Oriontriedtheexperimentofaserialstory。Hewrotetoanumberofwell—knownauthorsintheEast，butwasunabletofindonewhowouldsupplyaserialforthepricehewaswillingtopay。FinallyheobtainedatranslationofaFrenchnovelforthesumoffered，whichwasfivedollars。Itdidnotsavethesinkingship，however。Hemadetheexperimentofatri—weekly，withoutsuccess。Henoticedthatevenhismothernolongerreadhiseditorials，butturnedtothegeneralnews。
Thiswasafinalblow。
\"Isatdowninthedark，\"hesays，\"themoonglintinginattheopendoor。Isatwithonelegoverthechairandletmymindfloat。\"
Hehadreceivedanofferoffivehundreddollarsforhisoffice——theamountofthemortgage——andinhismoonlightreveriehedecidedtodisposeofitonthoseterms。Thiswasin1853。
HisbrotherSamuelwasnolongerwithhim。Severalmonthsbefore，inJune，Samdecidedhewouldgooutintotheworld。Hewasinhiseighteenthyearnow，agoodworkman，faithfulandindustrious，buthehadgrownrestlessinunrewardedservice。Beyondhismasteryofthetradehehadlittletoshowforsixyearsofhardlabor。OncewhenhehadaskedOrionforafewdollarstobuyasecond—handgun，Orion，exasperatedbydesperatecircumstances，fellintoapassionandratedhimforthinkingofsuchextravagance。SoonafterwardSamconfidedtohismotherthathewasgoingaway；thathebelievedOrionhatedhim；thattherewasnolongeraplaceforhimathome。HesaidhewouldgotoSt。Louis，wherePamelawas。TherewouldbeworkforhiminSt。Louis，andhecouldsendmoneyhome。HisintentionwastogofartherthanSt。Louis，buthedarednottellher。Hismotherputtogethersadlyenoughthefewbelongingsofwhatsheregardedasheronewaywardboy；thensheheldupalittleTestament：
\"Iwantyoutotakeholdoftheotherendofthis，Sam，\"shesaid，\"andmakemeapromise。\"
Ifonemighthaveatruepictureofthatscene：theshin，wirywomanofforty—nine，herfigureasstraightasherdeportment，gray—eyed，tender，andresolute，facingthefair—cheeked，auburn—hairedyouthofseventeen，hiseyesaspiercingandunwaveringasherown。Motherandson，theywereofthesamemetalandthesamemold。
\"Iwantyoutorepeatafterme，Sam，thesewords，\"JaneClemenssaid。
IdosolemnlyswearthatIwillnotthrowacardordrinkadropofliquorwhileIamgone。\"’
Herepeatedtheoathafterher，andshekissedhim。
\"Rememberthat，Sam，andwritetous，\"shesaid。
\"Andso，\"Orionrecords，\"hewentwanderinginsearchofthatcomfortandthatadvancementandthoserewardsofindustrywhichhehadfailedtofindwhereIwas——gloomy，taciturn，andselfish。Inotonlymissedhislabor；weallmissedhisboundingactivityandmerriment。\"
XIX
INTHEFOOTSTEPSOFFRANKLIN
HewenttoSt。Louisbythenightboat，visitedhissisterPamela，andfoundajobinthecomposing—roomoftheEveningNews。Heremainedonthepaperonlylongenoughtoearnmoneywithwhichtoseetheworld。
The\"world\"wasNewYorkCity，wheretheCrystalPalaceFairwasthengoingon。Therailwayhadbeencompletedbythistime，buthehadnottraveledonit。Ithadnotmanycomforts；severaldaysandnightswererequiredfortheNewYorktrip；yetitwasawonderfulandbeautifulexperience。HefeltthatevenPetMcMurrycouldhardlyhavedoneanythingtosurpassit。HearrivedinNewYorkwithtwoorthreedollarsinhispocketandaten—dollarbillconcealedintheliningofhiscoat。
NewYorkwasagreatandamazingcity。Italmostfrightenedhim。ItcoveredtheentirelowerendofManhattanIsland；visionarycitizensboastedthatonedayitwouldcoveritall。TheWorld’sFairbuilding，theCrystalPalace，stoodagoodwayout。ItwaswhereBryantParkisnow，onForty—secondStreetandSixthAvenue。YoungClemensclasseditasoneofthewondersoftheworldandwrotelavishlyofitsmarvels。
AportionofalettertohissisterPamelahasbeenpreservedandisgivenherenotonlyforwhatitcontains，butastheearliestexistingspecimenofhiscomposition。Thefragmentconcludeswhatwasdoubtlessanexhaustivedescription。
Fromthegallerysecondflooryouhaveaglorioussight——theflagsofthedifferentcountriesrepresented，theloftydome，glitteringjewelry，gaudytapestry，etc。，withthebusycrowdpassingtoandfro’tisaperfectfairypalace——beautifulbeyonddescription。
Themachinerydepartmentisonthemainfloor，butIcannotenumerateanyofitonaccountofthelatenessofthehourpast1
o’clock。Itwouldtakemorethanaweektoexamineeverythingonexhibition；andIwasonlyinalittleovertwohoursto—night。
Ionlyglancedataboutone—thirdofthearticles；and，havingapoormemory，Ihaveenumeratedscarcelyanyofeventheprincipalobjects。ThevisitorstothePalaceaverage6，000daily——doublethepopulationofHannibal。Thepriceofadmissionbeing50cents，theytakeinabout$3，000。
TheLattingObservatoryheightabout280feetisnearthePalace—
fromityoucanobtainagrandviewofthecityandthecountryaround。TheCrotonAqueduct，tosupplythecitywithwater，isthegreatestwonderyet。ImmensesewersarelaidacrossthebedoftheHudsonRiver，andpassthroughthecountrytoWestchesterCounty，whereawholeriveristurnedfromitscourseandbroughttoNewYork。FromthereservoirinthecitytotheWestchesterCountyreservoirthedistanceisthirty—eightmilesand，ifnecessary，theycouldeasilysupplyeveryfamilyinNewYorkwithonehundredbarrelsofwaterperday！
IamverysorrytolearnthatHenryhasbeensick。Heoughttogotothecountryandtakeexercise，forheisnothalfsohealthyasMathinksheis。Ifhehadmywalkingtodo，hewouldbeanotherboyentirely。FourtimeseverydayIwalkalittleoveramile；andworkinghardalldayandwalkingfourmilesisexercise。Iamusedtoitnow，though，anditisnotrouble。WhereisitOrion’sgoingto？TellMamypromisesarefaithfullykept；andifIhavemyhealthIwilltakehertoKy。inthespring——Ishallsavemoneyforthis。TellJimWolfeandalltherestofthemtowrite，andgivemeallthenews……
Ithasjuststruck2A。M。，andIalwaysgetupat6，andamatworkat7。YouaskwhereIspendmyevenings。Wherewouldyousuppose，withafreeprinter’slibrarycontainingmorethan4，000volumeswithinaquarterofamileofme，andnobodyathometotalkto？
Writesoon。
Trulyyourbrother，SAM
P。S。—IhavewrittenthisbyalightsodimthatyounorMacouldnotreadbyit。Write，andletmeknowhowHenryis。
Itisagoodletter；itisdirectandclearinitsdescriptivequality，anditgivesusascaleofthings。DoublethepopulationofHannibalvisitedtheCrystalPalaceinoneday！andthewatertosupplythecitycameadistanceofthirty—eightmiles！Doubtlessthesewereamazingstatistics。
Thentherewastheinterestinfamilyaffairs——alwaysstrong——hisconcernforHenry，whomhelovedtenderly；hismemoryofthepromisetohismother；hisunderstandingofhercravingtovisitheroldhome。Hedidnotwritetoherdirect，forthereasonthatOrion’splanswerethenuncertain，anditwasnotunlikelythathehadalreadyfoundanewlocation。Fromthisletter，too，welearnthattheboywhodetestedschoolwasrevelinginalibraryoffourthousandbooks——morethanhehadeverseentogetherbefore。Wehavesomehowthefeelingthathehadallatoncesteppedfromboyhoodtomanhood，andthattheseparationwasmarkedbyaverydefiniteline。
TheworkhehadsecuredwasinCliffStreetintheprintingestablishmentofJohnA。Gray&Green，whoagreedtopayhimfourdollarsaweek，anddidpaythatamountinwildcatmoney，whichsavedthemabouttwenty—fivepercent。ofthesum。Helodgedatamechanics’boarding—houseinDuaneStreet，andwhenhehadpaidhisboardandwashinghesometimeshadasmuchasfiftycentstolayaway。
Hedidnotliketheboard。HehadbeenaccustomedtotheSouthernmodeofcooking，andwrotehomecomplainingthatNew—Yorkersdidnothave\"hot—bread\"orbiscuits，butate\"light—bread，\"whichtheyallowedtogetstale，seemingtopreferitinthatway。Onthewhole，therewasnotmuchinducementtoremaininNewYorkafterhehadsatisfiedhimselfwithitswonders。Helingered，however，throughthehotmonthsof1853，andfounditnoteasytogo。InOctoberhewrotetoPamela，suggestingplansforOrion；alsoforHenryandJimWolfe，whomheseemsnevertohaveoverlooked。Amongotherthingshesays：
