsofTheGildedAge，asalreadynoted，wasJohnClemens。MarkTwainusedthenameHawkins，alsothenameofhisboyhoodsweetheart，Laura，merelyforoldtimes’sake，andbecauseinportrayingthechildhoodofLauraHawkinshehadapictureoftherealLaurainhismind。]——TheClemensfamilywastheninthenewhomeacrosstheway，andthechildrenweresoonacquainted。Theboycouldbetenderandkind，andwasalwaysgentleinhistreatmentoftheothersex。Theyvisitedbackandforth，especiallyaroundthenewhouse，wheretherewerenicepiecesofboardsandbricksforplay—houses。Sotheyplayed"keepinghouse，"andiftheydidnotalwaysagreewell，sincethebeginningoftheworldsweetheartshavenotalwaysagreed，eveninArcady。Oncewhentheywerebuildingahouse——andtheremayhavebeensomedifferenceofopinionastoitsarchitecture——theboyhappenedtoletabrickfallonthelittlegirl’sfinger。Iftherehadbeenanydisagreementitvanishedinstantlywiththatmisfortune。Hetriedtocomfortherandsoothethepain；thenheweptwithherandsufferedmostofthetwo，nodoubt。So，yousee，hewasjustalittleboy，afterall，eventhoughhewasalreadychiefofared—handedband，the"BlackAvengersoftheSpanishMain。"

Hewasalwaysatender—heartedlad。Hewouldneverabuseananimal，unless，asinthePain—killerincident，histendencytoprankingranawaywithhim。Hehadindeedagenuinepassionforcats；summerswhenhewenttothefarmheneverfailedtotakehiscatinabasket。Whenheate，itsatinachairbesidehimatthetable。Hissympathyincludedinanimatethingsaswell。Helovedflowers——notastheembryobotanistorgardener，butasapersonalfriend。HepitiedthedeadleafandthemurmuringdriedweedofNovemberbecausetheirbriefliveswereended，andtheywouldneverknowthesummeragain，orgrowgladwithanotherspring。Hisheartwentouttothem；totheriverandthesky，thesunlitmeadowandthedriftedhill。Thathisobservationofallnaturewasminuteandaccurateisshowneverywhereinhiswriting；butitwasnevertheobservationofayoungnaturalistitwasthesubconsciousobservationofsympatheticlove。

Wearewanderingawayfromhisschool—days。Theywerebriefenoughandcamerapidlytoanend。Theywillnotholduslong。UndoubtedlyTomSawyer’sdistasteforschoolandhisexcusesforstayingathome——usuallysomepretendedillness——haveamplefoundationintheboyhoodofSamClemens。Hismotherpunishedhimandpleadedwithhim，alternately。Hedetestedschoolashedetestednothingelseonearth，evengoingtochurch。"Churchain’tworthshucks，"saidTomSawyer，butitwasbetterthanschool。

Asalreadynoted，theschoolofMr。CrossstoodinornearwhatisnowtheSquareinHannibal。TheSquarewasonlyagrovethen，grownupwithplum，hazel，andvine——arareplaceforchildren。Atrecessandthenoonhourthechildrenclimbedtrees，gatheredflowers，andswungingrape—

vineswings。Therewasaspelling—beeeveryFridayafternoon，forSamtheonlyendurableeventoftheschoolexercises。HecouldholdtheflooratspellinglongerthanBuckBrown。Thiswasspectacularandshowy；itinvitedcomplimentsevenfromMr。Cross，whosenamemusthavebeenhandeddownbyangels，itfittedhimsowell。OnedaySamClemenswroteonhisslate：

CrossbynameandcrossbynatureCrossjumpedoveranIrishpotato。

HeshowedthistoJohnBriggs，whoconsidereditastrokeofgenius。Heurgedtheauthortowriteitontheboardatnoon，butthepoet’sambitiondidnotgosofar。

"Oh，pshaw！"saidJohn。"Iwouldn’tbeafraidtodoit。

"Idareyoutodoit，"saidSam。

JohnBriggsnevertookadare，andatnoon，whenMr。Crosswasathomeatdinner，hewroteflaminglythedescriptivecouplet。Whentheteacherreturnedand"books"werecalledhelookedsteadilyatJohnBriggs。Hehadrecognizedthepenmanship。

"Didyoudothat？"heasked，ominously。

Itwasatimefortruth。

"Yes，sir，"saidJohn。

"Comehere！"AndJohncame，andpaidforhisexploitationofgeniusheavily。SamClemensexpectedthatthenextcallwouldbefor"author，"

butforsomereasontheinvestigationendedthere。Itwasunusualforhimtoescape。Hisbackgenerallykeptfairlywarmfromone"frailing"

tothenext。

Hisrewardswerenotallofapunitivenature。Thereweretwomedalsintheschool，oneforspelling，theotherforamiability。Theywereawardedonceaweek，andtheholdersworethemabouttheneckconspicuously，andwereenviedaccordingly。JohnRobards——heofthegoldencurls——worealmostcontinuouslythemedalforamiability，whileSamClemenshadamortgageonthemedalforspelling。Sometimestheytraded，toseehowitwouldseem，butthemasterdiscouragedthispracticebytakingthemedalsawayfromthemfortheremainderoftheweek。OnceSamClemenslostthemedalbyleavingthefirst"r"outofFebruary。Hecouldhavespelleditbackward，ifnecessary；butLauraHawkinswastheonlyoneontheflooragainsthim，andhewasagallantboy。

