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to slight； he had regarded this in the light of deliberate desertion。
〃The sense of abandonment caused my heart to ache。 The wagon had gone a
few feet when I was discovered and invited to enter。 How I wished they
had not missed me until they had arrived at Hannibal。 Then the world
would have seen how I was treated and would have cried 'Shame！'〃
This incident； noted and remembered； long after became curiously confused
with another； in Mark Twain's mind。 In an autobiographical chapter
published in The North American Review he tells of the move to Hannibal
and relates that he himself was left behind by his absentminded family。
The incident of his own abandonment did not happen then； but later； and
somewhat differently。 It would indeed be an absent…minded family if the
parents； and the sister and brothers ranging up to fourteen years of age；
should drive off leaving Little Sam； age four； behind。
＇As mentioned in the Prefatory Note； Mark Twain's memory played him
many tricks in later life。 Incidents were filtered through his vivid
imagination until many of them bore little relation to the actual
occurrence。 Some of these lapses were only amusing； but occasionally
they worked an unintentional injustice。 It is the author's purpose in
every instance； so far as is possible； to keep the record straight。＇
VII
THE LITTLE TOWN OF HANNIBAL
Hannibal in 1839 was already a corporate community and had an atmosphere
of its own。 It was a town with a distinct Southern flavor； though rather
more astir than the true Southern community of that period； more Western
in that it planned； though without excitement； certain new enterprises
and made a show； at least； of manufacturing。 It was somnolent （a slave
town could not be less than that）； but it was not wholly asleepthat is
to say； deadand it was tranquilly content。 Mark Twain remembered it as
〃the white town drowsing in the sunshine of a summer morning；。 。 。 the
great Mississippi； the magnificent Mississippi； rolling its mile…wide
tide along； 。 。 。 the dense forest away on the other side。〃
The little city was proud of its scenery； and justly so： circled with
bluffs； with Holliday's Hill on the north； Lover's Leap on the south； the
shining river in the foreground； there was little to be desired in the
way of setting。
The river； of course； was the great highway。 Rafts drifted by；
steamboats passed up and down and gave communication to the outside
world； St。 Louis； the metropolis； was only one hundred miles away。
Hannibal was inclined to rank itself as of next importance； and took on
airs accordingly。 It had society； tooall kindsfrom the negroes and
the town drunkards （〃General〃 Gaines and Jimmy Finn； later； Old Ben
Blankenship） up through several nondescript grades of mechanics and
tradesmen to the professional men of the community； who wore tall hats；
ruffled shirt…fronts； and swallow…tail coats； usually of some positive
color…blue； snuff…brown； and green。 These and their families constituted
the true aristocracy of the Southern town。 Most of them had pleasant
homesbrick or large frame mansions； with colonnaded entrances； after
the manner of all Southern architecture of that period； which had an
undoubted Greek root； because of certain drawing…books； it is said；
accessible to the builders of those days。 Most of them； also； had means
slaves and land which yielded an income in addition to their
professional earnings。 They lived in such style as was considered
fitting to their rank； and had such comforts as were then obtainable。
It was to this grade of society that judge Clemens and his family
belonged； but his means no longer enabled him to provide either the
comforts or the ostentation of his class。 He settled his family and
belongings in a portion of a house on Hill Streetthe Pavey Hotel； his
merchandise he established modestly on Main Street； with Orion； in a new
suit of clothes； as clerk。 Possibly the clothes gave Orion a renewed
ambition for mercantile life； but this waned。 Business did not begin
actively； and he was presently dreaming and reading away the time。 A
little later he became a printer's apprentice； in the office of the
Hannibal Journal； at his father's suggestion。
Orion Clemens perhaps deserves a special word here。 He was to be much
associated with his more famous brother for many years； and his
personality as boy and man is worth at least a casual consideration。
He was fifteen now； and had developed characteristics which in a greater
or less degree were to go with him through life。 Of a kindly； loving
disposition； like all of the Clemens children； quick of temper； but
always contrite； or forgiving； he was never without the fond regard of
those who knew him best。 His weaknesses were manifold； but； on the
whole； of a negative kind。 Honorable and truthful； he had no tendency to
bad habits or unworthy pursuits； indeed； he had no positive traits of any
sort。 That was his chief misfortune。 Full of whims and fancies；
unstable； indeterminate； he was swayed by every passing emotion and
influence。 Daily he laid out a new course of study and achievement； only
to fling it aside because of some chance remark or printed paragraph or
bit of advice that ran contrary to his purpose。 Such a life is bound to
be a succession of extremesalternate periods of supreme exaltation and
despair。 In his autobiographical chapters； already mentioned； Orion sets
down every impulse and emotion and failure with that faithful humility
which won him always the respect； if not always the approval； of men。
Printing was a step downward； for it was a trade； and Orion felt it
keenly。 A gentleman's son and a prospective heir of the Tennessee land；
he was entitled to a profession。 To him it was punishment； and the
disgrace weighed upon him。 Then he remembered that Benjamin Franklin had
been a printer and had eaten only an apple and a bunch of grapes for his
dinner。 Orion decided to emulate Franklin； and for a time he took only a
biscuit and a glass of water at a meal； foreseeing the day when he should
electrify the world with his eloquence。 He was surprised to find how
clear his mind was on this low diet and how rapidly he learned his trade。
Of the other children Pamela； now twelve； and Benjamin； seven； were put
to school。 They were pretty； attractive children； and Henry； the baby；
was a sturdy toddler； the pride of the household。 Little Sam was the
least promising of the flock。 He remained delicate； and developed little
beyond a tendency to pranks。 He was a queer； fanciful； uncommunicative
child that detested indoors and would run away if not watchedalways in
the direction of the river。 He walked in his sleep； too； and often the
rest of the household got up in the middle of the night to find him
fretting with cold in some dark corner。 The doctor was summoned for him
oftener than was good for the family purseor for him； perhaps； if we
may credit the story of heavy dosings of those stern allopathic days。
Yet he would appear not to have been satisfied with his heritage of
ailments； and was ambitious for more。 An epidemic of measlesthe black；
deadly kind