Ihavenotwrittentoanyofthefamilyforsometime，fromthefact，firstly，thatIdidn’tknowwheretheywere，and，secondly，becauseIhavebeenfoolingmyselfwiththeideathatIwasgoingtoleaveNewYorkeverydayforthelasttwoweeks。Ihavetakenalikingtotheabominableplace，andeverytimeIgetreadytoleaveIputitoffadayorso，fromsomeunaccountablecause。IthinkI
shallgetoffTuesday，though。
EdwinForresthasbeenplayingforthelastsixteendaysattheBroadwayTheater，butIneverwenttoseehimtilllastnight。Theplaywasthe\"Gladiator。\"Ididnotlikepartsofitmuch，butotherportionswerereallysplendid。Inthelatterpartofthelastact，wherethe\"Gladiator\"Forrestdiesathisbrother’sfeetinallthefiercepleasureofgratifiedrevenge，theman’swholesoulseemsabsorbedinthepartheisplaying；anditisreallystartlingtoseehim。IamsorryIdidnotseehimplay\"DamonandPythias\"——
theformercharacterbeingthegreatest。HeappearsinPhiladelphiaonMondaynight。
Ihavenotreceivedaletterfromhomelately，butgota\"Journal\"
theotherday，inwhichIseetheofficehasbeensold……
Ifmylettersdonotcomeoften，youneednotbotheryourselfaboutme；forifyouhaveabrothernearlyeighteenyearsofagewhoisnotabletotakecareofhimselfafewmilesfromhome，suchabrotherisnotworthone’sthoughts；andifIdon’tmanagetotakecareofNo。1，beassuredyouwillneverknowit。Iamnotafraid，however；Ishallaskfavorsofnooneandendeavortobeandshallbeas\"independentasawood—sawyer’sclerk。\"……
PassagetoAlbany160milesonthefineststeamersthatplytheHudsonisnow25cents——cheapenough，butisgenerallycheaperthanthatinthesummer。
\"IhavebeenfoolingmyselfwiththeideathatIwasgoingtoleaveNewYork\"isdistinctlyaMarkTwainphrase。Hemighthavesaidthatfiftyyearslater。
HedidgotoPhiladelphiapresentlyandfoundwork\"subbing\"onadailypaper，’TheInquirer。’Hewasafairlyswiftcompositor。Hecouldsettenthousandemsaday，andhereceivedpayaccordingtotheamountofworkdone。Daysoreveningswhentherewasnovacantplaceforhimtofillhevisitedhistoricsites，theart—galleries，andthelibraries。
Hewasstillacquiringeducation，yousee。Sometimesatnightwhenhereturnedtohisboardinghousehisroom—mate，anEnglishmannamedSumner，grilledaherring，andthiswasregardedasafeast。HetriedhishandatwritinginPhiladelphia，thoughthistimewithoutsuccess。ForsomereasonhedidnotagainattempttogetintothePost，butofferedhiscontributionstothePhiladelphia’Ledger’——mainlypoetryofanobituarykind。Perhapsitwasburlesque；heneverconfessedthat，butitseemsunlikelythatanyotherobituarypoetrywouldhavefailedofprint。
\"Myeffortswerenotreceivedwithapproval，\"wasallheeversaidofitafterward。
Thereweretwoorthreecharactersinthe’Inquirer’officewhomhedidnotforget。Oneofthesewasanoldcompositorwhohad\"heldacase\"inthatofficeformanyyears。HisnamewasFrog，andsometimeswhenhewentawaythe\"officedevils\"wouldhangalineoverhiscase，withahookonitbaitedwithapieceofredflannel。Theynevergottiredofthisjoke，andFrogwasalwaysabletogetasmadoveritashehadbeeninthebeginning。Anotheroldfellowtherefurnishedamusement。Heownedahouseinthedistantpartofthecityandhadanabnormalfearoffire。Nowandthen，wheneverythingwasquietexcepttheclickingofthetypes，someonewouldsteptothewindowandsaywithaconcernedair：
\"Doesn’tthatsmoke——[orthatlight，ifitwasevening]——seemtobeinthenorthwesternpartofthecity？\"or\"Theregothefire—bellsagain！\"
andawaytheoldmanwouldtrampuptotherooftoinvestigate。Itwasnotthemostconsideratesport，anditistobefearedthatSamClemenshadhisshareinit。
HefoundthathelikedPhiladelphia。Hecouldsavealittlemoneythere，foronething，andnowandthensentsomethingtohismother——smallamounts，butwelcomeandgratifying，nodoubt。InalettertoOrion——
whomheseemstohaveforgivenwithabsence——writtenOctober26th，heinclosesagolddollartobuyherahandkerchief，and\"toserveasaspecimenofthekindofstuffwearepaidwithinPhiladelphia。\"Furtheralongheadds：
UnlikeNewYork，IlikethisPhiladelphiaamazingly，andthepeopleinit。Thereisonlyonethingthatgetsmy\"dander\"up——andthatisthehandsarealwaysencouragingme：tellingme\"it’snousetogetdiscouraged——nousetobedownhearted，forthereismoreworkherethanyoucando！\"\"Downhearted，\"thedevil！IhavenothadaparticleofsuchafeelingsinceIleftHannibal，morethanfourmonthsago。Ifancythey’llhavetowaitsometimetilltheyseemedownheartedorafraidofstarvingwhileIhavestrengthtoworkandaminacityof400，000inhabitants。WhenIwasinHannibal，beforeIhadscarcelysteppedoutofthetownlimits，nothingcouldhaveconvincedmethatIwouldstarveassoonasIgotalittlewayfromhome。
HementionsthegraveofFranklininChristChurchyardwithitsinscription\"BenjaminandDeborahFranklin，\"andoneissharplyremindedofthesimilaritybetweentheearlycareersofBenjaminFranklinandSamuelClemens。Eachlearnedtheprinter’strade；eachworkedinhisbrother’sprinting—officeandwroteforthepaper；eachleftquietlyandwenttoNewYork，andfromNewYorktoPhiladelphia，asajourneymanprinter；eachindueseasonbecameaworldfigure，many—sided，human，andofincrediblepopularity。
TheforegoingletterendswithalongdescriptionofatripmadeontheFairmountstage。Itisagood，vividdescription——impressionsofafresh，sensitivemind，setdownwithlittleeffortatfinewriting；alettertoconveyliteralratherthanliteraryenjoyment。TheWireBridge，FairmountParkandReservoir，newbuildings——allthesepassedinreview。Afineresidenceaboutcompletedimpressedhim：
Itwasbuiltentirelyofgreatblocksofredgranite。Thepillarsinfrontwereallfinishedbutone。Thesepillarswerebeautiful，ornamentalflutedcolumns，considerablylargerthanahogsheadatthebase，andaboutashighasClapinger’ssecond—storyfrontwindows……Toseesomeofthemfinishedandstanding，andthenthehugeblockslyingabout，lookssomassy，andcarriesone，inimagination，totheruinedpilesofancientBabylon。Idespisetheinfernalbogusbrickcolumnsplasteredoverwithmortar。Marbleisthecheapestbuilding—stoneaboutPhiladelphia。
Thereisaflavorofthe’Innocents’aboutit；thenalittlefurtheralong：
Isawsmallsteamboats，withtheirsignsup——\"ForWissahickonandManayunk25cents。\"Geo。Lippard，inhisLegendsofWashingtonandhisGenerals，hasrenderedtheWissahickonsacredinmyeyes，andI
shallmakethattrip，aswellasonetoGermantown，soon……
ThereisonefinecustomobservedinPhila。Agentlemanisalwaysexpectedtohandupalady’smoneyforher。YesterdayIsatinthefrontendofthebus，directlyunderthedriver’sbox——aladysatoppositeme。Shehandedmehermoney，whichwasright。But，Lord！
aSt。Louisladywouldthinkherselfruinedifsheshouldbesofamiliarwithastranger。InSt。Louisamanwillsitinthefrontendofthestage，andseealadystaggerfromthefarendtopayherfare。
TherearetwomorelettersfromPhiladelphia：oneofNovember，28th，toOrion，whobythistimehadboughtapaperinMuscatine，Iowa，andlocatedthefamilythere；andonetoPameladatedDecember5th。
EvidentlyOrionhadrealizedthathisbrothermightbeofvalueasacontributor，forthelattersays：
Iwilltrytowriteforthepaperoccasionally，butIfearmyletterswillbeveryuninteresting，forthisincessantnightworkdullsone’sideasamazingly……IbelieveIamtheonlypersonintheInquirerofficethatdoesnotdrink。Oneyoungfellowmakes$18
forafewweeks，andgetsonagrand\"bender\"andspendseverycentofit。
Howdoyoulike\"freesoil\"？——Iwouldlikeamazinglytoseeagoodold—fashionednegro。Mylovetoall。
Trulyyourbrother，SAM
InthelettertoPamelaheisclearlyhomesick。
\"Ionlywanttoreturntoavoidnightwork，whichisinjuringmyeyes，\"
istheexcuse，butinthenextsentencehecomplainsofthescarcityoflettersfromhomeandthose\"notwrittenastheyshouldbe。\"\"Oneonlyhastoleavehometolearnhowtowriteinterestingletterstoanabsentfriend，\"hesays，andinconclusion，\"Idon’tlikeourpresentprospectforcoldweatheratall。\"