Thepictureofthatschoolaspresentedinthebookwrittenthirtyyearslaterisfaithful，wemaybelieve，andthecentralfigureisatender—

hearted，romantic，devil—may—carelad，loathingapplicationandlongingonlyforfreedom。Itwasaboonwhichwouldcometohimsoonereventhanhehaddreamed。

XIV

THEPASSINGOFJOHNCLEMENS

JudgeClemens，whotimeandagainhadwreckedorcrippledhisfortunebydevicesmoreorlessunusual，nowadoptedtheoneunfailingmethodofachievingdisaster。Heendorsedalargenote，foramanofgoodrepute，andthepaymentofitswepthimclean：home，property，everythingvanishedagain。TheSt。Louiscousintookoverthehomeandagreedtoletthefamilyoccupyitonpaymentofasmallinterest；butafteranattemptathousekeepingwithafewscantyfurnishingsandPamela’spiano——allthathadbeensavedfromthewreck——theymovedacrossthestreetintoaportionoftheVirginiahouse，thenoccupiedbyaDr。Grant。TheGrantsproposedthattheClemensfamilymoveoverandboardthem，awelcomearrangementenoughatthistime。

JudgeClemenshadstillahopeleft。TheclerkshipoftheSurrogateCourtwassoontobefilledbyelection。Itwasanimportantremunerativeoffice，andhewasregardedasthefavoritecandidatefortheposition。Hisdisasterhadarousedgeneralsympathy，andhisnominationandelectionwereconsideredsure。Hetooknochances；hemadeacanvassonhorsebackfromhousetohouse，oftenridingthroughrainandthechilloffall，acquiringacoughwhichwashardtoovercome。

Hewaselectedbyaheavymajority，anditwasbelievedhecouldholdtheofficeaslongashechose。Thereseemednofurtherneedofworry。Assoonashewasinstalledinofficetheywouldliveinstylebecomingtheirsocialposition。AbouttheendofFebruaryherodetoPalmyratobeswornin。Returninghewasdrenchedbyastormofrainandsleet，arrivingatlasthalffrozen。Hissystemwasinnoconditiontoresistsuchashock。Pneumoniafollowed；physicianscamewithtormentsofplastersandallopathicdosingsthatbroughtnorelief。OrionreturnedfromSt。Louistoassistincaringforhim，andsatbyhisbed，encouraginghimandreadingtohim，butitwasevidentthathegrewdailyweaker。NowandthenhebecamecheerfulandspokeoftheTennesseelandastheseedofavastfortunethatmustsurelyfloweratlast。Heutterednoregrets，nocomplaints。Onceonlyhesaid：

"IbelieveifIhadstayedinTennesseeImighthavebeenworthtwentythousanddollarsto—day。"

Onthemorningofthe24thofMarch，1847，itwasevidentthathecouldnotlivemanyhours。Hewasveryweak。Whenhespoke，nowandthen，itwasoftheland。Hesaiditwouldsoonmakethemallrichandhappy。

"Clingtotheland，"hewhispered。"Clingtotheland，andwait。Letnothingbeguileitawayfromyou。"

AlittlelaterhebeckonedtoPamela，nowalovelygirlofnineteen，and，puttinghisarmaboutherneck，kissedherforthefirsttimeinyears。

"Letmedie，"hesaid。

Heneverspokeafterthat。Alittlemore，andthesad，wearylifethathadlastedlessthanforty—nineyearswasended：Adreamerandamoralist，anuprightmanhonoredbyall，hehadneverbeenafinancier。

Heendedlifewithlessthanhehadbegun。

XV

AYOUNGBENFRANKLIN

ForathirdtimedeathhadenteredtheClemenshome：notonlyhaditbroughtgriefnow，butithadbanishedthelightofnewfortunefromtheverythreshold。Thedisasterseemedcomplete。

Thechildrenweredazed。JudgeClemenshadbeenadistant，reservedman，buttheyhadlovedhim，eachinhisownway，andtheyhadhonoredhisuprightnessandnobilityofpurpose。Mrs。Clemensconfidedtoaneighborthat，inspiteofhismanner，herhusbandhadbeenalwayswarm—hearted，withadeepaffectionforhisfamily。Theyrememberedthathehadneverreturnedfromajourneywithoutbringingeachonesomepresent，howevertrifling。Orion，lookingoutofhiswindownextmorning，sawoldAbramKurtz，andheardhimlaugh。Hewonderedhowanybodycouldstilllaugh。

TheboySamwasfairlybrokendown。Remorse，whichalwaysdealtwithhimunsparingly，laidaheavyhandonhimnow。Wildness，disobedience，indifferencetohisfather’swishes，allwereremembered；ahundredthings，inthemselvestrifling，becameghastlyandheart—wringingintheknowledgethattheycouldneverbeundone。Seeinghisgrief，hismothertookhimbythehandandledhimintotheroomwherehisfatherlay。

"Itisallright，Sammy，"shesaid。"What’sdoneisdone，anditdoesnotmattertohimanymore；butherebythesideofhimnowIwantyoutopromiseme————"

Heturned，hiseyesstreamingwithtears，andflunghimselfintoherarms。

"Iwillpromiseanything，"hesobbed，"ifyouwon’tmakemegotoschool！

Anything！"

