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John Briggs never took a dare； and at noon； when Mr。 Cross was at home at
dinner； he wrote flamingly the descriptive couplet。 When the teacher
returned and 〃books〃 were called he looked steadily at John Briggs。 He
had recognized the penmanship。
〃Did you do that？〃 he asked； ominously。
It was a time for truth。
〃Yes； sir；〃 said John。
〃Come here！〃 And John came； and paid for his exploitation of genius
heavily。 Sam Clemens expected that the next call would be for 〃author；〃
but for some reason the investigation ended there。 It was unusual for
him to escape。 His back generally kept fairly warm from one 〃frailing〃
to the next。
His rewards were not all of a punitive nature。 There were two medals in
the school； one for spelling； the other for amiability。 They were
awarded once a week； and the holders wore them about the neck
conspicuously； and were envied accordingly。 John Robardshe of the
golden curlswore almost continuously the medal for amiability； while
Sam Clemens had a mortgage on the medal for spelling。 Sometimes they
traded； to see how it would seem； but the master discouraged this
practice by taking the medals away from them for the remainder of the
week。 Once Sam Clemens lost the medal by leaving the first 〃r〃 out of
February。 He could have spelled it backward； if necessary； but Laura
Hawkins was the only one on the floor against him； and he was a gallant
boy。
The picture of that school as presented in the book written thirty years
later is faithful； we may believe； and the central figure is a tender…
hearted； romantic； devil…may…care lad； loathing application and longing
only for freedom。 It was a boon which would come to him sooner even than
he had dreamed。
XIV
THE PASSING OF JOHN CLEMENS
Judge Clemens； who time and again had wrecked or crippled his fortune by
devices more or less unusual； now adopted the one unfailing method of
achieving disaster。 He endorsed a large note； for a man of good repute；
and the payment of it swept him clean： home； property； everything
vanished again。 The St。 Louis cousin took over the home and agreed to
let the family occupy it on payment of a small interest； but after an
attempt at housekeeping with a few scanty furnishings and Pamela's piano
all that had been saved from the wreckthey moved across the street
into a portion of the Virginia house； then occupied by a Dr。 Grant。 The
Grants proposed that the Clemens family move over and board them； a
welcome arrangement enough at this time。
Judge Clemens had still a hope left。 The clerkship of the Surrogate
Court was soon to be filled by election。 It was an important
remunerative office； and he was regarded as the favorite candidate for
the position。 His disaster had aroused general sympathy； and his
nomination and election were considered sure。 He took no chances； he
made a canvass on horseback from house to house； often riding through
rain and the chill of fall； acquiring a cough which was hard to overcome。
He was elected by a heavy majority； and it was believed he could hold the
office as long as he chose。 There seemed no further need of worry。 As
soon as he was installed in office they would live in style becoming
their social position。 About the end of February he rode to Palmyra to
be sworn in。 Returning he was drenched by a storm of rain and sleet；
arriving at last half frozen。 His system was in no condition to resist
such a shock。 Pneumonia followed； physicians came with torments of
plasters and allopathic dosings that brought no relief。 Orion returned
from St。 Louis to assist in caring for him； and sat by his bed；
encouraging him and reading to him； but it was evident that he grew daily
weaker。 Now and then he became cheerful and spoke of the Tennessee land
as the seed of a vast fortune that must surely flower at last。 He
uttered no regrets； no complaints。 Once only he said：
〃I believe if I had stayed in Tennessee I might have been worth twenty
thousand dollars to…day。〃
On the morning of the 24th of March； 1847； it was evident that he could
not live many hours。 He was very weak。 When he spoke； now and then； it
was of the land。 He said it would soon make them all rich and happy。
〃Cling to the land；〃 he whispered。 〃Cling to the land； and wait。 Let
nothing beguile it away from you。〃
A little later he beckoned to Pamela； now a lovely girl of nineteen； and；
putting his arm about her neck； kissed her for the first time in years。
〃Let me die；〃 he said。
He never spoke after that。 A little more； and the sad； weary life that
had lasted less than forty…nine years was ended： A dreamer and a
moralist； an upright man honored by all； he had never been a financier。
He ended life with less than he had begun。
XV
A YOUNG BEN FRANKLIN
For a third time death had entered the Clemens home： not only had it
brought grief now； but it had banished the light of new fortune from the
very threshold。 The disaster seemed complete。
The children were dazed。 Judge Clemens had been a distant； reserved man；
but they had loved him； each in his own way； and they had honored his
uprightness and nobility of purpose。 Mrs。 Clemens confided to a neighbor
that； in spite of his manner； her husband had been always warm…hearted；
with a deep affection for his family。 They remembered that he had never
returned from a journey without bringing each one some present； however
trifling。 Orion； looking out of his window next morning； saw old Abram
Kurtz； and heard him laugh。 He wondered how anybody could still laugh。
The boy Sam was fairly broken down。 Remorse； which always dealt with him
unsparingly； laid a heavy hand on him now。 Wildness； disobedience；
indifference to his father's wishes； all were remembered； a hundred
things； in themselves trifling； became ghastly and heart…wringing in the
knowledge that they could never be undone。 Seeing his grief； his mother
took him by the hand and led him into the room where his father lay。
〃It is all right； Sammy；〃 she said。 〃What's done is done； and it does
not matter to him any more； but here by the side of him now I want you to
promise me〃
He turned； his eyes streaming with tears； and flung himself into her
arms。
〃I will promise anything；〃 he sobbed； 〃if you won't make me go to school！
Anything！〃
His mother held him for a moment； thinking； then she said：
〃No； Sammy； you need not go to school any more。 Only promise me to be a
better boy。 Promise not to break my heart。〃
So he promised her to be a faithful and industrious man； and upright；
like his father。 His mother was satisfied with that。 The sense of honor
and justice was already strong within him。 To him a promise was a
serious matter at any time； made under conditions like these it would be
held sacred。
That nightit was after the funeralhis tendency to somnambulism
manifested itself。 His mother and sister； who were sleeping together；
saw the door open and a form in white enter。 Naturally nervous at such a
time； and living in a day of almost universal superstition； they were
terrified and covered their heads。 Presently a hand was laid on the
coverlet； first at the foo