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Another disaster quickly followed。 Fire broke out in the office； and the
loss was considerable。 An insurance company paid one hundred and fifty
dollars。 With it Orion replaced such articles as were absolutely needed
for work； and removed his plant into the front room of the Clemens
dwelling。 He raised the one…story part of the building to give them an
added room up…stairs； and there for another two years； by hard work and
pinching economies； the dying paper managed to drag along。 It was the
fire that furnished Sam Clemens with his Jim Wolfe sketch。 In it he
stated that Jim in his excitement had carried the office broom half a
mile and had then come back after the wash…pan。
In the meantime Pamela Clemens married。 Her husband was a well…to…do
merchant； William A。 Moffett； formerly of Hannibal； but then of St。
Louis； where he had provided her with the comforts of a substantial home。
Orion tried the experiment of a serial story。 He wrote to a number of
well…known authors in the East； but was unable to find one who would
supply a serial for the price he was willing to pay。 Finally he obtained
a translation of a French novel for the sum offered； which was five
dollars。 It did not save the sinking ship； however。 He made the
experiment of a tri…weekly； without success。 He noticed that even his
mother no longer read his editorials； but turned to the general news。
This was a final blow。
〃I sat down in the dark；〃 he says； 〃the moon glinting in at the open
door。 I sat with one leg over the chair and let my mind float。〃
He had received an offer of five hundred dollars for his officethe
amount of the mortgageand in his moonlight reverie he decided to
dispose of it on those terms。 This was in 1853。
His brother Samuel was no longer with him。 Several months before； in
June； Sam decided he would go out into the world。 He was in his
eighteenth year now； a good workman； faithful and industrious； but he had
grown restless in unrewarded service。 Beyond his mastery of the trade he
had little to show for six years of hard labor。 Once when he had asked
Orion for a few dollars to buy a second…hand gun； Orion； exasperated by
desperate circumstances； fell into a passion and rated him for thinking
of such extravagance。 Soon afterward Sam confided to his mother that he
was going away； that he believed Orion hated him； that there was no
longer a place for him at home。 He said he would go to St。 Louis； where
Pamela was。 There would be work for him in St。 Louis； and he could send
money home。 His intention was to go farther than St。 Louis； but he dared
not tell her。 His mother put together sadly enough the few belongings of
what she regarded as her one wayward boy； then she held up a little
Testament：
〃I want you to take hold of the other end of this； Sam；〃 she said； 〃and
make me a promise。〃
If one might have a true picture of that scene： the shin； wiry woman of
forty…nine； her figure as straight as her deportment； gray…eyed； tender；
and resolute； facing the fair…cheeked； auburn…haired youth of seventeen；
his eyes as piercing and unwavering as her own。 Mother and son； they
were of the same metal and the same mold。
〃I want you to repeat after me； Sam； these words；〃 Jane Clemens said。
I do solemnly swear that I will not throw a card or drink a drop of
liquor while I am gone。〃'
He repeated the oath after her； and she kissed him。
〃Remember that； Sam； and write to us；〃 she said。
〃And so；〃 Orion records； 〃he went wandering in search of that comfort and
that advancement and those rewards of industry which he had failed to
find where I wasgloomy； taciturn； and selfish。 I not only missed his
labor； we all missed his bounding activity and merriment。〃
XIX
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN
He went to St。 Louis by the night boat； visited his sister Pamela； and
found a job in the composing…room of the Evening News。 He remained on
the paper only long enough to earn money with which to see the world。
The 〃world〃 was New York City； where the Crystal Palace Fair was then
going on。 The railway had been completed by this time； but he had not
traveled on it。 It had not many comforts； several days and nights were
required for the New York trip； yet it was a wonderful and beautiful
experience。 He felt that even Pet McMurry could hardly have done
anything to surpass it。 He arrived in New York with two or three dollars
in his pocket and a ten…dollar bill concealed in the lining of his coat。
New York was a great and amazing city。 It almost frightened him。 It
covered the entire lower end of Manhattan Island； visionary citizens
boasted that one day it would cover it all。 The World's Fair building；
the Crystal Palace； stood a good way out。 It was where Bryant Park is
now； on Forty…second Street and Sixth Avenue。 Young Clemens classed it
as one of the wonders of the world and wrote lavishly of its marvels。
A portion of a letter to his sister Pamela has been preserved and is
given here not only for what it contains； but as the earliest existing
specimen of his composition。 The fragment concludes what was doubtless
an exhaustive description。
From the gallery （second floor） you have a glorious sightthe flags
of the different countries represented； the lofty dome； glittering
jewelry； gaudy tapestry； etc。； with the busy crowd passing to and
fro 'tis a perfect fairy palacebeautiful beyond description。
The machinery department is on the main floor； but I cannot
enumerate any of it on account of the lateness of the hour （past 1
o'clock）。 It would take more than a week to examine everything on
exhibition； and I was only in a little over two hours to…night。
I only glanced at about one…third of the articles； and； having a
poor memory； I have enumerated scarcely any of even the principal
objects。 The visitors to the Palace average 6；000 dailydouble the
population of Hannibal。 The price of admission being 50 cents； they
take in about 3；000。
The Latting Observatory （height about 280 feet） is near the Palace…
from it you can obtain a grand view of the city and the country
around。 The Croton Aqueduct； to supply the city with water； is the
greatest wonder yet。 Immense sewers are laid across the bed of the
Hudson River； and pass through the country to Westchester County；
where a whole river is turned from its course and brought to New
York。 From the reservoir in the city to the Westchester County
reservoir the distance is thirty…eight miles and； if necessary； they
could easily supply every family in New York with one hundred
barrels of water per day！
I am very sorry to learn that Henry has been sick。 He ought to go
to the country and take exercise； for he is not half so healthy as
Ma thinks he is。 If he had my walking to do； he would be another
boy entirely。 Four times every day I walk a little over a mile； and
working hard all day and walking four miles is exercise。 I am used
to it now； though； and it is no trouble。 Where is it Orion's going
to？ Tell Ma my promises are