Hismotherheldhimforamoment，thinking，thenshesaid：

"No，Sammy；youneednotgotoschoolanymore。Onlypromisemetobeabetterboy。Promisenottobreakmyheart。"

Sohepromisedhertobeafaithfulandindustriousman，andupright，likehisfather。Hismotherwassatisfiedwiththat。Thesenseofhonorandjusticewasalreadystrongwithinhim。Tohimapromisewasaseriousmatteratanytime；madeunderconditionsliketheseitwouldbeheldsacred。

Thatnight——itwasafterthefuneral——histendencytosomnambulismmanifesteditself。Hismotherandsister，whoweresleepingtogether，sawthedooropenandaforminwhiteenter。Naturallynervousatsuchatime，andlivinginadayofalmostuniversalsuperstition，theywereterrifiedandcoveredtheirheads。Presentlyahandwaslaidonthecoverlet，firstatthefoot，thenattheheadofthebed。AthoughtstruckMrs。Clemens：

"Sam！"shesaid。

Heanswered，buthewassoundasleepandfelltothefloor。Hehadrisenandthrownasheetaroundhiminhisdreams。Hewalkedinhissleepseveralnightsinsuccessionafterthat。Thenhesleptmoresoundly。

OrionreturnedtoSt。Louis。Hewasaverygoodbookandjobprinterbythistimeandreceivedasalaryoftendollarsaweek(highwagesinthosefrugaldays)，ofwhichhesentthreedollarsweeklytothefamily。

Pamela，whohadacquiredaconsiderableknowledgeofthepianoandguitar，wenttothetownofParis，inMonroeCounty，aboutfiftymilesaway，andtaughtaclassofmusicpupils，contributingwhateverremainedafterpayingforherboardandclothingtothefamilyfund。Itwasahardtaskforthegirl，forshewastimidandnotover—strong；butshewasresoluteandpatient，andwonsuccess。PamelaClemenswasanoblecharacteranddeservesafullerhistorythancanbeaffordedinthiswork。

Mrs。ClemensandhersonSamuelnowhadasobertalk，and，realizingthattheprintingtradeofferedopportunityforacquiringfurthereducationaswellasalivelihood，theyagreedthatheshouldbeapprenticedtoJosephP。Ament，whohadlatelymovedfromPalmyratoHannibalandboughtaweeklyDemocratpaper，theMissouriCourier。Theapprenticetermswerenotover—liberal。Theyweretheusualthingforthattime：boardandclothes——"moreboardthanclothes，andnotmuchofeither，"MarkTwainusedtosay。

"Iwassupposedtogettwosuitsofclothesayear，likeanigger，butI

didn’tgetthem。IgotonesuitandtooktherestoutinAment’soldgarments，whichdidn’tfitmeinanynoticeableway。Iwasonlyabouthalfasbigashewas，andwhenIhadononeofhisshirtsIfeltasifI

hadonacircustent。Ihadtoturnthetrousersuptomyearstomakethemshortenough。"

Therewasanotherapprentice，ayoungfellowofabouteighteen，namedWalesMcCormick，adevilishfellowandagiant。Ament’sclothesweretoosmallforWales，buthehadtowearthem，andSamClemensandWalesMcCormicktogether，fittedoutwithAment’sclothes，musthavebeenapicturesquepair。Therewasalso，foratime，aboynamedRalph；butheappearstohavepresentednofeaturesofastrikingsort，andthememoryofhimhasbecomedim。

Theapprenticesateinthekitchenatfirst，servedbytheoldslave—cookandherhandsomemulattodaughter；butthoseprinter’s"devils"madeitsolivelytherethatinduetimetheywerepromotedtothefamilytable，wheretheysatwithMr。andMrs。Amentandtheonejourneyman，PetMcMurry——anamethatinitselfwasaninspiration。WhatthoseyoungscampsdidnotalreadyknowPetMcMurrycouldteachthem。SamClemenshadpromisedtobeagoodboy，andhewas，bythestandardsofboyhood。

Hewasindustrious，regularathiswork，quicktolearn，kind，andtruthful。Angelscouldhardlybemorethanthatinaprinting—office；

butwhenfoodwasscarceevenanangel——ayoungprinterangel——couldhardlyresistslippingdownthecellarstairsatnightforrawpotatoes，onions，andappleswhichtheycarriedintotheoffice，wheretheboyssleptonapalletonthefloor，andthisforagetheycookedontheofficestove。Walesespeciallyhadawayofcookingapotatothathisassociateneverforgot。

ItisunfortunatethatnophotographicportraithasbeenpreservedofSamClemensatthisperiod。Butwemayimaginehimfromaletterwhich，longyearsafter，PetMcMurrywrotetoMarkTwain。Hesaid：

Ifyourmemoryextendssofarback，youwillrecallalittlesandy—

hairedboy——[ThecolorofMarkTwain’shairinearlylifehasbeenvariouslyreferredtoasred，black，andbrown。Itwas，infact，asstatedbyMcMurry，"sandy"inboyhood，deepeninglatertothatrich，mahoganytoneknownasauburn。]——ofnearlyaquarterofacenturyago，intheprinting—officeatHannibal，overtheBrittinghamdrugstore，mounteduponalittleboxatthecase，pullingawayatahugecigaroradiminutivepipe，whousedtolovetosingsowelltheexpressionofthepoordrunkenmanwhowassupposedtohavefallenbythewayside："IfeverIgetupagain，I’llstayup——ifI

kin。"……Doyourecollectanyoftheseriousconflictsthatmirth—lovingbrainofyoursusedtogetyouintowiththatdiminutivecreatureWalesMcCormick——howyouusedtocalluponmetoholdyourcigarorpipe，whilstyouwententirelythroughhim？

