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performance。
In later life he claimed that he had not been hypnotized in any degree；
but had been pretending throughouta statement always denied by his
mother and his brother Orion。 This dispute was never settled； and never
could be。 Sam Clemens's tendency to somnambulism would seem to suggest
that he really might have taken on a hypnotic condition； while his
consummate skill as an actor； then and always； and his early fondness of
exhibition and a joke； would make it not unlikely that he was merely
〃showing off〃 and having his fun。 He could follow the dictates of a
vivid imagination and could be as outrageous as he chose without
incurring responsibility of any sort。 But there was a penalty： he must
allow pins and needles to be thrust into his flesh and suffer these
tortures without showing discomfort to the spectators。 It is difficult
to believe that any boy； however great his exhibitory passion； could
permit； in the full possession of his sensibilities； a needle to be
thrust deeply into his flesh without manifestations of a most unmesmeric
sort。 The conclusion seems warranted that he began by pretending； but
that at times he was at least under semi…mesmeric control。 At all
events； he enjoyed a week of dazzling triumph； though in the end he
concluded to stick to printing as a trade。
We have said that he was a rapid learner and a neat workman。 At Ament's
he generally had a daily task； either of composition or press…work； after
which he was free。 When he had got the hang of his work he was usually
done by three in the afternoon； then away to the river or the cave； as in
the old days； sometimes with his boy friends； sometimes with Laura
Hawkins gathering wild columbine on that high cliff overlooking the
river； Lover's Leap。
He was becoming quite a beau； attending parties on occasion； where old…
fashioned gamesForfeits； Ring…around…a…Rosy； Dusty Miller； and the
likewere regarded as rare amusements。 He was a favorite with girls of
his own age。 He was always good…natured； though he played jokes on them；
too； and was often a severe trial。 He was with Laura Hawkins more than
the others； usually her escort。 On Saturday afternoons in winter he
carried her skates to Bear Creek and helped her to put them on。 After
which they skated 〃partners；〃 holding hands tightly； and were a likely
pair of children； no doubt。 In The Gilded Age Laura Hawkins at twelve is
pictured 〃with her dainty hands propped into the ribbon…bordered pockets
of her apron 。 。 。 a vision to warm the coldest heart and bless and
cheer the saddest。〃 The author had the real Laura of his childhood in
his mind when he wrote that； though the story itself bears no resemblance
to her life。
They were never really sweethearts； those two。 They were good friends
and comrades。 Sometimes he brought her magazinesexchanges from the
printingofficeGodey's and others。 These were a treat； for such
things were scarce enough。 He cared little for reading； himself； beyond
a few exciting tales； though the putting into type of a good deal of
miscellaneous matter had beyond doubt developed in him a taste for
general knowledge。 It needed only to be awakened。
XVI
THE TURNING…POINT
There came into his life just at this period one of those seemingly
trifling incidents which； viewed in retrospect； assume pivotal
proportions。 He was on his way from the office to his home one afternoon
when he saw flying along the pavement a square of paper； a leaf from a
book。 At an earlier time he would not have bothered with it at all； but
any printed page had acquired a professional interest for him now。 He
caught the flying scrap and examined it。 It was a leaf from some history
of Joan of Arc。 The 〃maid〃 was described in the cage at Rouen； in the
fortress； and the two ruffian English soldiers had stolen her clothes。
There was a brief description and a good deal of dialogueher reproaches
and their ribald replies。
He had never heard of the subject before。 He had never read any history。
When he wanted to know any fact he asked Henry； who read everything
obtainable。 Now； however； there arose within him a deep compassion for
the gentle Maid of Orleans； a burning resentment toward her captors； a
powerful and indestructible interest in her sad history。 It was an
interest that would grow steadily for more than half a lifetime and
culminate at last in that crowning work； the Recollections； the loveliest
story ever told of the martyred girl。
The incident meant even more than that： it meant the awakening of his
interest in all historythe world's story in its many phasesa passion
which became the largest feature of his intellectual life and remained
with him until his very last day on earth。 From the moment when that
fluttering leaf was blown into his hands his career as one of the world's
mentally elect was assured。 It gave him his cuethe first word of a
part in the human drama。 It crystallized suddenly within him sympathy
with the oppressed； rebellion against tyranny and treachery； scorn for
the divine rights of kings。 A few months before he died he wrote a paper
on 〃The Turning…point of My Life。〃 For some reason he did not mention
this incident。 Yet if there was a turning…point in his life； he reached
it that bleak afternoon on the streets of Hannibal when a stray leaf from
another life was blown into his hands。
He read hungrily now everything he could find relating to the French
wars； and to Joan in particular。 He acquired an appetite for history in
general； the record of any nation or period； he seemed likely to become a
student。 Presently he began to feel the need of languages； French and
German。 There was no opportunity to acquire French； that he could
discover； but there was a German shoemaker in Hannibal who agreed to
teach his native tongue。 Sam Clemens got a friendvery likely it was
John Briggsto form a class with him； and together they arranged for
lessons。 The shoemaker had little or no English。 They had no German。
It would seem； however； that their teacher had some sort of a 〃word…
book；〃 and when they assembled in his little cubby…hole of a retreat he
began reading aloud from it this puzzling sentence：
〃De hain eet flee whoop in de hayer。〃
〃Dere！〃 he said； triumphantly； 〃you know dose vord？〃
The students looked at each other helplessly。
The teacher repeated the sentence； and again they were helpless when he
asked if they recognized it。
Then in despair he showed them the book。 It was an English primer； and
the sentence was：
〃The hen； it flies up in the air。〃
They explained to him gently that it was German they wished to learn； not
Englishnot under the circumstances。 Later； Sam made an attempt at
Latin； and got a book for that purpose； but gave it up； saying：
〃No； that language is not for me。 I'll do well enough to learn English。〃
A boy who took it up with him became a Latin scholar。
His prejudice against oppression he put into practice。 Boys who were
being imposed upon found in him a ready protector。 Sometimes； watching a
game of marbles or tops； he would remark in his slow； impressive way：
〃You mustn't cheat that boy。