Hehadbeengonehalfayear，andthefirstattackofhome—longing，foraboyofhisage，wasdue。Thenoveltyofthingshadwornoff；itwascomingonwinter；changeshadtakenplaceamonghishomepeopleandfriends；thelifehehadknownbestandlongestwasgoingonandhehadnopartinit。Leaningoverhiscase，hesometimeshummed：
\"Anexilefromhome，splendordazzlesinvain。\"
Heweatheredtheattackandstuckitoutformorethanhalfayearlonger。InJanuary，whenthedaysweredarkandhegrewdepressed，hemadeatriptoWashingtontoseethesightsofthecapital。Hisstaywascomparativelybrief，andhedidnotworkthere。HereturnedtoPhiladelphia，workingforatimeontheLedgerandNorthAmerican。
FinallyhewentbacktoNewYork。Therearenolettersofthisperiod。
HissecondexperienceinNewYorkappearsnottohavebeenrecorded，andinlateryearswasonlyvaguelyremembered。Itwaslateinthesummerof1854whenhefinallysetoutonhisreturntotheWest。His’Wanderjahr’
hadlastednearlyfifteenmonths。
HewentdirectlytoSt。Louis，sittingupthreedaysandnightsinasmoking—cartomakethejourney。Hewaswornoutwhenhearrived，butstoppedthereonlyafewhourstoseePamela。Itwashismotherhewasanxiousfor。HetooktheKeokukPacketthatnight，and，flinginghimselfonhisberth，slepttheclockthreetimesaround，scarcelyrousingorturningover，onlywakingatlastatMuscatine。Foralongtimethatmissingdayconfusedhiscalculations。
WhenhereachedOrion’shousethefamilysatatbreakfast。Hecameincarryingagun。Theyhadnotbeenexpectinghim，andtherewasageneraloutcry，andarushinhisdirection。Hewardedthemoff，holdingthebuttoftheguninfrontofhim。
\"Youwouldn’tletmebuyagun，\"hesaid，\"soIboughtonemyself，andI
amgoingtouseit，now，inself—defense。\"
\"You，Sam！You，Sam！\"criedJaneClemens。\"Behaveyourself，\"forshewaswaryofagun。
Thenhehadhadhisjokeandgavehimselfintohismother’sarms。
XX
KEOKUKDAYS
OrionwishedhisbrothertoremainwithhimintheMuscatineoffice，buttheyoungmandeclaredhemustgotoSt。Louisandearnsomemoneybeforehewouldbeabletoaffordthatluxury：HereturnedtohisplaceontheSt。LouisEveningNews，whereheremaineduntillatewinterorearlyspringofthefollowingyear。
HelivedatthistimewithaPaveyfamily，probablyoneoftheHannibalPaveys，roomingwithayouthnamedFrankE。Burrough，ajourneymanchair—
makerwithatasteforDickens，Thackeray，Scott，andDisraeli。Burroughhadreallyafineliteraryappreciationforhisyears，andtheboyswerecomradesandclosefriends。Twenty—twoyearslaterMarkTwainexchangedwithBurroughsomeimpressionsofhimselfatthatearliertime。Clemenswrote：
MYDEARBURROUGH，——AsyoudescribemeIcanpicturemyselfasIwas22yearsago。Theportraitiscorrect。YouthinkIhavegrownsome；uponmywordtherewasroomforit。Youhavedescribedacallowfool，aself—sufficientass，amerehumantumble—bug，sterninair，heavingathisbitofdung，imaginingthatheisremodelingtheworldandisentirelycapableofdoingitright……ThatiswhatIwasat19—20。
OrionClemensinthemeantimehadmarriedandremovedtoKeokuk。Hehadmarriedduringavisittothatcity，inthecasual，impulsivewaysocharacteristicofhim，andthefactthathehadacquiredawifeintheoperationseemedatfirsttohaveescapedhisinnerconsciousness。Hetellsithimself；hesays：
AtsunriseonthenextmorningaftertheweddingweleftinastageforMuscatine。WehaltedfordinneratBurlington。Afterdespatchingthatmealwestoodonthepavementwhenthestagedroveup，readyfordeparture。Iclimbedin，gatheredthebuffalorobearoundme，andleanedbackunconsciousthatIhadanythingfurthertodo。Agentlemanstandingonthepavementsaidtomywife，\"Miss，doyougobythisstage？\"Isaid，\"Oh，Iforgot！\"andsprangoutandhelpedherin。AwifewasanewkindofpossessiontowhichI
hadnotyetbecomeaccustomed；Ihadforgottenher。
Orion’swifehadbeenMaryStotts；hermotherafriendofJaneClemens’sgirlhood。SheprovedafaithfulhelpmatetoOrion；butinthoseearlydaysofmarriageshemayhavefoundlifewithhimrathertrying，anditwasherhomesicknessthatbroughtthemtoKeokuk。BrotherSamcameupfromSt。Louis，byandby，tovisitthem，andOrionofferedhimfivedollarsaweekandboardtoremain。Heaccepted。Theofficeatthistime，orsoonafter，waslocatedonthethirdfloorof52MainStreet，inthebuildingatpresentoccupiedbythePatersonShoeCompany。HenryClemens，nowseventeen，wasalsoinOrion’semploy，andaladbythenameofDickHingham。HenryandSamsleptintheoffice，andDickcameinforsocialevenings。AlsoayoungmannamedEdwardBrownell，whoclerkedinthebook—storeonthegroundfloor。
Thesewerelikelytobelivelyevenings。Amusicdealerandteacher，ProfessorIsbell，occupiedthefloorjustbelow，anddidnotcarefortheirdiversions。Heobjected，buthardlyintherightway。HadhegonetoSamuelClemensgently，heundoubtedlywouldhavefoundhimwillingtomakeanyconcessions。Instead，heassailedhimroughly，andthenexteveningtheboyssetupalotofemptywine—bottles，whichtheyhadfoundinabarrelinacloset，and，withstonesforballs，playedtenpinsontheofficefloor。ThiswasDickandSam；Henrydeclinedtojointhegame。Isbellrushedup—stairsandbatteredonthedoor，buttheypaidnoattention。Nextmorninghewaitedfortheyoungmenanddenouncedthemwildly。Theymerelyignoredhim，andthatnightorganizedamilitarycompany，madeupofthemselvesandanewGermanapprentice—boy，anddrilledupanddownoverthesinging—class。DickHinghamledthesemilitarymanoeuvers。Hewasagirlishsortofafellow，buthehadanaturaltasteforsoldiering。Theothersusedtolaughathim。Theycalledhimadisguisedgirl，anddeclaredhewouldrunifagunwerereallypointedinhisdirection。Theyweremistaken；sevenyearslaterDickdiedatFortDonelsonwithabulletinhisforehead：this，bytheway。
Isbellnowadoptednewtactics。Hecameupverypleasantlyandsaid：
\"Ilikeyourmilitarypracticebetterthanyourtenpinexercise，butonthewholeitseemstodisturbtheyoungladies。Youseehowitisyourself。Youcouldn’tpossiblyteachmusicwithacompanyofrawrecruitsdrillingoverhead——now，couldyou？Won’tyoupleasestopit？
Itbothersmypupils。\"
SamClemensregardedhimwithmildsurprise。
\"Doesit？\"hesaid，verydeliberately。\"Whydidn’tyoumentionitbefore？Tobesurewedon’twanttodisturbtheyoungladies。\"
Theygaveupthehorse—play，andnotonlystoppedthedisturbance，butjoinedoneofthesinging——classes。SamuelClemenshadaprettygoodvoiceinthosedaysandcoulddrumfairlywellonapianoandguitar。
Hedidnotbecomeabrilliantmusician，buthewaseasilythemostpopularmemberofthesinging—class。
Theylikedhisfranknature，hisjokes，andhishumor；hisslow，quaintfashionofspeech。Theyoungladiescalledhimopenlyandfondlya\"fool\"——atermofendearment，astheyapplieditmeaningonlythathekepttheminamoreorlessconstantstateofwonderandmerriment；andindeeditwouldhavebeenhardforthemtosaywhetherhewasreallylight—mindedandfrivolousorthewisestofthemall。Hewastwentynowandattheageforlove—making；yetheremained，asinHannibal，abeauratherthanasuitor，goodfriendandcomradetoall，wooerofnone。
EllaCreel，acousinontheLamptonside，agreatbelle；alsoEllaPattersonrelatedthroughOrion’swifeandgenerallyknownas\"Ick\"，andBelleStottswereperhapshisfavoritecompanions，butthereweremanymore。Hewasalwaysreadytostopandbemerrywiththem，fullofhispranksandpleasantries；thoughtheynoticedthathequiteoftencarriedabookunderhisarm——ahistoryoravolumeofDickensorthetalesofEdgarAllanPoe。
Hereadatoddmoments；atnightvoluminously——untilverylate，sometimes。Alreadyinthatearlydayitwashishabittosmokeinbed，andhehadmadehimanOrientalpipeofthehubble—bubblevariety，becauseitwouldholdmoreandwasmorecomfortablethantheregularshortpipeofdaytimeuse。
Butithaditsdisadvantages。Sometimesitwouldgoout，andthatwouldmeansittingupandreachingforamatchandleaningovertolightthebowlwhichstoodonthefloor。YoungBrownellfrombelowwaspassingupstairstohisroomonthefourthflooronenightwhenheheardSamClemenscall。Thetwoweregreatchumsbythistime，andBrownellpokedhisheadinatthedoor。