Thisisgoodtestimony，withoutdoubt。WhenhehadbeenwithAmentlittlemorethanayearSamhadbecomeofficefavoriteandchiefstandby。

WhateverrequiredintelligenceandcareandimaginationwasgiventoSamClemens。HecouldsettypeasaccuratelyandalmostasrapidlyasPetMcMurry；hecouldwashuptheformsagooddealbetterthanPet；andhecouldrunthejob—presstothetuneof"AnnieLaurie"or"AlongtheBeachatRockaway，"withoutmissingastrokeorlosingafinger。Sometimes，atoddmoments，hewould"setup"oneofthepopularsongsorsomefavoritepoemlike"TheBlackberryGirl，"andofthesehesentcopiesprintedoncotton，evenonscrapsofsilk，tofavoritegirlfriends；alsotoPussQuarles，onhisuncle’sfarm，whereheseldomwentnow，becausehewasreallygrownup，associatingwithmenanddoingaman’swork。Hehadchargeofthecirculation——whichistosay，hecarriedthepapers。

DuringthelastyearoftheMexicanWar，whenatelegraph—wirefounditswayacrosstheMississippitoHannibal——alongsaggingspan，thatforsomereasondidnotbreakofitsownweight——hewasgivenchargeoftheextraswithnewsfromthefront；andtheburningimportanceofhismission，thebringingofnewshotfromthefieldofbattle，spurredhimtoendeavorsthatwonplauditsandsuccess。

Hebecameasortofsubeditor。WhentheformsofthepaperwerereadytocloseandAmentwasneededtosupplymorematter，itwasSamwhowasdelegatedtofindthatratheruncertainandelusivepersonandlaborwithhimuntiltherequiredcopywasproduced。Thusitwashesawliteratureinthemaking。

ItisnotbelievedthatSamhadanywritingambitionsofhisown。Hischiefdesirewastobeanall—roundjourneymanprinterlikePetMcMurry；

todriftupanddowntheworldinPet’suntrammeledfashion；toseeallthatPethadseenandanumberofthingswhichPetappearedtohaveoverlooked。Hevariedonoccasionfromthisambition。WhenthefirstnegrominstrelshowvisitedHannibalandhadgone，heyearnedforabriefperiodtobeamagnificent"middleman"oreventhe"end—man"ofthatcombination；whenthecircuscameandwent，hedreamedofthedaywhen，acaperingfrescoedclown，hewouldsetcrowdedtiersofspectatorsguffawingathishumor；whenthetravelinghypnotistarrived，hevolunteeredasasubject，andamazedtheaudiencebythemarvelofhisperformance。

Inlaterlifeheclaimedthathehadnotbeenhypnotizedinanydegree，buthadbeenpretendingthroughout——astatementalwaysdeniedbyhismotherandhisbrotherOrion。Thisdisputewasneversettled，andnevercouldbe。SamClemens’stendencytosomnambulismwouldseemtosuggestthathereallymighthavetakenonahypnoticcondition，whilehisconsummateskillasanactor，thenandalways，andhisearlyfondnessofexhibitionandajoke，wouldmakeitnotunlikelythathewasmerely"showingoff"andhavinghisfun。Hecouldfollowthedictatesofavividimaginationandcouldbeasoutrageousashechosewithoutincurringresponsibilityofanysort。Buttherewasapenalty：hemustallowpinsandneedlestobethrustintohisfleshandsufferthesetortureswithoutshowingdiscomforttothespectators。Itisdifficulttobelievethatanyboy，howevergreathisexhibitorypassion，couldpermit，inthefullpossessionofhissensibilities，aneedletobethrustdeeplyintohisfleshwithoutmanifestationsofamostunmesmericsort。Theconclusionseemswarrantedthathebeganbypretending，butthatattimeshewasatleastundersemi—mesmericcontrol。Atallevents，heenjoyedaweekofdazzlingtriumph，thoughintheendheconcludedtosticktoprintingasatrade。

Wehavesaidthathewasarapidlearnerandaneatworkman。AtAment’shegenerallyhadadailytask，eitherofcompositionorpress—work，afterwhichhewasfree。Whenhehadgotthehangofhisworkhewasusuallydonebythreeintheafternoon；thenawaytotheriverorthecave，asintheolddays，sometimeswithhisboyfriends，sometimeswithLauraHawkinsgatheringwildcolumbineonthathighcliffoverlookingtheriver，Lover’sLeap。

