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ailments； and was ambitious for more。 An epidemic of measlesthe black；
deadly kindwas ravaging Hannibal； and he yearned for the complaint。
He yearned so much that when he heard of a playmate； one of the Bowen
boys； who had it； he ran away and； slipping into the house； crept into
bed with the infection。 The success of this venture was complete。 Some
days later； the Clemens family gathered tearfully around Little Sam's bed
to see him die。 According to his own after…confession； this gratified
him； and he was willing to die for the glory of that touching scene。
However； he disappointed them； and was presently up and about in search
of fresh laurels。 ＇In later life Mr。 Clemens did not recollect the
precise period of this illness。 With habitual indifference he assigned
it to various years； as his mood or the exigencies of his theme required。
Without doubt the 〃measles〃 incident occurred when he was very young。＇
He must have been a wearing child； and we may believe that Jane Clemens；
with her varied cares and labors； did not always find him a comfort。
〃You gave me more uneasiness than any child I had；〃 she said to him once；
in her old age。
〃I suppose you were afraid I wouldn't live；〃 he suggested； in his
tranquil fashion。
She looked at him with that keen humor that had not dulled in eighty
years。 〃No； afraid you would；〃 she said。 But that was only her joke；
for she was the most tenderhearted creature in the world； and； like
mothers in general； had a weakness for the child that demanded most of
her mother's care。
It was mainly on his account that she spent her summers on John Quarles's
farm near Florida； and it was during the first summer that an incident
already mentioned occurred。 It was decided that the whole family should
go for a brief visit； and one Saturday morning in June Mrs。 Clemens； with
the three elder children and the baby； accompanied by Jennie； the slave…
girl； set out in a light wagon for the day's drive； leaving Judge Clemens
to bring Little Sam on horseback Sunday morning。 The hour was early when
Judge Clemens got up to saddle his horse； and Little Sam was still
asleep。 The horse being ready； Clemens； his mind far away； mounted and
rode off without once remembering the little boy； and in the course of
the afternoon arrived at his brother…in…law's farm。 Then he was
confronted by Jane Clemens； who demanded Little Sam。
〃Why；〃 said the judge； aghast； 〃I never once thought of him after I left
him asleep。〃
Wharton Lampton； a brother of Jane Clemens and Patsey Quarles； hastily
saddled a horse and set out； helter…skelter； for Hannibal。 He arrived in
the early dusk。 The child was safe enough； but he was crying with
loneliness and hunger。 He had spent most of the day in the locked；
deserted house playing with a hole in the meal…sack where the meal ran
out； when properly encouraged； in a tiny stream。 He was fed and
comforted； and next day was safe on the farm； which during that summer
and those that followed it； became so large a part of his boyhood and
lent a coloring to his later years。
VIII
THE FARM
We have already mentioned the delight of the Clemens children in Uncle
John Quarles's farm。 To Little Sam it was probably a life…saver。 With
his small cousin； Tabitha； ＇Tabitha Quarles； now Mrs。 Greening； of
Palmyra； Missouri； has supplied most of the material for this chapter。＇
just his own age （they called her Puss）； he wandered over that magic
domain； fording new marvels at every step； new delights everywhere。 A
slave…girl； Mary； usually attended them； but she was only six years
older； and not older at all in reality； so she was just a playmate； and
not a guardian to be feared or evaded。 Sometimes； indeed； it was
necessary for her to threaten to tell 〃Miss Patsey〃 or 〃Miss Jane；〃 when
her little charges insisted on going farther or staying later than she
thought wise from the viewpoint of her own personal safety； but this was
seldom； and on the whole a stay at the farm was just one long idyllic
dream of summer…time and freedom。
The farm…house stood in the middle of a large yard entered by a stile
made of sawed…off logs of graduated heights。 In the corner of the yard
were hickory trees； and black walnut； and beyond the fence the hill fell
away past the barns； the corn…cribs； and the tobacco…house to a brook
a divine place to wade； with deep； dark； forbidden pools。 Down in the
pasture there were swings under the big trees； and Mary swung the
children and ran under them until their feet touched the branches； and
then took her turn and 〃balanced〃 herself so high that their one wish was
to be as old as Mary and swing in that splendid way。 All the woods were
full of squirrelsgray squirrels and the red…fox speciesand many birds
and flowers； all the meadows were gay with clover and butterflies； and
musical with singing grasshoppers and calling larks； there were
blackberries in the fence rows； apples and peaches in the orchard； and
watermelons in the corn。 They were not always ripe； those watermelons；
and once； when Little Sam had eaten several pieces of a green one； he was
seized with cramps so severe that most of the household expected him to
die forthwith。
Jane Clemens was not heavily concerned。
〃Sammy will pull through；〃 she said； 〃he wasn't born to die that way。〃
It is the slender constitution that bears the strain。 〃Sammy〃 did pull
through； and in a brief time was ready for fresh adventure。
There were plenty of these： there were the horses to ride to and from the
fields； the ox…wagons to ride in when they had dumped their heavy loads；
the circular horsepower to ride on when they threshed the wheat。 This
last was a dangerous and forbidden pleasure； but the children would dart
between the teams and climb on； and the slave who was driving would
pretend not to see。 Then in the evening when the black woman came along；
going after the cows； the children would race ahead and set the cows
running and jingling their bellsespecially Little Sam； for he was a
wild…headed； impetuous child of sudden ecstasies that sent him capering
and swinging his arms； venting his emotions in a series of leaps and
shrieks and somersaults； and spasms of laughter as he lay rolling in the
grass。
His tendency to mischief grew with this wide liberty； improved health；
and the encouragement of John Quarles's good…natured； fun…loving slaves。
The negro quarters beyond the orchard were especially attractive。 In one
cabin lived a bed…ridden； white…headed old woman whom the children
visited daily and looked upon with awe； for she was said to be a thousand
years old and to have talked with Moses。 The negroes believed this； the
children； too； of course； and that she had lost her health in the desert；
coming out of Egypt。 The bald spot on her head was caused by fright at
seeing Pharaoh drowned。 She also knew how to avert spells and ward off
witches； which added greatly to her prestige。 Uncle Dan'l was a
favorite； too…kind…hearted and dependable； while his occasional lockjaw
gave him an unusual distinction。 Long afterward he would become Nigger
Jim in the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn tales； and s