按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
amounts； but welcome and gratifying； no doubt。 In a letter to Orion
whom he seems to have forgiven with absencewritten October 26th； he
incloses a gold dollar to buy her a handkerchief； and 〃to serve as a
specimen of the kind of stuff we are paid with in Philadelphia。〃 Further
along he adds：
Unlike New York； I like this Philadelphia amazingly； and the people
in it。 There is only one thing that gets my 〃dander〃 upand that
is the hands are always encouraging me： telling me 〃it's no use to
get discouragedno use to be downhearted； for there is more work
here than you can do！〃 〃Downhearted；〃 the devil！ I have not had a
particle of such a feeling since I left Hannibal； more than four
months ago。 I fancy they'll have to wait some time till they see me
downhearted or afraid of starving while I have strength to work and
am in a city of 400；000 inhabitants。 When I was in Hannibal； before
I had scarcely stepped out of the town limits； nothing could have
convinced me that I would starve as soon as I got a little way from
home。
He mentions the grave of Franklin in Christ Churchyard with its
inscription 〃Benjamin and Deborah Franklin；〃 and one is sharply reminded
of the similarity between the early careers of Benjamin Franklin and
Samuel Clemens。 Each learned the printer's trade； each worked in his
brother's printing…office and wrote for the paper； each left quietly and
went to New York； and from New York to Philadelphia； as a journeyman
printer； each in due season became a world figure； many…sided； human； and
of incredible popularity。
The foregoing letter ends with a long description of a trip made on the
Fairmount stage。 It is a good； vivid descriptionimpressions of a
fresh； sensitive mind； set down with little effort at fine writing； a
letter to convey literal rather than literary enjoyment。 The Wire
Bridge； Fairmount Park and Reservoir； new buildingsall these passed in
review。 A fine residence about completed impressed him：
It was built entirely of great blocks of red granite。 The pillars
in front were all finished but one。 These pillars were beautiful；
ornamental fluted columns； considerably larger than a hogshead at
the base； and about as high as Clapinger's second…story front
windows 。 。 。 。 To see some of them finished and standing； and
then the huge blocks lying about； looks so massy； and carries one；
in imagination； to the ruined piles of ancient Babylon。 I despise
the infernal bogus brick columns plastered over with mortar。 Marble
is the cheapest building…stone about Philadelphia。
There is a flavor of the 'Innocents' about it； then a little further
along：
I saw small steamboats； with their signs up〃For Wissahickon and
Manayunk 25 cents。〃 Geo。 Lippard； in his Legends of Washington and
his Generals； has rendered the Wissahickon sacred in my eyes； and I
shall make that trip； as well as one to Germantown； soon 。 。 。 。
There is one fine custom observed in Phila。 A gentleman is always
expected to hand up a lady's money for her。 Yesterday I sat in the
front end of the bus； directly under the driver's boxa lady sat
opposite me。 She handed me her money； which was right。 But； Lord！
a St。 Louis lady would think herself ruined if she should be so
familiar with a stranger。 In St。 Louis a man will sit in the front
end of the stage； and see a lady stagger from the far end to pay her
fare。
There are two more letters from Philadelphia： one of November； 28th； to
Orion； who by this time had bought a paper in Muscatine； Iowa； and
located the family there； and one to Pamela dated December 5th。
Evidently Orion had realized that his brother might be of value as a
contributor； for the latter says：
I will try to write for the paper occasionally； but I fear my
letters will be very uninteresting； for this incessant night work
dulls one's ideas amazingly。。。。 I believe I am the only person in
the Inquirer office that does not drink。 One young fellow makes 18
for a few weeks； and gets on a grand 〃bender〃 and spends every cent
of it。
How do you like 〃free soil〃？I would like amazingly to see a good
old…fashioned negro。 My love to all。
Truly your brother； SAM
In the letter to Pamela he is clearly homesick。
〃I only want to return to avoid night work； which is injuring my eyes；〃
is the excuse； but in the next sentence he complains of the scarcity of
letters from home and those 〃not written as they should be。〃 〃One only
has to leave home to learn how to write interesting letters to an absent
friend；〃 he says； and in conclusion； 〃I don't like our present prospect
for cold weather at all。〃
He had been gone half a year； and the first attack of home…longing； for a
boy of his age； was due。 The novelty of things had worn off； it was
coming on winter； changes had taken place among his home people and
friends； the life he had known best and longest was going on and he had
no part in it。 Leaning over his case； he sometimes hummed：
〃An exile from home； splendor dazzles in vain。〃
He weathered the attack and stuck it out for more than half a year
longer。 In January； when the days were dark and he grew depressed； he
made a trip to Washington to see the sights of the capital。 His stay was
comparatively brief； and he did not work there。 He returned to
Philadelphia； working for a time on the Ledger and North American。
Finally he went back to New York。 There are no letters of this period。
His second experience in New York appears not to have been recorded； and
in later years was only vaguely remembered。 It was late in the summer of
1854 when he finally set out on his return to the West。 His 'Wanderjahr'
had lasted nearly fifteen months。
He went directly to St。 Louis； sitting up three days and nights in a
smoking…car to make the journey。 He was worn out when he arrived； but
stopped there only a few hours to see Pamela。 It was his mother he was
anxious for。 He took the Keokuk Packet that night； and； flinging himself
on his berth； slept the clock three times around； scarcely rousing or
turning over； only waking at last at Muscatine。 For a long time that
missing day confused his calculations。
When he reached Orion's house the family sat at breakfast。 He came in
carrying a gun。 They had not been expecting him； and there was a general
outcry； and a rush in his direction。 He warded them off； holding the
butt of the gun in front of him。
〃You wouldn't let me buy a gun；〃 he said； 〃so I bought one myself； and I
am going to use it； now； in self…defense。〃
〃You； Sam！ You； Sam！〃 cried Jane Clemens。 〃Behave yourself；〃 for she
was wary of a gun。
Then he had had his joke and gave himself into his mother's arms。
XX
KEOKUK DAYS
Orion wished his brother to remain with him in the Muscatine office； but
the young man declared he must go to St。 Louis and earn some money before
he would be able to afford that luxury： He returned to his place on the
St。 Louis Eve