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game of marbles or tops； he would remark in his slow； impressive way：
〃You mustn't cheat that boy。〃 And the cheating stopped。 When it didn't；
there was a combat； with consequences。
XVII
THE HANNIBAL 〃JOURNAL〃
Orion returned from St。 Louis。 He felt that he was needed in Hannibal
and； while wages there were lower； his expenses at home were slight；
there was more real return for the family fund。 His sister Pamela was
teaching a class in Hannibal at this time。 Orion was surprised when his
mother and sister greeted him with kisses and tears。 Any outward display
of affection was new to him。
The family had moved back across the street by this time。 With Sam
supporting himself； the earnings of Orion and Pamela provided at least a
semblance of comfort。 But Orion was not satisfied。 Then； as always； he
had a variety of vague ambitions。 Oratory appealed to him； and he
delivered a temperance lecture with an accompaniment of music； supplied
chiefly by Pamela。 He aspired to the study of law； a recurring
inclination throughout his career。 He also thought of the ministry； an
ambition which Sam shared with him for a time。 Every mischievous boy has
it； sooner or later； though not all for the same reasons。
〃It was the most earnest ambition I ever had；〃 Mark Twain once remarked；
thoughtfully。 〃Not that I ever really wanted to be a preacher； but
because it never occurred to me that a preacher could be damned。 It
looked like a safe job。〃
A periodical ambition of Orion's was to own and conduct a paper in
Hannibal。 He felt that in such a position he might become a power in
Western journalism。 Once his father had considered buying the Hannibal
Journal to give Orion a chance； and possibly to further his own political
ambitions。 Now Orion considered it for himself。 The paper was for sale
under a mortgage； and he was enabled to borrow the 500 which would
secure ownership。 Sam's two years at Ament's were now complete； and
Orion induced him to take employment on the Journal。 Henry at eleven was
taken out of school to learn typesetting。
Orion was a gentle； accommodating soul； but he lacked force and
independence。
〃I followed all the advice I received；〃 he says in his record。 〃If two
or more persons conflicted with each other； I adopted the views of the
last。〃
He started full of enthusiasm。 He worked like a slave to save help：
wrote his own editorials； and made his literary selections at night。 The
others worked too。 Orion gave them hard tasks and long hours。 He had
the feeling that the paper meant fortune or failure to them all； that all
must labor without stint。 In his usual self…accusing way he wrote
afterward：
I was tyrannical and unjust to Sam。 He was as swift and as clean as a
good journeyman。 I gave him tasks； and if he got through well I
begrudged him the time and made him work more。 He set a clean proof； and
Henry a very dirty one。 The correcting was left to be done in the form
the day before publication。 Once we were kept late； and Sam complained
with tears of bitterness that he was held till midnight on Henry's dirty
proofs。
Orion did not realize any injustice at the time。 The game was too
desperate to be played tenderly。 His first editorials were so brilliant
that it was not believed he could have written them。 The paper
throughout was excellent； and seemed on the high road to success。 But
the pace was too hard to maintain。 Overwork brought weariness； and
Orion's enthusiasm； never a very stable quantity； grew feeble。 He became
still more exacting。
It is not to be supposed that Sam Clemens had given up all amusements to
become merely a toiling drudge or had conquered in any large degree his
natural taste for amusement。 He had become more studious； but after the
long； hard days in the office it was not to be expected that a boy of
fifteen would employ the eveningat least not every eveningin reading
beneficial books。 The river was always near at handfor swimming in the
summer and skating in the winterand once even at this late period it
came near claiming a heavy tribute。 That was one winter's night when
with another boy he had skated until nearly midnight。 They were about in
the middle of the river when they heard a terrific and grinding noise
near the shore。 They knew what it was。 The ice was breaking up； and
they set out for home forthwith。 It was moonlight； and they could tell
the ice from the water； which was a good thing； for there were wide
cracks toward the shore； and they had to wait for these to close。 They
were an hour making the trip； and just before they reached the bank they
came to a broad space of water。 The ice was lifting and falling and
crunching all around them。 They waited as long as they dared and decided
to leap from cake to cake。 Sam made the crossing without accident； but
his companion slipped in when a few feet from shore。 He was a good
swimmer and landed safely； but the bath probably cost him his hearing。
He was taken very ill。 One disease followed another； ending with scarlet
fever and deafness。
There was also entertainment in the office itself。 A country boy named
Jim Wolfe had come to learn the tradea green； good…natured； bashful
boy。 In every trade tricks are played on the new apprentice； and Sam
felt that it was his turn to play them。 With John Briggs to help him；
tortures for Jim Wolfe were invented and applied。
They taught him to paddle a canoe； and upset him。 They took him sniping
at night and left him 〃holding the bag〃 in the old traditional fashion
while they slipped off home and went to bed。
But Jim Wolfe's masterpiece of entertainment was one which he undertook
on his own account。 Pamela was having a candy…pull down…stairs one
nighta grown…up candy…pull to which the boys were not expected。 Jim
would not have gone； anyway； for he was bashful beyond belief； and always
dumb； and even pale with fear； in the presence of pretty Pamela Clemens。
Up in their room the boys could hear the merriment from below and could
look out in the moonlight on the snowy sloping roof that began just
beneath their window。 Down at the eaves was the small arbor； green in
summer； but covered now with dead vines and snow。 They could hear the
candymakers come out； now and then； doubtless setting out pans of candy
to cool。 By and by the whole party seemed to come out into the little
arbor； to try the candy； perhaps the joking and laughter came plainly to
the boys up…stairs。 About this time there appeared on the roof from
somewhere two disreputable cats； who set up a most disturbing duel of
charge and recrimination。 Jim detested the noise； and perhaps was
gallant enough to think it would disturb the party。 He had nothing to
throw at them； but he said：
〃For two cents I'd get out there and knock their heads off。〃
〃You wouldn't dare to do it；〃 Sam said； purringly。
This was wormwood to Jim。 He was really a brave spirit。
〃I would too；〃 he said；〃and I will if you say that again。〃
〃Why； Jim； of course you wouldn't dare to go out there。 You might catch
cold。〃
〃You wait and see；〃 said Jim Wolfe。
He grabbed a pair of yarn stocking