\"Whatwillyouhave，Sam？\"heasked。
\"Comein，Ed；Henry’sasleep，andIamintrouble。Iwantsomebodytolightmypipe。\"
\"Whydon’tyougetupandlightityourself？\"Brownellasked。
\"Iwould，onlyIknewyou’dbealonginafewminutesandwoulddoitforme。\"
Brownellscratchedthenecessarymatch，stoopeddown，andappliedit。
\"Whatareyoureading，Sam？\"heasked。
\"Oh，nothingmuch——aso—calledfunnybook——oneofthesedaysI’llwriteafunnierbookthanthat，myself。\"
Brownelllaughed。
\"No，youwon’t，Sam，\"hesaid。\"Youaretoolazyevertowriteabook。\"
Agoodmanyyearslaterwhenthename\"MarkTwain\"hadbeguntostandforAmericanhumortheownerofitgavehis\"SandwichIsland\"lectureinKeokuk。Speakingoftheunreliabilityoftheislanders，hesaid：\"Thekingis，Ibelieve，oneofthegreatestliarsonthefaceoftheearth，exceptone；andIamverysorrytolocatethatonerighthereinthecityofKeokuk，inthepersonofEdBrownell。
TheKeokukepisodeinMarkTwain’slifewasneitherverylongnorveryactivelyimportant。Itextendedoveraperiodoflessthantwoyears——
twovitalyears，nodoubt，ifallthebearingscouldbeknown——buttheywerenotyearsofstartlingoccurrence。
Yethemadeatleastonebeginningthere：ataprinters’banquethedeliveredhisfirstafter—dinnerspeech；ahilariousspeech——itshumorofaprimitivekind。Whateveritsshortcomings，itdelightedhisaudience，andraisedhimmanypointsinthepublicregard。Hehadenteredafieldofentertainmentinwhichhewouldonedayhavenorival。Theyimpressedhimintoadebatingsocietyafterthat，andtherewasgenerallyastirofattentionwhenSamClemenswasabouttotakethefloor。
OrionClemensrecordshowhisbrotherundertooktoteachtheGermanapprenticemusic。
\"TherewasanoldguitarintheofficeandSamtaughtFritzasongbeginning：
Grasshoppersittingonasweet—potatovine，Turkeycamealongandyankedhimfrombehind。\"
Themainpointinthelessonwasingivingtotheword\"yanked\"theproperexpressionandemphasis，accompaniedbyasweepofthefingersacrossthestrings。WithseriousfaceanddeepearnestnessFritzinhisbrokenEnglishwouldattempttheselines，whilehisteacherwouldbendoverandholdhissideswithlaughterateachridiculouseffort。Withoutintendingit，Fritzhadhisrevenge。Onedayhistormentor’shandwascaughtinthepresswhentheGermanboywasturningthewheel。Samcalledtohimtostop，buttheboy’smindwasslowtograspthesituation。Thehandwasbadlywounded，thoughnoboneswerebroken。Induetimeitrecovered，itspoweranddexterity，butthetraceofthescarsremained。
Orion’sprinting—officewasnotaprosperousone；hehadnotthegiftofprosperityinanyform。Whenhefounditdifficulttopayhisbrother’swages，hetookhimintopartnership，whichmeantthatSamgotnowagesatall，barelyaliving，fortheofficecouldnotkeepitsheadabovewater。
Thejuniorpartnerwasnotdisturbed，however。Hecaredlittleformoneyinthosedays，beyondhisactualneeds，andtheseweremodestenough。
Hismother，nowwithPamela，wasamplyprovidedfor。Orionhimselftellshowhisbusinessdwindledaway。HeprintedaKeokukdirectory，butitdidnotpaylargely。Hewasalwaystooeagerforthework；toolowinhisbidforit。SamuelClemensinthisdirectoryissetdownas\"anantiquarian\"ajoke，ofcourse，thoughthepointofitisnowlost。
OnlytwoofhisKeokuklettershavebeenpreserved。Thefirstindicatesthegeneraldisorderoftheofficeandagrowingdissatisfaction。ItisaddressedtohismotherandsisterandbearsdateofJune10，1856。
Idon’tliketoworkattoomanythingsatonce。TheytakeHenryandDickawayfromme，too。BeforewecommencedtheDirectory，——
[Orionprintedtwoeditionsofthedirectory。Thiswasprobablythesecondone。]——Icouldtellbeforebreakfastjusthowmuchworkcouldbedoneduringtheday，andmanageaccordingly——butnow，theythrowallmyplansintodisorderbytakingmyhandsawayfromtheirwork……Iamnotgettingalongwellwiththejob—work。Ican’tworkblindly——withoutsystem。IgaveDickajobyesterday，whichI
calculatedhecouldsetintwohoursandIcouldworkoffonthepressinthree，andthereforejustfinishitbysupper—time，buthewastransferredtotheDirectory，andthejob，promisedthismorning，remainsuntouched。Throughallthegreatpressureofjob—
worklately，Ineverbeforefailedinapromiseofthekind……
Theotherletterisdatedtwomonthslater，August5th。ItwaswrittentoHenry，whowasvisitinginSt。LouisorHannibalatthetime，andintroducesthefirstmentionoftheSouthAmericanfever，whichnowpossessedthewriter。LynchandHerndonhadcompletedtheirsurveyoftheupperAmazon，andLieutenantHerndon’saccountoftheexplorationwasbeingwidelyread。Poringoverthebooknights，youngClemenshadbeenseizedwithadesiretogototheheadwatersoftheSouthAmericanriver，theretocollectcocaandmakeafortune。Allhislifehewassubjecttosuchimpulsesasthat，andwaysandmeanswerenotalwaysconsidered。ItdidnotoccurtohimthatitwouldbedifficulttogettotheAmazonandstillmoredifficulttoascendtheriver。Itwashisnaturetoseeresultswithadazzlinglargenessthatblindedhimtothedetailoftheirachievement。Inthe\"Turning—point\"articlealreadymentionedhereferstothis。Hesays：
Thatwasmorethanfiftyyearsago。Inallthattimemytemperamenthasnotchangedbyevenashade。Ihavebeenpunishedmanyandmanyatime，andbitterly，fordoingthingsandreflectingafterward，butthesetortureshavebeenofnovaluetome；IstilldothethingcommandedbyCircumstanceandTemperament，andreflectafterward。
Alwaysviolently。WhenIamreflectingontheseoccasions，evendeafpersonscanhearmethink。
InthelettertoHenryweseethathisresolvewasalreadymade，hisplansmatured；alsothatOrionhadnotasyetbeentakenintofullconfidence。
Maknowsmydetermination，butevenshecounselsmetokeepitfromOrion。ShesaysIcantreathimasIdidherwhenIstartedtoSt。
LouisandwenttoNewYork——IcanstartforNewYorkandgotoSouthAmerica。
HeaddsthatOrionhadpromisedhimfiftyoronehundreddollars，butthathedoesnotdependuponit，andwillmakeotherarrangements。Hefearsobstaclesmaybeputinhisway，andhewillbringvariousinfluencestobear。
IshalltakecarethatMaandOrionareplentifullysuppliedwithSouthAmericanbooks：TheyhaveHerndon’sreportnow。WardandtheDr。andmyselfwillholdagrandconsultationto—nightattheoffice。Wehaveagreedthatnomoreshallbeadmittedintoourcompany。
Hehadenlistedthosetwoadventurersinhisenterprise：aDoctorMartinandtheyoungman，Ward。Theywereverymuchinearnest，butthestartwasnotmadeasplanned，mostlikelyforwantofmeans。
YoungClemens，however，didnotgiveuptheidea。Hemadeuphismindtoworkinthedirectionofhisdesire，followinghistradeandlayingbymoneyfortheventure。ButFateorProvidenceorAccident——whateverwemaychoosetocalltheunaccountable——steppedinjustthen，andlaidbeforehimthemeansofturninganothersharpcornerinhiscareer。Oneofthosethingshappenedwhichwerefusetoacceptinfictionaspossible；butfacthasasmallerregardforthecredibilities。
AsinthecaseoftheJoanofArcepisodeandthisaddstoitsmarvel，itwasthewindthatbroughtthetalismanicgift。ItwasadayinearlyNovember——bleak，bitter，andgusty，withcurlingsnow；mostpersonswereindoors。SamuelClemens，goingdownMainStreet，sawaflyingbitofpaperpasshimandlodgeagainstthesideofabuilding。Somethingaboutitattractedhimandhecapturedit。Itwasafifty—dollarbill。Hehadneverseenonebefore，butherecognizedit。Hethoughthemustbehavingapleasantdream。
Thetemptationcametopockethisgood—fortuneandsaynothing。Hisneedofmoneywasurgent，buthehadalsoanurgentandtroublesomeconscience；intheendheadvertisedhisfind。
\"Ididn’tdescribeitveryparticularly，andIwaitedindailyfearthattheownerwouldturnupandtakeawaymyfortune。ByandbyIcouldn’tstanditanylonger。Myconsciencehadgottenallthatwascomingtoit。
IfeltthatImusttakethatmoneyoutofdanger。\"
