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received warning； a second offense would mean punishment。 He did not
mean to be caught the second time； but he had not learned Miss Horr yet；
and was presently startled by being commanded to go out and bring a stick
for his own correction。
This was certainly disturbing。 It was sudden； and then he did not know
much about the selection of sticks。 Jane Clemens had usually used her
hand。 It required a second command to get him headed in the right
direction； and he was a trifle dazed when he got outside。 He had the
forests of Missouri to select from； but choice was difficult。 Everything
looked too big and competent。 Even the smallest switch had a wiry；
discouraging look。 Across the way was a cooper…shop with a good many
shavings outside。
One had blown across and lay just in front of him。 It was an
inspiration。 He picked it up and； solemnly entering the school…room；
meekly handed it to Miss Herr。
Perhaps Miss Horr's sense of humor prompted forgiveness； but discipline
must be maintained。
〃Samuel Langhorne Clemens；〃 she said （he had never heard it all strung
together in that ominous way）； 〃I am ashamed of you！ Jimmy Dunlap； go
and bring a switch for Sammy。〃 And Jimmy Dunlap went； and the switch was
of a sort to give the little boy an immediate and permanent distaste for
school。 He informed his mother when he went home at noon that he did not
care for school； that he had no desire to be a great man； that he
preferred to be a pirate or an Indian and scalp or drown such people as
Miss Horr。 Down in her heart his mother was sorry for him； but what she
said was that she was glad there was somebody at last who could take him
in hand。
He returned to school； but he never learned to like it。 Each morning he
went with reluctance and remained with loathingthe loathing which he
always had for anything resembling bondage and tyranny or even the
smallest curtailment of liberty。 A School was ruled with a rod in those
days； a busy and efficient rod； as the Scripture recommended。 Of the
smaller boys Little Sam's back was sore as often as the next； and he
dreamed mainly of a day when； grown big and fierce； he would descend with
his band and capture Miss Horr and probably drag her by the hair； as he
had seen Indians and pirates do in the pictures。 When the days of early
summer came again； when from his desk he could see the sunshine lighting
the soft green of Holliday's Hill； with the purple distance beyond； and
the glint of the river； it seemed to him that to be shut up with a
Webster's spelling…book and a cross old maid was more than human nature
could bear。 Among the records preserved from that far…off day there
remains a yellow slip； whereon in neat old…fashioned penmanship is
inscribed：
MISS PAMELA CLEMENS
Has won the love of her teacher and schoolmates by her amiable
deportment and faithful application to her various studies。
E。 Horr； Teacher。
If any such testimonial was ever awarded to Little Sam； diligent search
has failed to reveal it。 If he won the love of his teacher and playmates
it was probably for other reasons。
Yet he must have learned； somehow； for he could read presently and was
soon regarded as a good speller for his years。 His spelling came as a
natural gift； as did most of his attainments； then and later。
It has already been mentioned that Miss Horr opened her school with
prayer and Scriptural readings。 Little Sam did not especially delight in
these things； but he respected them。 Not to do so was dangerous。 Flames
were being kept brisk for little boys who were heedless of sacred
matters； his home teaching convinced him of that。 He also respected Miss
Horr as an example of orthodox faith； and when she read the text 〃Ask and
ye shall receive〃 and assured them that whoever prayed for a thing
earnestly； his prayer would be answered； he believed it。 A small
schoolmate； the balker's daughter； brought gingerbread to school every
morning； and Little Sam was just 〃honing〃 for some of it。 He wanted a
piece of that baker's gingerbread more than anything else in the world；
and he decided to pray for it。
The little girl sat in front of him； but always until that morning had
kept the gingerbread out of sight。 Now； however； when he finished his
prayer and looked up； a small morsel of the precious food lay in front of
him。 Perhaps the little girl could no longer stand that hungry look in
his eyes。 Possibly she had heard his petition； at all events his prayer
bore fruit and his faith at that moment would have moved Holliday's Hill。
He decided to pray for everything he wanted； but when he tried the
gingerbread supplication next morning it had no result。 Grieved； but
still unshaken； he tried next morning again； still no gingerbread； and
when a third and fourth effort left him hungry he grew despairing and
silent； and wore the haggard face of doubt。 His mother said：
〃What's the matter； Sammy； are you sick？〃
〃No；〃 he said； 〃but I don't believe in saying prayers any more； and I'm
never going to do it again。〃
〃Why； Sammy； what in the world has happened？〃 she asked； anxiously。 Then
he broke down and cried on her lap and told her； for it was a serious
thing in that day openly to repudiate faith。 Jane Clemens gathered him
to her heart and comforted him。
〃I'll make you a whole pan of gingerbread； better than that；〃 she said；
〃and school will soon be out； too； and you can go back to Uncle John's
farm。〃
And so passed and ended Little Sam's first school…days。
X
EARLY VICISSITUDE AND SORROW
Prosperity came laggingly enough to the Clemens household。 The year 1840
brought hard times： the business venture paid little or no return； law
practice was not much more remunerative。 Judge Clemens ran for the
office of justice of the peace and was elected； but fees were neither
large nor frequent。 By the end of the year it became necessary to part
with Jennie； the slave…girla grief to all of them； for they were fond
of her in spite of her wilfulness； and she regarded them as 〃her family。〃
She was tall； well formed； nearly black； and brought a good price。 A
Methodist minister in Hannibal sold a negro child at the same time to
another minister who took it to his home farther South。 As the steamboat
moved away from the landing the child's mother stood at the water's edge；
shrieking her anguish。 We are prone to consider these things harshly
now； when slavery has been dead for nearly half a century； but it was a
sacred institution then； and to sell a child from its mother was little
more than to sell to…day a calf from its lowing dam。 One could be sorry；
of course； in both instances； but necessity or convenience are matters
usually considered before sentiment。 Mark Twain once said of his mother：
〃Kind…hearted and compassionate as she was； I think she was not conscious
that slavery was a bald； grotesque； and unwarranted ursurpation。 She had
never heard it assailed in any pulpit； but had heard it defended and
sanctified in a thousand。 As far as her experience went； the wise； the
good； and the holy were una