Hewasbecomingquiteabeau，attendingpartiesonoccasion，whereold—

fashionedgames——Forfeits，Ring—around—a—Rosy，DustyMiller，andthelike——wereregardedasrareamusements。Hewasafavoritewithgirlsofhisownage。Hewasalwaysgood—natured，thoughheplayedjokesonthem，too，andwasoftenaseveretrial。HewaswithLauraHawkinsmorethantheothers，usuallyherescort。OnSaturdayafternoonsinwinterhecarriedherskatestoBearCreekandhelpedhertoputthemon。Afterwhichtheyskated"partners，"holdinghandstightly，andwerealikelypairofchildren，nodoubt。InTheGildedAgeLauraHawkinsattwelveispictured"withherdaintyhandsproppedintotheribbon—borderedpocketsofherapron……avisiontowarmthecoldestheartandblessandcheerthesaddest。"TheauthorhadtherealLauraofhischildhoodinhismindwhenhewrotethat，thoughthestoryitselfbearsnoresemblancetoherlife。

Theywereneverreallysweethearts，thosetwo。Theyweregoodfriendsandcomrades。Sometimeshebroughthermagazines——exchangesfromtheprinting——office——Godey’sandothers。Thesewereatreat，forsuchthingswerescarceenough。Hecaredlittleforreading，himself，beyondafewexcitingtales，thoughtheputtingintotypeofagooddealofmiscellaneousmatterhadbeyonddoubtdevelopedinhimatasteforgeneralknowledge。Itneededonlytobeawakened。

XVI

THETURNING—POINT

Therecameintohislifejustatthisperiodoneofthoseseeminglytriflingincidentswhich，viewedinretrospect，assumepivotalproportions。Hewasonhiswayfromtheofficetohishomeoneafternoonwhenhesawflyingalongthepavementasquareofpaper，aleaffromabook。Atanearliertimehewouldnothavebotheredwithitatall，butanyprintedpagehadacquiredaprofessionalinterestforhimnow。Hecaughttheflyingscrapandexaminedit。ItwasaleaffromsomehistoryofJoanofArc。The"maid"wasdescribedinthecageatRouen，inthefortress，andthetworuffianEnglishsoldiershadstolenherclothes。

Therewasabriefdescriptionandagooddealofdialogue——herreproachesandtheirribaldreplies。

Hehadneverheardofthesubjectbefore。Hehadneverreadanyhistory。

WhenhewantedtoknowanyfactheaskedHenry，whoreadeverythingobtainable。Now，however，therearosewithinhimadeepcompassionforthegentleMaidofOrleans，aburningresentmenttowardhercaptors，apowerfulandindestructibleinterestinhersadhistory。Itwasaninterestthatwouldgrowsteadilyformorethanhalfalifetimeandculminateatlastinthatcrowningwork，theRecollections，thelovelieststoryevertoldofthemartyredgirl。

Theincidentmeantevenmorethanthat：itmeanttheawakeningofhisinterestinallhistory——theworld’sstoryinitsmanyphases——apassionwhichbecamethelargestfeatureofhisintellectuallifeandremainedwithhimuntilhisverylastdayonearth。Fromthemomentwhenthatflutteringleafwasblownintohishandshiscareerasoneoftheworld’smentallyelectwasassured。Itgavehimhiscue——thefirstwordofapartinthehumandrama。Itcrystallizedsuddenlywithinhimsympathywiththeoppressed，rebellionagainsttyrannyandtreachery，scornforthedivinerightsofkings。Afewmonthsbeforehediedhewroteapaperon"TheTurning—pointofMyLife。"Forsomereasonhedidnotmentionthisincident。Yetiftherewasaturning—pointinhislife，hereacheditthatbleakafternoononthestreetsofHannibalwhenastrayleaffromanotherlifewasblownintohishands。

HereadhungrilynoweverythinghecouldfindrelatingtotheFrenchwars，andtoJoaninparticular。Heacquiredanappetiteforhistoryingeneral，therecordofanynationorperiod；heseemedlikelytobecomeastudent。Presentlyhebegantofeeltheneedoflanguages，FrenchandGerman。TherewasnoopportunitytoacquireFrench，thathecoulddiscover，buttherewasaGermanshoemakerinHannibalwhoagreedtoteachhisnativetongue。SamClemensgotafriend——verylikelyitwasJohnBriggs——toformaclasswithhim，andtogethertheyarrangedforlessons。TheshoemakerhadlittleornoEnglish。TheyhadnoGerman。

Itwouldseem，however，thattheirteacherhadsomesortofa"word—

book，"andwhentheyassembledinhislittlecubby—holeofaretreathebeganreadingaloudfromitthispuzzlingsentence：

"Dehaineetfleewhoopindehayer。"

"Dere！"hesaid，triumphantly；"youknowdosevord？"

Thestudentslookedateachotherhelplessly。

Theteacherrepeatedthesentence，andagaintheywerehelplesswhenheaskediftheyrecognizedit。

Thenindespairheshowedthemthebook。ItwasanEnglishprimer，andthesentencewas：

"Thehen，itfliesupintheair。"

TheyexplainedtohimgentlythatitwasGermantheywishedtolearn，notEnglish——notunderthecircumstances。Later，SammadeanattemptatLatin，andgotabookforthatpurpose，butgaveitup，saying：

"No，thatlanguageisnotforme。I’lldowellenoughtolearnEnglish。"

AboywhotookitupwithhimbecameaLatinscholar。

Hisprejudiceagainstoppressionheputintopractice。Boyswhowerebeingimposeduponfoundinhimareadyprotector。Sometimes，watchingagameofmarblesortops，hewouldremarkinhisslow，impressiveway：