Inthe\"Turning—point\"articlehesays：\"IadvertisedthefindandleftfortheAmazonthesameday，\"astatementwhichwemayacceptwithaliterarydiscount。
Asamatteroffact，heremainedampletimeandnobodyevercameforthemoney。Itmayhavebeensweptoutofabankorcaughtupbythewindfromsomecounting—roomtable。Itmayhavematerializedoutoftheunseen——whoknows？Atalleventsitcarriedhimthefirststageofajourney，theendofwhichhelittledreamed。
XXI
SCOTCHMANNAMEDMACFARLANE
HeconcludedtogotoCincinnati，whichwouldbeonthewayeithertoNewYorkorNewOrleansheexpectedtosailfromoneofthesepoints，butfirstpaidabriefvisittohismotherinSt。Louis，forhehadafarjourneyandalongabsenceinview。JaneClemensmadehimrenewhispromiseastocardsandliquor，andgavehimherblessing。HehadexpectedtogofromSt。LouistoCincinnati，butanewidea——aliteraryidea——cametohim，andhereturnedtoKeokuk。TheSaturdayPost，aKeokukweekly，wasaprosperoussheetgivingitselfcertainliteraryairs。Hewasinfavorwiththemanagement，ofwhichGeorgeReeswasthehead，andithadoccurredtohimthathecouldsendlettersofhistravelstothePost——for，aconsideration。Hemayhavehadastilllargerambition；atleast，thepossibilityofabookseemstohavebeeninhisconsciousness。Reesagreedtotakelettersfromhimatfivedollarseach——goodpaymentforthattimeandplace。Theyoungtraveler，jubilantintheprospectofreceivingmoneyforliterature，nowmadeanotherstart，thistimebywayofQuincy，Chicago，andIndianapolisaccordingtohisfirstletterinthePost。——[SuppliedbyThomasRees，oftheSpringfieldIllinoisRegister，sonofGeorgeReesnamed。]
ThisletterisdatedCincinnati，November14，1856，anditisnotapromisingliteraryproduction。Itwaswrittenintheexaggerateddialectthenregardedashumorous，andwhilehereandthereareflashesoftheundoubtedMarkTwaintype，theyarefewandfarbetween。Thegeniusthatalittlemorethantenyearslaterwoulddelighttheworldflickeredfeeblyenoughattwenty—one。TheletterisaburlesqueaccountofthetriptoCincinnati。Abriefextractfromit，ascharacteristicasany，willserve。
Iwentdownonenighttotherailroadofficethere，purtycloseontotheLacledeHouse，andboughtaboutaquireo’yallerpaper，cutupintotickets——oneforeachrailroadintheUnitedStates，Ithought，butIfoundoutafterwardsthattheAlexandriaandBostonAir—Linewasleftout——andthengotabaggagefellertotakemytrunkdowntotheboat，wherehespilleditoutonthelevee，bustin’itopenandshakin’outthecontents，consistingof\"guides\"toChicago，and\"guides\"toCincinnati，andtravelers’guides，andallkindsofsichbooks，notexceptinga\"guidetoheaven，\"whichlastaintmuchusetoaTellerinChicago，Ikintellyou。Finally，thatfastpacketquitringingherbell，andstarteddowntheriver——butshehadn’tgonemornamile，tillsherancleanupontopofasand—bar，wharshestucktillplumoneo’clock，spiteoftheCaptain’sswearin’——
andtheyhadtosetthewholecrewtocussin’atlastaforetheygotheroff。
Thisishumor，wemayconcede，ofthatearlyAmericantypewhichalittlelaterwouldhaveitsflowerinNasbyandArtemusWard。OnlycarefulexaminationrevealsinitahintofthelaterMarkTwain。Thelettersweresigned\"Snodgrass，\"andtherearebuttwoofthem。Thesecond，datedexactlyfourmonthsafterthefirst，isinthesameassassinatingdialect，andrecountsamongotherthingsthescarcityofcoalinCincinnatiandanabsurdadventureinwhichSnodgrasshasababyleftonhishands。
>FromthefewnessoftheletterswemayassumethatSnodgrassfoundthemhardwork，anditissaidheraisedontheprice。Atallevents，thesecondconcludedtheseries。Theyaremainlyimportantinthattheyarethefirstofhiscontributionsthathavebeenpreserved；alsothefirstforwhichhereceivedacashreturn。
HesecuredworkathistradeinCincinnatiattheprinting—officeofWrightson&Co。，andremainedthereuntilApril，1857。ThatwinterinCincinnatiwaseventlessenough，butitwasmarkedbyonenotableassociation——onethatbeyonddoubtforwardedSamuelClemens’sgeneralinterestinbooks，influencedhistaste，andinspiredinhimcertainviewsandphilosophieswhichheneverforgot。
Helodgedatacheapboarding—housefilledwiththeusualcommonplacepeople，withoneexception。Thisexceptionwasalong，lank，unsmilingScotchmannamedMacfarlane，whowastwiceasoldasClemensandwhollyunlikehim——withouthumororanycomprehensionofit。Yetmeetingonthecommonplaneofintellect，thetwobecamefriends。ClemensspenthiseveningsinMacfarlane’sroomuntiltheclockstruckten；thenMacfarlanegrilledaherring，justastheEnglishmanSumnerinPhiladelphiahaddonetwoyearsbefore，andtheeveningended。
Macfarlanehadbooks，seriousbooks：histories，philosophies，andscientificworks；alsoaBibleandadictionary。Hehadstudiedtheseandknewthembyheart；hewasadirectanddiligenttalker。Henevertalkedofhimself，andbeyondthestatementthathehadacquiredhisknowledgefromreading，andnotatschool，hispersonalitywasamystery。
Heleftthehouseatsixinthemorningandreturnedatthesamehourintheevening。Hishandswerehardenedfromsomesortoftoil—mechanicallabor，hiscompanionthought，butheneverknew。Hewouldhavelikedtoknow，andhewatchedforsomereferencetoslipoutthatwouldbetrayMacfarlane’strade；butthisneverhappened。
WhathedidlearnwasthatMacfarlanewasaveritablestorehouseofabstruseknowledge；alivingdictionary，andathinkerandphilosopherbesides。Hehadatleastonevanity：theclaimthathekneweverywordintheEnglishdictionary，andhemadeitgood。TheyoungermantriedrepeatedlytodiscoverawordthatMacfarlanecouldnotdefine。
PerhapsMacfarlanewasvainofhisothermentalattainments，forhenevertiredofdiscoursingupondeepandgravematters，andhiscompanionnevertiredoflistening。ThisScotchphilosopherdidnotalwaysreflecttheconclusionsofothers；hehadspeculateddeeplyandstrikinglyonhisownaccount。ThatwasagoodwhilebeforeDarwinandWallacegaveout——theirconclusionsontheDescentofMan；yetMacfarlanewasalreadyadvancingasimilarphilosophy。Hewentevenfurther：Life，hesaid，hadbeendevelopedinthecourseofagesfromafewmicroscopicseed—germs——fromone，perhaps，plantedbytheCreatorinthedawnoftime，andthatfromthisbeginningdevelopmentonanascendingscalehadfinallyproducedman。Macfarlanesaidthattheschemehadstoppedthere，andfailed；thatmanhadretrograded；thatman’sheartwastheonlybadoneintheanimalkingdom：thatmanwastheonlyanimalcapableofmalice，vindictiveness，drunkenness——almosttheonlyanimalthatcouldendurepersonaluncleanliness。Hesaidthatman’sintellectwasadepravingadditiontohimwhich，intheend，placedhiminarankfarbelowtheotherbeasts，thoughitenabledhimtokeeptheminservitudeandcaptivity，alongwithmanymembersofhisownrace。
Theywerelong，fermentingdiscoursesthatyoungSamuelClemenslistenedtothatwinterinMacfarlane’sroom，andthosewhoknewtherealMarkTwainandhisphilosophieswillrecognizethatthoseeveningslefttheirimpressuponhimforlife。
XXII
THEOLDCALLOFTHERIVER
Whenspringcame，withbuddinglifeandquickeningimpulses；whenthetreesintheparksbegantoshowahintofgreen，theAmazonianideadevelopedafresh，andthewould—becoca—hunterpreparedforhisexpedition。Hehadsavedalittlemoney——enoughtotakehimtoNewOrleans——andhedecidedtobeginhislongtripwithapeacefuljourneydowntheMississippi，foronce，atleast，togivehimselfuptothatindolentluxuryofthemajesticstreamthathadbeensolargeapartofhisearlydreams。
TheOhioRiversteamerswerenotthemostsumptuouscraftafloat，buttheywereslowandhospitable。Thewinterhadbeenbleakandhard。
\"Springfever\"andalargeloveofindolencehadcombinedinthatdrowsyconditionwhichmakesonewillingtotakehistime。
