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！
others may do if they take hold of life with a purpose。 The
miracle； or the power that elevates the few； is to be found in their
industry； application； and perseverance under the promptings of a
brave； determined spirit。
The old note…book contains no record of disasters。 Horace Bixby； who
should know； has declared：
〃Sam Clemens never had an accident either as a steersman or as a pilot；
except once when he got aground for a few hours in the bagasse （cane）
smoke； with no damage to anybody though of course there was some good
luck in that too； for the best pilots do not escape trouble； now and
then。〃
Bixby and Clemens were together that winter on the Alonzo Child； and a
letter to Orion contains an account of great feasting which the two
enjoyed at a 〃French restaurant〃 in New Orleans〃dissipating on a ten…
dollar dinnertell it not to Ma！〃where they had sheepshead fish；
oysters； birds； mushrooms； and what not； 〃after which the day was too far
gone to do anything。〃 So it appears that he was not always reading
Macaulay or studying French and astronomy； but sometimes went frivoling
with his old chief； now his chum； always his dear friend。
Another letter records a visit with Pamela to a picture…gallery in St。
Louis where was being exhibited Church's 〃Heart of the Andes。〃 He
describes the picture in detail and with vast enthusiasm。
〃I have seen it several times；〃 he concludes； 〃but it is always a new
picturetotally newyou seem to see nothing the second time that you
saw the first。〃
Further along he tells of having taken his mother and the girlshis
cousin Ella Creel and anotherfor a trip down the river to New Orleans。
Ma was delighted with her trip； but she was disgusted with the girls
for allowing me to embrace and kiss themand she was horrified at
the 'schottische' as performed by Miss Castle and myself。 She was
perfectly willing for me to dance until 12 o'clock at the imminent
peril of my going to sleep on the after…watchbut then she would
top off with a very inconsistent sermon on dancing in general；
ending with a terrific broadside aimed at that heresy of heresies；
the 'schottische'。
I took Ma and the girls in a carriage round that portion of New
Orleans where the finest gardens and residences are to be seen； and；
although it was a blazing hot； dusty day； they seemed hugely
delighted。 To use an expression which is commonly ignored in polite
society； they were 〃hell…bent〃 on stealing some of the luscious…
looking oranges from branches which overhung the fence； but I
restrained them。
In another letter of this period we get a hint of the future Mark Twain。
It was written to John T。 Moore； a young clerk on the John J。 Roe。
What a fool old Adam was。 Had everything his own way； had succeeded
in gaining the love of the best…looking girl in the neighborhood；
but yet； unsatisfied with his conquest； he had to eat a miserable
little apple。 Ah； John； if you had been in his place you would not
have eaten a mouthful of the applethat is； if it had required any
exertion。 I have noticed that you shun exertion。 There comes in
the difference between us。 I court exertion。 I love work。 Why；
sir； when I have a piece of work to perform； I go away to myself；
sit down in the shade； and muse over the coming enjoyment。
Sometimes I am so industrious that I muse too long。
There remains another letter of this perioda sufficiently curious
document。 There was in those days a famous New Orleans clairvoyant known
as Madame Caprell。 Some of the' young pilot's friends。 had visited her
and obtained what seemed to be satisfying results。 From time to time
they had urged him to visit the fortune…teller； and one idle day he
concluded to make the experiment。 As soon as he came away he wrote to
Orion in detail。
She's a very pleasant little ladyrather prettyabout 28say
5 feet 2 1/4would weigh 116has black eyes and hairis polite
and intelligentused good language； and talks much faster than I
do。
She invited me into the little back parlor； closed the door； and we
were alone。 We sat down facing each other。 Then she asked my age。
Then she put her hands before her eyes a moment； and commenced
talking as if she had a good deal to say and not much time to say it
in。 Something after this style：
'Madame。' Yours is a watery planet； you gain your livelihood on the
water； but you should have been a lawyerthere is where your
talents lie； you might have distinguished yourself as an orator； or
as an editor； you have written a great deal； you write wellbut
you are rather out of practice； no matteryou will be in practice
some day； you have a superb constitution； and as excellent health as
any man in the world； you have great powers of endurance； in your
profession your strength holds out against the longest sieges
without flagging； still； the upper part of your lungs； the top of
them； is slightly affectedyou must take care of yourself； you do
not drink； but you use entirely too much tobacco； and you must stop
it； mind； not moderate； but stop the use of it； totally； then I can
almost promise you 86； when you will surely die； otherwise； look out
for 28； 31； 34； 47； and 65； be carefulfor you are not of a long…
lived race； that is； on your father's side； you are the only healthy
member of your family； and the only one in it who has anything like
the certainty of attaining to a great ageso； stop using tobacco；
and be careful of yourself。。。。 In some respects you take after your
father； but you are much more like your mother； who belongs to the
long…lived； energetic side of the house。。。。 You never brought all
your energies to bear upon any subject but what you accomplished it
for instance； you are self…made； self…educated。
'S。 L。 C。' Which proves nothing。
'Madame。' Don't interrupt。 When you sought your present
occupation； you found a thousand obstacles in your wayobstacles
unknownnot even suspected by any save you and me； since you keep
such matter to yourselfbut you fought your way； and hid the long
struggle under a mask of cheerfulness； which saved your friends
anxiety on your account。 To do all this requires the qualities
which I have named。
'S。 L。 C。' You flatter well； Madame。
'Madame。' Don't interrupt。 Up to within a short time you had
always lived from hand to mouthnow you are in easy circumstances
for which you need give credit to no one but yourself。 The turning…
point in your life occurred in 1840…7…8。
'S。 L。 C。' Which was？
'Madame。' A death； perhaps； and this threw you upon the world and
made you what you are； it was always intended that you should make
yourself； therefore； it was well that this calamity occurred as
early as it did。 You will never die of water； although your career
upon it in the future seems well sprinkled