"Youmustn’tcheatthatboy。"Andthecheatingstopped。Whenitdidn’t，therewasacombat，withconsequences。

XVII

THEHANNIBAL"JOURNAL"

OrionreturnedfromSt。Louis。HefeltthathewasneededinHannibaland，whilewagestherewerelower，hisexpensesathomewereslight；

therewasmorerealreturnforthefamilyfund。HissisterPamelawasteachingaclassinHannibalatthistime。Orionwassurprisedwhenhismotherandsistergreetedhimwithkissesandtears。Anyoutwarddisplayofaffectionwasnewtohim。

Thefamilyhadmovedbackacrossthestreetbythistime。WithSamsupportinghimself，theearningsofOrionandPamelaprovidedatleastasemblanceofcomfort。ButOrionwasnotsatisfied。Then，asalways，hehadavarietyofvagueambitions。Oratoryappealedtohim，andhedeliveredatemperancelecturewithanaccompanimentofmusic，suppliedchieflybyPamela。Heaspiredtothestudyoflaw，arecurringinclinationthroughouthiscareer。Healsothoughtoftheministry，anambitionwhichSamsharedwithhimforatime。Everymischievousboyhasit，soonerorlater，thoughnotallforthesamereasons。

"ItwasthemostearnestambitionIeverhad，"MarkTwainonceremarked，thoughtfully。"NotthatIeverreallywantedtobeapreacher，butbecauseitneveroccurredtomethatapreachercouldbedamned。Itlookedlikeasafejob。"

AperiodicalambitionofOrion’swastoownandconductapaperinHannibal。HefeltthatinsuchapositionhemightbecomeapowerinWesternjournalism。OncehisfatherhadconsideredbuyingtheHannibalJournaltogiveOrionachance，andpossiblytofurtherhisownpoliticalambitions。NowOrionconsidereditforhimself。Thepaperwasforsaleunderamortgage，andhewasenabledtoborrowthe$500whichwouldsecureownership。Sam’stwoyearsatAment’swerenowcomplete，andOrioninducedhimtotakeemploymentontheJournal。Henryatelevenwastakenoutofschooltolearntypesetting。

Orionwasagentle，accommodatingsoul，buthelackedforceandindependence。

"IfollowedalltheadviceIreceived，"hesaysinhisrecord。"Iftwoormorepersonsconflictedwitheachother，Iadoptedtheviewsofthelast。"

Hestartedfullofenthusiasm。Heworkedlikeaslavetosavehelp：

wrotehisowneditorials，andmadehisliteraryselectionsatnight。Theothersworkedtoo。Oriongavethemhardtasksandlonghours。Hehadthefeelingthatthepapermeantfortuneorfailuretothemall；thatallmustlaborwithoutstint。Inhisusualself—accusingwayhewroteafterward：

IwastyrannicalandunjusttoSam。Hewasasswiftandascleanasagoodjourneyman。Igavehimtasks，andifhegotthroughwellI

begrudgedhimthetimeandmadehimworkmore。Hesetacleanproof，andHenryaverydirtyone。Thecorrectingwaslefttobedoneintheformthedaybeforepublication。Oncewewerekeptlate，andSamcomplainedwithtearsofbitternessthathewasheldtillmidnightonHenry’sdirtyproofs。

Oriondidnotrealizeanyinjusticeatthetime。Thegamewastoodesperatetobeplayedtenderly。Hisfirsteditorialsweresobrilliantthatitwasnotbelievedhecouldhavewrittenthem。Thepaperthroughoutwasexcellent，andseemedonthehighroadtosuccess。Butthepacewastoohardtomaintain。Overworkbroughtweariness，andOrion’senthusiasm，neveraverystablequantity，grewfeeble。Hebecamestillmoreexacting。

ItisnottobesupposedthatSamClemenshadgivenupallamusementstobecomemerelyatoilingdrudgeorhadconqueredinanylargedegreehisnaturaltasteforamusement。Hehadbecomemorestudious；butafterthelong，harddaysintheofficeitwasnottobeexpectedthataboyoffifteenwouldemploytheevening——atleastnoteveryevening——inreadingbeneficialbooks。Theriverwasalwaysnearathand——forswimminginthesummerandskatinginthewinter——andonceevenatthislateperioditcamenearclaimingaheavytribute。Thatwasonewinter’snightwhenwithanotherboyhehadskateduntilnearlymidnight。Theywereaboutinthemiddleoftheriverwhentheyheardaterrificandgrindingnoiseneartheshore。Theyknewwhatitwas。Theicewasbreakingup，andtheysetoutforhomeforthwith。Itwasmoonlight，andtheycouldtelltheicefromthewater，whichwasagoodthing，fortherewerewidecrackstowardtheshore，andtheyhadtowaitforthesetoclose。Theywereanhourmakingthetrip，andjustbeforetheyreachedthebanktheycametoabroadspaceofwater。Theicewasliftingandfallingandcrunchingallaroundthem。Theywaitedaslongastheydaredanddecidedtoleapfromcaketocake。Sammadethecrossingwithoutaccident，buthiscompanionslippedinwhenafewfeetfromshore。Hewasagoodswimmerandlandedsafely，butthebathprobablycosthimhishearing。