MarkTwaintellsusinLifeontheMississippithathe\"ranaway，\"vowingnevertoreturnuntilhecouldcomehomeapilot，sheddingglory。Thisisaliterarystatement。Thepilotambitionhadneverentirelydied；butitwascocaandtheAmazonthatwereuppermostinhisheadwhenheengagedpassageonthePaulJonesforNewOrleans，andsoconferredimmortalityonthatancientlittlecraft。Hebadegood—bytoMacfarlane，puthistrapsaboard，thebellrang，thewhistleblew，thegang—plankwashauledin，andhehadsetoutonavoyagethatwastocontinuenotforaweekorafortnight，butforfouryears——fourmarvelous，sunlityears，thegloryofwhichwouldcolorallthatfollowedthem。
IntheMississippibooktheauthorconveystheimpressionofbeingthenaboyofperhapsseventeen。Writingfromthatstandpointherecordsincidentsthatweremoreorlessinventionsorthathappenedtoothers。
Hewas，inreality，considerablymorethantwenty—oneyearsold，foritwasinApril，1857，thathewentaboardthePaulJones；andhewasfairlyfamiliarwithsteamboatsandthegeneralrequirementsofpiloting。Hehadbeenbroughtupinatownthatturnedoutpilots；hehadheardthetalkoftheirtrade。OneatleastoftheBowenboyswasalreadyontheriverwhileSamClemenswasstillaboyinHannibal，andhadoftenbeenhometoairhisgrandeuranddilateonthemarvelofhiswork。ThatlearningtheriverwasnolighttaskSamClemensverywellknew。
Nevertheless，asthelittleboatmadeitsdrowsywaydowntheriverintolandsthatgreweverpleasanterwithadvancingspring，theold\"permanentambition\"ofboyhoodstirredagain，andthecallofthefar—awayAmazon，withitscocaanditsvariegatedzoology，grewfaint。
HoraceBixby，pilotofthePaulJones，thenamanofthirty—two，stillliving1910andatthewheel，——[ThewriterofthismemoirinterviewedMr。Bixbypersonally，andhasfollowedhisphrasingthroughout。]——waslookingoutoverthebowattheheadofIslandNo。35whenheheardaslow，pleasantvoicesay：
\"Goodmorning。\"
Bixbywasaclean—cut，direct，courteousman。
\"Goodmorning，sir，\"hesaid，briskly，withoutlookingaround。
AsaruleMr。Bixbydidnotcareforvisitorsinthepilot—house。Thisonepresentlycameupandstoodalittlebehindhim。
\"Howwouldyoulikeayoungmantolearntheriver？\"hesaid。
Thepilotglancedoverhisshoulderandsawaratherslender，loose—
limbedyoungfellowwithafair，girlishcomplexionandagreattangleofauburnhair。
\"Iwouldn’tlikeit。Cubpilotsaremoretroublethanthey’reworth。
Agreatdealmoretroublethanprofit。\"
Theapplicantwasnotdiscouraged。
\"Iamaprinterbytrade，\"hewenton，inhiseasy，deliberateway。
\"Itdoesn’tagreewithme。IthoughtI’dgotoSouthAmerica。\"
Bixbykepthiseyeontheriver；butanoteofinterestcreptintohisvoice。
\"Whatmakesyoupullyourwordsthatway？\"\"pulling\"beingtherivertermfordrawling，heasked。
Theyoungmanhadtakenaseatonthevisitors’bench。
\"You’llhavetoaskmymother，\"hesaid，moreslowlythanever。\"Shepullshers，too。\"
PilotBixbywokeupandlaughed；hehadakeensenseofhumor，andthemannerofthereplyamusedhim。Hisguestmadeanotheradvance。
\"DoyouknowtheBowenboys？\"heasked——\"pilotsintheSt。LouisandNewOrleanstrade？\"
\"Iknowthemwell——allthreeofthem。WilliamBowendidhisfirststeeringforme；amightygoodboy，too。HadaTestamentinhispocketwhenhecameaboard；inaweek’stimehehadswappeditforapackofcards。IknowSam，too，andBart。\"
\"OldschoolmatesofmineinHannibal。SamandWillespeciallyweremychums。\"
\"Comeoverandstandbythesideofme，\"hesaid。\"Whatisyourname？\"
Theapplicanttoldhim，andthetwostoodlookingatthesunlitwater。
\"Doyoudrink？\"
\"No。\"
\"Doyougamble？\"
\"No，Sir。\"
\"Doyouswear？\"
\"Notforamusement；onlyunderpressure。\"
\"Doyouchew？\"
\"No，sir，never；butImustsmoke。\"
\"Didyoueverdoanysteering？\"wasBixby’snextquestion。
\"Ihavesteeredeverythingontheriverbutasteamboat，Iguess。\"
\"Verywell；takethewheelandseewhatyoucandowithasteamboat。
Keepherassheis——towardthatlowercottonwood，snag。\"
Bixbyhadasorefootandwasgladofalittlerelief。Hesatdownonthebenchandkeptacarefuleyeonthecourse。Byandbyhesaid：
\"ThereisjustonewaythatIwouldtakeayoungmantolearntheriver：
thatis，formoney。\"
\"Whatdoyoucharge？\"
\"Fivehundreddollars，andItobeatnoexpensewhatever。\"
Inthosedayspilotswereallowedtocarryalearner，or\"cub，\"boardfree。Mr。Bixbymeantthathewastobeatnoexpenseinport，orforincidentals。Histermslookedratherdiscouraging。
\"Ihaven’tgotfivehundreddollarsinmoney，\"Samsaid；\"I’vegotalotofTennesseelandworthtwenty—fivecentsanacre；I’llgiveyoutwothousandacresofthat。\"
Bixbydissented。
\"No；Idon’twantanyunimprovedrealestate。Ihavetoomuchalready。\"
SamreflectedupontheamounthecouldprobablyborrowfromPamela’shusbandwithoutstraininghiscredit。
\"Well，then，I’llgiveyouonehundreddollarscashandtherestwhenI
earnit。\"
SomethingaboutthisyoungmanhadwonHoraceBixby’sheart。Hisslow，pleasantspeech；hisunhurried，quietmannerwiththewheel，hisevidentsincerityofpurpose——thesewereexternals，butbeneaththemthepilotfeltsomethingofthatqualityofmindorheartwhichlatermadetheworldloveMarkTwain。Thetermsproposedwereagreedupon。Thedeferredpaymentsweretobeginwhenthepupilhadlearnedtheriverandwasreceivingpilot’swages。DuringMr。Bixby’sdaylightwatcheshispupilwasoftenatthewheel，thattrip，whilethepilotsatdirectinghimandnursinghissorefoot。AnyliteraryambitionsSamuelClemensmayhavehadgrewdim；bythetimetheyhadreachedNewOrleanshehadalmostforgottenhehadbeenaprinter，andwhenhelearnedthatnoshipwouldbesailingtotheAmazonforanindefiniteperiodthefeelinggrewthatadirectinghandhadtakenchargeofhisaffairs。
>FromNewOrleanshischiefdidnotreturntoCincinnati，butwenttoSt。
Louis，takingwithhimhisnewcub，whothoughtitfine，indeed，tocomesteaminguptothatgreatcitywithitsthrongingwater—front；itsleveefairlypackedwithtrucks，drays，andpilesoffreight，thewholeflankedwithasolidmileofsteamboatslyingsidebyside，bowalittleup—
stream，theirbelchingstacksrearedhighagainsttheblue——atoweringfrontoftrade。Itwasglorioustonoseone’swaytoaplaceinthatstatelyline，tobecomeaunit，howeversmall，ofthatimposingfleet。
AtSt。LouisSamborrowedfromMr。Moffettthefundsnecessarytomakeuphisfirstpayment，andsoconcludedhiscontract。Then，whenhesuddenlyfoundhimselfonafinebigboat，inapilot—housesofarabovethewaterthatheseemedperchedonamountain——a\"sumptuoustemple\"——hishappinessseemedcomplete。
XXIII
THESUPREMESCIENCE
InhisMississippibookMarkTwainhasgivenusamarvelousexpositionofthescienceofriver—piloting，andofthecolossaltaskofacquiringandkeepingaknowledgerequisiteforthatwork。Hehasnotexaggeratedthispartofthestoryofdevelopmentsinanydetail；hehassetdownasimpleconfession。
Serenelyenoughheundertookthetaskoflearningtwelvehundredmilesofthegreatchanging，shiftingriverasexactlyandassurelybydaylightordarknessasoneknowsthewaytohisownfeatures。Asalreadysuggested，hehadatleastaninklingofwhatthatundertakingmeant。
Hisstatementthathe\"supposedallthatapilothadtodowastokeephisboatintheriver\"isnottobeacceptedliterally。Stillhecouldhardlyhaverealizedthefullmajestyofhistask；nobodycoulddothat——
notuntilafterward。
HoraceBixbywasa\"lightning\"pilotwithamethodofinstructionasdirectandforcibleasitwaseffective。Hewasasmallman，hotandquick—firing，thoughkindly，too，andgentlewhenhehadblownoff。
Afteroneratherpyrotechnicmisunderstandingastothemannerofimpartingandacquiringinformationhesaid：
\"Myboy，youmustgetalittlememorandum—book，andeverytimeItellyouathingputitdownrightaway。There’sonlyonewaytobeapilot，andthatistogetthisentireriverbyheart。YouhavetoknowitjustlikeABC。\"
SoSamClemensgotthelittlebook，andpresentlyit\"fairlybristled\"
withthenamesoftowns，points，bars，islands，bends，andreaches，butitmadehisheartachetothinkthathehadonlyhalfoftheriversetdown；for，asthe\"watches\"werefourhoursoffandfourhourson，therewerelonggapsduringwhichhehadslept。
Thelittlenote—bookstillexists——thinandfaded，withblackwater—proofcovers——itsneat，tiny，pencilednotesstill，telling，thestoryofthatfirsttrip。Mostofthemarecryptographicabbreviations，notreadilydecipherednow。Hereandthereisaneasierline：
