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〃Oh； nothing mucha so…called funny bookone of these days I'll write a
funnier book than that； myself。〃
Brownell laughed。
〃No； you won't； Sam；〃 he said。 〃You are too lazy ever to write a book。〃
A good many years later when the name 〃Mark Twain〃 had begun to stand for
American humor the owner of it gave his 〃Sandwich Island〃 lecture in
Keokuk。 Speaking of the unreliability of the islanders； he said： 〃The
king is； I believe； one of the greatest liars on the face of the earth；
except one； and I am very sorry to locate that one right here in the city
of Keokuk； in the person of Ed Brownell。
The Keokuk episode in Mark Twain's life was neither very long nor very
actively important。 It extended over a period of less than two years
two vital years； no doubt； if all the bearings could be knownbut they
were not years of startling occurrence。
Yet he made at least one beginning there： at a printers' banquet he
delivered his first after…dinner speech； a hilarious speechits humor of
a primitive kind。 Whatever its shortcomings； it delighted his audience；
and raised him many points in the public regard。 He had entered a field
of entertainment in which he would one day have no rival。 They impressed
him into a debating society after that； and there was generally a stir of
attention when Sam Clemens was about to take the floor。
Orion Clemens records how his brother undertook to teach the German
apprentice music。
〃There was an old guitar in the office and Sam taught Fritz a song
beginning：
Grasshopper sitting on a sweet…potato vine；
Turkey came along and yanked him from behind。〃
The main point in the lesson was in giving to the word 〃yanked〃 the
proper expression and emphasis； accompanied by a sweep of the fingers
across the strings。 With serious face and deep earnestness Fritz in his
broken English would attempt these lines； while his teacher would bend
over and hold his sides with laughter at each ridiculous effort。 Without
intending it； Fritz had his revenge。 One day his tormentor's hand was
caught in the press when the German boy was turning the wheel。 Sam
called to him to stop； but the boy's mind was slow to grasp the
situation。 The hand was badly wounded； though no bones were broken。 In
due time it recovered； its power and dexterity； but the trace of the
scars remained。
Orion's printing…office was not a prosperous one； he had not the gift of
prosperity in any form。 When he found it difficult to pay his brother's
wages； he took him into partnership； which meant that Sam got no wages at
all； barely a living； for the office could not keep its head above water。
The junior partner was not disturbed； however。 He cared little for money
in those days； beyond his actual needs； and these were modest enough。
His mother； now with Pamela； was amply provided for。 Orion himself tells
how his business dwindled away。 He printed a Keokuk directory； but it
did not pay largely。 He was always too eager for the work； too low in
his bid for it。 Samuel Clemens in this directory is set down as 〃an
antiquarian〃 a joke； of course； though the point of it is now lost。
Only two of his Keokuk letters have been preserved。 The first indicates
the general disorder of the office and a growing dissatisfaction。 It is
addressed to his mother and sister and bears date of June 10； 1856。
I don't like to work at too many things at once。 They take Henry
and Dick away from me； too。 Before we commenced the Directory；
＇Orion printed two editions of the directory。 This was probably the
second one。＇ I could tell before breakfast just how much work
could be done during the day； and manage accordinglybut now； they
throw all my plans into disorder by taking my hands away from their
work。。。。 I am not getting along well with the job…work。 I can't
work blindlywithout system。 I gave Dick a job yesterday； which I
calculated he could set in two hours and I could work off on the
press in three； and therefore just finish it by supper…time； but he
was transferred to the Directory； and the job； promised this
morning； remains untouched。 Through all the great pressure of job…
work lately； I never before failed in a promise of the kind 。 。 。
The other letter is dated two months later； August 5th。 It was written
to Henry； who was visiting in St。 Louis or Hannibal at the time； and
introduces the first mention of the South American fever； which now
possessed the writer。 Lynch and Herndon had completed their survey of
the upper Amazon； and Lieutenant Herndon's account of the exploration was
being widely read。 Poring over the book nights； young Clemens had been
seized with a desire to go to the headwaters of the South American river；
there to collect coca and make a fortune。 All his life he was subject to
such impulses as that； and ways and means were not always considered。 It
did not occur to him that it would be difficult to get to the Amazon and
still more difficult to ascend the river。 It was his nature to see
results with a dazzling largeness that blinded him to the detail of their
achievement。 In the 〃Turning…point〃 article already mentioned he refers
to this。 He says：
That was more than fifty years ago。 In all that time my temperament
has not changed by even a shade。 I have been punished many and many
a time； and bitterly； for doing things and reflecting afterward； but
these tortures have been of no value to me； I still do the thing
commanded by Circumstance and Temperament； and reflect afterward。
Always violently。 When I am reflecting on these occasions； even
deaf persons can hear me think。
In the letter to Henry we see that his resolve was already made； his
plans matured； also that Orion had not as yet been taken into full
confidence。
Ma knows my determination； but even she counsels me to keep it from
Orion。 She says I can treat him as I did her when I started to St。
Louis and went to New YorkI can start for New York and go to South
America。
He adds that Orion had promised him fifty or one hundred dollars； but
that he does not depend upon it； and will make other arrangements。 He
fears obstacles may be put in his way； and he will bring various
influences to bear。
I shall take care that Ma and Orion are plentifully supplied with
South American books： They have Herndon's report now。 Ward and the
Dr。 and myself will hold a grand consultation to…night at the
office。 We have agreed that no more shall be admitted into our
company。
He had enlisted those two adventurers in his enterprise： a Doctor Martin
and the young man； Ward。 They were very much in earnest； but the start
was not made as planned； most likely for want of means。
Young Clemens； however； did not give up the idea。 He made up his mind to
work in the direction of his desire； following his trade and laying by
money for the venture。 But Fate or Providence or Accidentwhatever we
may choose to call the unaccountablestepped in just then； and laid
before him the means of turning another sharp corner in his c