Hewastakenveryill。Onediseasefollowedanother，endingwithscarletfeveranddeafness。

Therewasalsoentertainmentintheofficeitself。AcountryboynamedJimWolfehadcometolearnthetrade——agreen，good—natured，bashfulboy。Ineverytradetricksareplayedonthenewapprentice，andSamfeltthatitwashisturntoplaythem。WithJohnBriggstohelphim，torturesforJimWolfewereinventedandapplied。

Theytaughthimtopaddleacanoe，andupsethim。Theytookhimsnipingatnightandlefthim"holdingthebag"intheoldtraditionalfashionwhiletheyslippedoffhomeandwenttobed。

ButJimWolfe’smasterpieceofentertainmentwasonewhichheundertookonhisownaccount。Pamelawashavingacandy—pulldown—stairsonenight——agrown—upcandy—pulltowhichtheboyswerenotexpected。Jimwouldnothavegone，anyway，forhewasbashfulbeyondbelief，andalwaysdumb，andevenpalewithfear，inthepresenceofprettyPamelaClemens。

Upintheirroomtheboyscouldhearthemerrimentfrombelowandcouldlookoutinthemoonlightonthesnowyslopingroofthatbeganjustbeneaththeirwindow。Downattheeaveswasthesmallarbor，greeninsummer，butcoverednowwithdeadvinesandsnow。Theycouldhearthecandymakerscomeout，nowandthen，doubtlesssettingoutpansofcandytocool。Byandbythewholepartyseemedtocomeoutintothelittlearbor，totrythecandy，perhapsthejokingandlaughtercameplainlytotheboysup—stairs。Aboutthistimethereappearedontherooffromsomewheretwodisreputablecats，whosetupamostdisturbingduelofchargeandrecrimination。Jimdetestedthenoise，andperhapswasgallantenoughtothinkitwoulddisturbtheparty。Hehadnothingtothrowatthem，buthesaid：

"FortwocentsI’dgetoutthereandknocktheirheadsoff。"

"Youwouldn’tdaretodoit，"Samsaid，purringly。

ThiswaswormwoodtoJim。Hewasreallyabravespirit。

"Iwouldtoo，"hesaid，"andIwillifyousaythatagain。"

"Why，Jim，ofcourseyouwouldn’tdaretogooutthere。Youmightcatchcold。"

"Youwaitandsee，"saidJimWolfe。

Hegrabbedapairofyarnstockingsforhisfeet，raisedthewindow，andcreptoutonthesnowyroof。Therewasacrustoficeonthesnow，butJimjabbedhisheelsthroughitandstoodupinthemoonlight，hislegsbare，hissinglegarmentflappinggentlyinthelightwinterbreeze。

Thenhestartedslowlytowardthecats，sinkinghisheelsinthesnoweachtimeforafooting，apieceoflathinhishand。Thecatswereonthecorneroftheroofabovethearbor，andJimcautiouslyworkedhiswayinthatdirection。Theroofwasnotverysteep。Hewasdoingwellenoughuntilhecametoaplacewherethesnowhadmelteduntilitwasnearlysolidice。Hewassointentonthecatsthathedidnotnoticethis，andwhenhestruckhisheeldowntobreakthecrustnothingyielded。AsecondlaterJim’sfeethadshotoutfromunderhim，andhevaultedlikeanavalanchedowntheicyroofoutonthelittlevine—cladarbor，andwentcrashingthroughamongthosecandypullers，gatheredtherewiththeirpansofcoolingtaffy。Therewerewildshrieksandageneralflight。NeitherJimnorSameverknewhowhegotbacktotheirroom，butJimwasovercomewiththeenormityofhisoffense，whileSamwasinanagonyoflaughter。

"Youdiditsplendidly，Jim，"hedrawled，whenhecouldspeak。"Nobodycouldhavedoneitbetter；anddidyouseehowthosecatsgotoutofthere？Ineverhadanyideawhenyoustartedthatyoumeanttodoitthatway。Anditwassuchasurprisetothefolksdown—stairs。Howdidyoueverthinkofit？"

ItwasafearfulordealforaboylikeJimWolfe，buthestucktohisplaceinspiteofwhathemusthavesuffered。Theboysmadehimoneofthemsoonafterthat。Hisinitiationwasthoughttobecomplete。

AnaccountofJimWolfeandthecatswasthefirstoriginalstoryMarkTwainevertold。Hetolditnextday，whichwasSunday，toJimmyMcDaniel，thebaker’sson，astheysatlookingoutovertheriver，eatinggingerbread。Hishearerlaughedimmoderately，andthestory—tellerwasproudandhappyinhissuccess。

XVIII

THEBEGINNINGOFALITERARYLIFE

Orion’spapercontinuedtogodownhill。Followingsomerandomcounsel，hechangedthenameofitandadvancedtheprice——twoblunders。Thenhewascompelledtoreducethesubscription，alsotheadvertisingrates。Hewasobligedtoadoptadescendingscaleofchargesandexpenditurestokeeppacewithhisdecliningcirculation——afatalsign。Apublishermustleadhissubscriptionlist，notfollowit。

"Iwaswalkingbackward，"hesaid，"notseeingwhereIstepped。"

IndesperationhebrokeawayandmadeatriptoTennesseetoseeifsomethingcouldnotberealizedontheland，leavinghisbrotherSaminchargeoftheoffice。Itwasajourneywithoutfinancialresults；yetitborefruit，foritmarkedthebeginningofMarkTwain’sliterarycareer。