MERIWEATHER’SBEND
1/4less3——[Depthofwater。One—quarterlessthanthreefathoms。]————runshapeofupperbarandgointothelowplaceinwillowsabout200ft。lowerdownthanlastyear。
Onesimplelittlenoteoutofhundredsfarmorecomplicated。Itwouldtakedaysfortheaveragemindtorememberevenasinglepageofsuchstatistics。Andthoselongfour—hourgapswherehehadbeenasleep，theyarestillthere，andsomehow，aftermorethanfiftyyears，theoldheart—
acheisstillinthem。Hegotanewbook，maybe，forthenexttrip，andlaidthisoneaway。
ThereisbutonewaytoaccountforthefactthatthemanwhomtheworldknewasMarkTwain——dreamy，unpractical，andindifferenttodetails——everpersistedinacquiringknowledgelikethat——inthevast，theabsolutelylimitlessquantitynecessarytoMississippipiloting。Itliesinthefactthathelovedtheriverinitseverymoodandaspectanddetail，andnotonlytheriver，butasteamboat；andstillmore，perhaps，thefreedomofthepilot’slifeanditsprestige。Whereverhehaswrittenoftheriver——andinonewayoranotherhewasalwayswritingofitwefeeltheclaimoftheoldcaptivityandthatitstillholdshim。IntheHuckleberryFinnbook，duringthosenightsanddayswithHuckandNiggerJimontheraft——whetherinstormlitblackness，stillnoontide，ortheliftingmistsofmorning——wecanfairly\"smell\"theriver，asHuckhimselfwouldsay，andweknowthatitisbecausethewriterloveditwithhisheartofheartsandliterallydrankinitsenvironmentandatmosphereduringthosehalcyonpilotdays。
So，inhislovelaythesecretofhismarvelouslearning，anditisrecordednotbyhimself，butbyhisteacherthathewasanaptpupil。
HoraceBixbyhasmorethanoncedeclared：
\"Samwasalwaysgood—natured，andhehadanaturaltastefortheriver。
HehadafinememoryandneverforgotanythingItoldhim。\"
MarkTwainhimselfrecordsadifferentopinionofhismemory，withthesizeofitsappallingtask。Itcanonlybepresentedinhisownwords。
Inthepagesquotedhehadmasteredsomewhatoftheproblem，andhadbeguntotakeonairs。Hischiefwasaconstantmenaceatsuchmoments：
Onedayheturnedonmesuddenlywiththissettler：
\"WhatistheshapeofWalnutBend？\"
Hemightaswellhaveaskedmemygrandmother’sopinionofprotoplasm。Ireflectedrespectfully，andthensaidIdidn’tknowithadanyparticularshape。Mygun—powderychiefwentoffwithabang，ofcourse，andthenwentonloadingandfiringuntilhewasoutofadjectives……Iwaited。Byandbyhesaid：
\"Myboy，you’vegottoknowtheshapeoftheriverperfectly。Itisallthereislefttosteerbyonaverydarknight。Everythingisblottedoutandgone。Butmindyou，ithasn’tthesameshapeinthenightthatithasinthedaytime。\"
\"HowonearthamIevergoingtolearnit，then？\"
\"Howdoyoufollowahallathomeinthedark？Becauseyouknowtheshapeofit。Youcan’tseeit。\"
\"DoyoumeantosaythatI’vegottoknowallthemilliontriflingvariationsofshapeinthebanksofthisinterminableriveraswellasIknowtheshapeofthefronthallathome？\"
\"Onmyhonor，you’vegottoknowthembetterthananymaneverdidknowtheshapesofthehallsinhisownhouse。\"
\"IwishIwasdead！\"
\"Now，Idon’twanttodiscourageyou，but————\"
\"Well，pileitonme；Imightaswellhaveitnowasanothertime。\"
\"Yousee，thishasgottobelearned；thereisn’tanygettingaroundit。Aclearstarlightnightthrowssuchheavyshadowsthat，ifyoudidn’tknowtheshapeofashoreperfectly，youwouldclawawayfromeverybunchoftimber，becauseyouwouldtaketheblackshadowofitforasolidcape；and，yousee，youwouldbegettingscaredtodeatheveryfifteenminutesbythewatch。Youwouldbefiftyyardsfromshoreallthetimewhenyououghttobewithinfiftyfeetofit。
Youcan’tseeasnaginoneofthoseshadows，butyouknowexactlywhereitis，andtheshapeoftherivertellsyouwhenyouarecomingtoit。Thenthere’syourpitch—darknight；theriverisaverydifferentshapeonapitch—darknightfromwhatitisonastarlightnight。Allshoresseemtobestraightlines，then，andmightydimones，too；andyou’drunthemforstraightlines，onlyyouknowbetter。Youboldlydriveyourboatrightintowhatseemstobeasolid，straightwallyouknowverywellthatinrealitythereisacurvethere，andthatwallfallsbackandmakeswayforyou。Thenthere’syourgraymist。Youtakeanightwhenthere’soneofthesegrisly，drizzly，graymists，andthenthereisn’tanyparticularshapetoashore。Agraymistwouldtangletheheadoftheoldestmanthateverlived。Well，then，differentkindsofmoonlightchangetheshapeoftheriverindifferentways。
Yousee————\"
\"Oh，don’tsayanymore，please！HaveIgottolearntheshapeoftheriveraccordingtoallthesefivehundredthousanddifferentways？IfItriedtocarryallthatcargoinmyheaditwouldmakemestoop—shouldered。\"
\"No！youonlylearntheshapeoftheriver；andyoulearnitwithsuchabsolutecertaintythatyoucanalwayssteerbytheshapethat’sinyourhead，andnevermindtheonethat’sbeforeyoureyes。\"
\"Verywell，I’lltryit；but，afterIhavelearnedit，canIdependonit？Willitkeepthesameform，andnotgofoolingaround？\"
BeforeMr。Bixbycouldanswer，Mr。W。cameintotakethewatch，andhesaid：
\"Bixby，you’llhavetolookoutforPresident’sisland，andallthatcountryclearawayupabovetheOldHenandChickens。Thebanksarecavingandtheshapeoftheshoreschanginglikeeverything。Why，youwouldn’tknowthepointabout40。Youcangoupinsidetheoldsycamoresnagnow。\"
Sothatquestionwasanswered。Herewereleaguesofshorechangingshape。Myspiritsweredowninthemudagain。Twothingsseemedprettyapparenttome。Onewasthatinordertobeapilotamanhadgottolearnmorethananyonemanoughttobeallowedtoknow；
andtheotherwasthathemustlearnitalloveragaininadifferentwayeverytwenty—fourhours。
Iwenttoworknowtolearntheshapeoftheriver；andofalltheeludingandungraspableobjectsthateverItriedtogetmindorhandson，thatwasthechief。Iwouldfastenmyeyesuponasharp，woodedpointthatprojectedfarintotheriversomemilesaheadofmeandgotolaboriouslyphotographingitsshapeuponmybrain；andjustasIwasbeginningtosucceedtomysatisfactionwewoulddrawuptoit，andtheexasperatingthingwouldbegintomeltawayandfoldbackintothebank！
ItwasplainthatIhadgottolearntheshapeoftheriverinallthedifferentwaysthatcouldbethoughtof——upsidedown，wrongendfirst，insideout，fore—and—aft，and\"thort—ships，\"——andthenknowwhattodoongraynightswhenithadn’tanyshapeatall。SoIsetaboutit。InthecourseoftimeIbegantogetthebestofthisknottylesson，andmyself—complacencymovedtothefrontoncemore。
Mr。Bixbywasallfixedandreadytostartittotherearagain。Heopenedonmeafterthisfashion：
\"HowmuchwaterdidwehaveinthemiddlecrossingatHole—in—The—
Wall，tripbeforelast？\"
Iconsideredthisanoutrage。Isaid：
\"Everytripdownanduptheleadsmenaresingingthroughthattangledplaceforthree—quartersofanhouronastretch。HowdoyoureckonIcanremembersuchamessasthat？\"
\"Myboy，you’vegottorememberit。You’vegottoremembertheexactspotandtheexactmarkstheboatlayinwhenwehadtheshoalestwater，ineveryoneofthefivehundredshoalplacesbetweenSt。LouisandNewOrleans；andyoumustn’tgettheshoalsoundingsandmarksofonetripmixedupwiththeshoalsoundingsandmarksofanother，either，forthey’renotoftentwicealike。
Youmustkeepthemseparate。\"
WhenIcametomyselfagain，Isaid：
\"WhenIgetsothatIcandothat，I’llbeabletoraisethedead，andthenIwon’thavetopilotasteamboattomakealiving。Iwanttoretirefromthisbusiness。Iwantaslush—bucketandabrush；
I’monlyfitforaroustabout。Ihaven’tgotbrainsenoughtobeapilot；andifIhadIwouldn’thavestrengthenoughtocarrythemaround，unlessIwentoncrutches。\"
\"Nowdropthat！WhenIsayI’lllearnamantheriverImeanit。
Andyoucandependonit，I’lllearnhimorkillhim。\"
Wehavequotedatlengthfromthischapterbecauseitseemsofverypositiveimportancehere。Itisoneofthemostluminousinthebooksofarasthemasteryofthescienceofpilotingisconcerned，andshowsbetterthancouldanyothercombinationofwordssomethingofwhatisrequiredofthelearner。Itdoesnotcoverthewholeproblem，byanymeans——MarkTwainhimselfcouldnotpresentthat；andevenconsideringhisold—timeloveoftheriverandthepilot’strade，itisstillincrediblethatamanofhistemperamentcouldhavepersisted，ashedid，againstsuchobstacles。
XXIV
THERIVERCURRICULUM
Heacquiredotherkindsofknowledge。AsthestreetsofHannibalinthoseearlydays，andtheprinting—officesofseveralcities，hadtaughthimhumannatureinvariousunvarnishedaspects，sotheriverfurnishedanaddedcoursetothatvigorouseducation。Morally，itsatmospherecouldnotbesaidtobeanimprovementontheothers。NavigationintheWesthadbegunwithcraftsoftheflat—boattype——theirnavigatorsrude，hardymen，heavydrinkers，recklessfighters，barbaricintheirsports，coarseintheirwit，profaneineverything。Steam—boatmenwerethenaturalsuccessorsofthesepioneers——ashadelesscoarse，athoughtlessprofane，aveneerlessbarbaric。Butthesethingsweremainly\"abovestairs。\"Youhadbuttoscratchlightlyamateoradeck—handtofindtheoldkeel—boatmansavagery。Captainswereoverlords，andpilotskingsinthisestate；buttheywerenotangels。InLifeontheMississippiClemensreferstohischief’sexplosivevocabularyandtellsushowheenviedthemate’smannerofgivinganorder。Itwaseasiertoacquirethosethingsthanpiloting，and，onthewhole，quicker。Onecouldimproveuponthem，too，withimaginationandwitandanaturalgiftforterms。ThatSamuelClemensmaintainedhispromiseastodrinkandcardsduringthoseapprenticedaysissomethingworthremembering；andifhedidnotalwaysrestricthisprofanitytomomentsofseverepressureorsiftthequalityofhiswit，wemayalsorememberthathewasanextremeexampleofahumanbeing，inthatformativestagewhichgathersallasgrist，latertorefineitfortheusesanddelightsofmen。
Heacquiredavastknowledgeofhumancharacter。Hesays：
Inthatbrief，sharpschoolingIgotpersonallyandfamiliarlyacquaintedwithallthedifferenttypesofhumannaturethataretobefoundinfiction，biography，orhistory。WhenIfindawell—
drawncharacterinfictionorbiography，Igenerallytakeawarmpersonalinterestinhim，forthereasonthatIhave，knownhimbefore——methimontheriver。
Undoubtedlytheriverwasagreatschoolforthestudyoflife’sbroaderphilosophiesandhumors：philosophiesthatavoidvaguecircumlocutionandaimatdirectandsureresults；humorsoftheruggedandvigoroussortthatinEuropeareknownas\"American\"andinAmericaareknownas\"Western。\"LetusbethankfulthatMarkTwain’sschoolwasnolessthanitwas——andnomore。
ThedemandsoftheMissouriRivertradetookHoraceBixbyawayfromtheMississippi，somewhatlater，andheconsignedhispupil，accordingtocustom，toanotherpilot——itisnotcertain，now，tojustwhichpilot，butprobablytoZebLeavenworthorBeckJolly，oftheJohnJ。Roe。TheRoewasafreight—boat，\"asslowasanislandandascomfortableasafarm。\"Infact，theRoewasownedandconductedbyfarmers，andSamClemensthoughtifJohnQuarles’sfarmcouldbesetafloatitwouldgreatlyresemblethatcraftinthematterofgood—fellowship，hospitality，andspeed。Itwassaidofherthatup—streamshecouldevenbeatanisland，thoughdown—streamshecouldneverquiteovertakethecurrent，butwasa\"loveofasteamboat\"nevertheless。TheRoewasnotlicensedtocarrypassengers，butshealwayshadadozen\"familyguests\"
aboard，andtherewasabigboiler—deckfordancingandmoonlightfrolics，alsoapianointhecabin。Theyoungpilotsometimesplayedonthepianoandsangtohismusicsongsrelatingtothe\"grasshopperonthesweet—potatovine，\"ortoanoldhorsebythenameofMethusalem：
TookhimdownandsoldhiminJerusalem，Alongtimeago。
Therewereforty—eightstanzasaboutthisancienthorse，allprettymuchalike；buttheassembledcompanywasnotlikelytobecritical，andhiseffortswonhimlaurels。HehadaheavenlytimeontheJohnJ。Roe，andthencamewhatseemedinfernobycontrast。Bixbyreturned，madeatriportwo，thenleftandtransferredhimagain，thistimetoamannamedBrown。BrownhadaberthonthefinenewsteamerPennsylvania，oneofthehandsomestboatsontheriver，andyoungClemenshadbecomeafinesteersman，soitisnotunlikelythatbothmenatfirstweregratifiedbythearrangement。
ButBrownwasafault—finding，tyrannicalchief，ignorant，vulgar，andmalicious。IntheMississippibooktheauthorgiveshisfirstinterviewwithBrown，alsohislastone。Forgoodreasonstheseoccasionswereburnedintohismemory，andtheymaybeacceptedassubstantiallycorrect。Brownhadanoffensivemanner。Hisfirstgreetingwasasurlyquestion。
\"AreyouHoraceBigsby’scub？\"
\"Bixby\"wasusuallypronounced\"Bigsby\"ontheriver，butBrownmadeitespeciallyobnoxiousandfolloweditupwithquestionsandcommentsandordersstillmoreodious。Hissubordinatesoonlearnedtodetesthimthoroughly。Itwasnecessary，however，tomaintainarespectabledeportment——custom，discipline，eventhelaw，requiredthat——butitmusthavebeenahardwinterandspringtheyoungsteersmanputinduringthoseearlymonthsof1858，restraininghimselffromthegratificationofslayingBrown。Timewouldbringrevenge——atragicrevengeandatafearfulcost；buthecouldnotguessthat，andheputinhissparetimeplanningpunishmentsofhisown。
IcouldimaginemyselfkillingBrown；therewasnolawagainstthat，andthatwasthethingIalwaysusedtodothemomentIwasabed。
Insteadofgoingovermyriverinmymind，aswasmyduty，IthrewbusinessasideforpleasureandkilledBrown。IkilledBrowneverynightforamonth；notinold，stale，commonplaceways，butinnewandpicturesqueones——waysthatweresometimessurprisingforfreshnessofdesignandghastlyforsituationandenvironment。
OncewhenBrownhadbeenmoreinsultingthanusualhissubordinatewenttobedandkilledhimin\"seventeendifferentways——allofthemnew。\"
HehadmadeaneffortatfirsttopleaseBrown，butitwasnouse。Brownwasthesortofamanthatrefusedtobepleased；nomatterhowcarefullyhissubordinatesteered，heasalwaysathim。
\"Here，\"hewouldshout，\"whereareyougoingnow？Pullherdown！Pullherdown！Don’tyouhearme？Dod—dernedmud—cat！\"
Hisassistantlostalldesiretobeobligingtosuchapersonandeventookoccasionnowandthentostirhimup。OnedaytheyweresteaminguptheriverwhenBrownnoticedthattheboatseemedtobeheadingtowardsomeunusualpoint。
\"Here，whereareyouheadingfornow？\"heyelled。\"Whatinnationareyousteerin’at，anyway？Deynednumskull！\"
\"Why，\"saidSam，inunruffleddeliberation，\"Ididn’tseemuchelseI
couldsteerfor，andIwasheadingforthatwhiteheiferonthebank。\"
\"Getawayfromthatwheel！andgetoutenthispilothouse！\"yelledBrown。
\"Youain’tfittobecomenopilot！\"
WhichwaswhatSamwanted。AnytemporaryrelieffromthecarpingtyrannyofBrownwaswelcome。
Hehadbeenontherivernearlyayearnow，and，thoughuniversallylikedandaccountedafinesteersman，hewasreceivingnowages。Therehadbeensmallneedofmoneyforawhile，forhehadnoboardtopay；butclotheswearoutatlast，andtherewerecertainincidentals。ThePennsylvaniamadearoundtripinaboutthirty—fivedays，withadayortwoofidletimeateitherend。Theyoungpilotfoundthathecouldgetnightemployment，watchingfreightontheNewOrleanslevee，andthusearnfromtwoandahalftothreedollarsforeachnight’swatch。
Sometimestherewouldbetwonights，andwithacapitaloffiveorsixdollarsheaccountedhimselfrich。
\"Itwasadesolateexperience，\"hesaid，longafterward，\"watchingthereinthedarkamongthosepilesoffreight；notasound，notalivingcreatureastir。Butitwasnotaprofitlessone：IusedtohaveinspirationsasIsattherealonethosenights。Iusedtoimagineallsortsofsituationsandpossibilities。Thosethingsgotintomybooksbyandbyandfurnishedmewithmanyachapter。Icantracetheeffectofthosenightsthroughmostofmybooksinonewayandanother。\"
ManyofthecurioustalesinthelatterhalfoftheMississippibookcameoutofthoselongnight—watches。Itwasagoodtimetothinkofsuchthings。