Sam，inhisbrother’sabsence，concludedtoeditthepaperinawaythatwouldlivenupthecirculation。Hehadneverdoneanywriting——notforprint——buthehadthecourageofhisinclinations。Hislocalitemswereofakindknownas"spicy"；hispersonalsbroughtpromptdemandforsatisfaction。Theeditorofarivalpaperhadbeeninlove，andwassaidtohavegonetotheriveronenighttodrownhimself。Samgaveapicturesqueaccountofthis，withallthenamesconnectedwiththeaffair。Thenhetookacoupleofbigwoodenblockletters，turnedthemupsidedown，andengravedillustrationsforit，showingthevictimwadingoutintotheriverwithasticktotestthedepthofthewater。Whenthisissueofthepapercameoutthedemandforitwasverylarge。Thepresshadtobekeptrunningsteadilytosupplycopies。Thesatirizededitoratfirstsworethathewouldthrashthewholejournaloffice，thenhelefttownanddidnotcomebackanymore。TheembryoMarkTwainalsowroteapoem。Itwasaddressed"ToMaryinHannibal，"butthetitlewastoolongtobesetinonecolumn，soheleftoutallthelettersinHannibal，exceptthefirstandthelast，andsuppliedtheirplacewithadash，withastartlingresult。Suchweretheearlyflickeringsofasmolderinggenius。Orionreturned，remonstrated，andapologized。HereducedSamtotheranks。Inlateryearshesawhismistake。

"Icouldhavedistancedallcompetitorseventhen，"hesaid，"ifIhadrecognizedSam’sabilityandlethimgoahead，merelykeepinghimfromoffendingworthypersons。"

Samwassubdued，butnotdonefor。Heneverwouldbe，now。Hehadgothisfirsttasteofprint，andhelikedit。HepromptlywrotetwoanecdoteswhichhethoughthumorousandsentthemtothePhiladelphiaSaturdayEveningPost。Theywereaccepted——withoutpayment，ofcourse，inthosedays；andwhenthepaperscontainingthemappearedhefeltsuddenlyliftedtoaloftyplaneofliterature。Thiswasin1851。

"SeeingtheminprintwasajoywhichratherexceededanythinginthatlineIhaveeverexperiencedsince，"hesaid，nearlysixtyyearslater。

YethedidnotfeelinspiredtowriteanythingfurtherforthePost。

TwiceduringthenexttwoyearshecontributedtotheJournal；oncesomethingaboutJimWolfe，thoughitwasnotthestoryofthecats，andanotherburlesqueonarivaleditorwhomhepicturedashuntingsnipewithacannon，theexplosionofwhichwassaidtohaveblownthesnipeoutofthecountry。Nocontributionsofthistimehavebeenpreserved。

HighpriceshavebeenofferedforcopiesoftheHannibaljournalcontainingthem，butwithoutsuccess。ThePostsketcheswereunsignedandhavenotbeenidentified。Itislikelytheyweretrivialenough。

Hisearliestworkshowednospecialindividualityormerit，beingmainlycrudeandimitative，astheworkofaboy——evenaprecociousboy——islikelytobe。Hewasnotespeciallyprecocious——notinliterature。Hisliterarycareerwouldhaltandhesitateandtriflealongformanyyearsyet，gatheringimpetusandequipmentforthefuller，statelierswingwhichwouldbringagreaterjoytotheworldatlarge，evenifnottohimself，thanthatfirst，far—offtriumph。——[InMarkTwain’ssketch"MyFirstLiteraryVenture"hehassetdownwithcharacteristicembroideriessomeaccountofthisearlyauthorship。]

Thosewerehardfinancialdays。Orioncouldpaynothingonhismortgage——barelytheinterest。HehadpromisedSamthreedollarsandahalfaweek，buthecoulddonomorethansupplyhimwithboardandclothes——

"poor，shabbyclothes，"hesaysinhisrecord。

"Mymotherandsisterdidthehousekeeping。Mymotherwascook。SheusedtheprovisionsIsuppliedher。Wethereforehadaregulardietofbacon，butter，bread，andcoffee。"

Mrs。Clemensagaintookafewboarders；Pamela，whohadgivenupteachingforatime，organizedanothermusicclass。Orionbecamedespondent。Onenightacowgotintotheoffice，upsetatypecase，andateuptwocompositionrollers。Orionfeltthatfatewasdealingwithaheavyhand。

Anotherdisasterquicklyfollowed。Firebrokeoutintheoffice，andthelosswasconsiderable。Aninsurancecompanypaidonehundredandfiftydollars。WithitOrionreplacedsucharticlesaswereabsolutelyneededforwork，andremovedhisplantintothefrontroomoftheClemensdwelling。Heraisedtheone—storypartofthebuildingtogivethemanaddedroomup—stairs；andthereforanothertwoyears，byhardworkandpinchingeconomies，thedyingpapermanagedtodragalong。ItwasthefirethatfurnishedSamClemenswithhisJimWolfesketch。InithestatedthatJiminhisexcitementhadcarriedtheofficebroomhalfamileandhadthencomebackafterthewash—pan。

InthemeantimePamelaClemensmarried。Herhusbandwasawell—to—domerchant，WilliamA。Moffett，formerlyofHannibal，butthenofSt。

Louis，wherehehadprovidedherwiththecomfortsofasubstantialhome。