mark twain, a biography, 1835-1866-第4部分

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took　him　to　an　empty　cabin；　where　they　threw　him　on　the　floor　and　bound
him　with　ropes。　　His　groans　were　loud　and　frequent。　　Such　things　made　an
impression　that　would　last　a　lifetime。

Slave　punishment；　too；　was　not　unknown；　even　in　the　household。　　Jennie
especially　was　often　saucy　and　obstreperous。　　Jane　Clemens；　with　more
strength　of　character　than　of　body；　once　undertook　to　punish　her　for
insolence；　whereupon　Jennie　snatched　the　whip　from　her　hand。　　John
Clemens　was　sent　for　in　haste。　　He　came　at　once；　tied　Jennie's　wrists
together　with　a　bridle　rein；　and　administered　chastisement　across　the
shoulders　with　a　cowhide。　　These　were　things　all　calculated　to　impress　a
sensitive　child。

In　pleasant　weather　the　children　roamed　over　the　country；　hunting　berries
and　nuts；　drinking　sugar…water；　tying　knots　in　love…vine；　picking　the
petals　from　daisies　to　the　formula　〃Love　me…love　me　not；〃　always
accompanied　by　one　or　more；　sometimes　by　half　a　dozen；　of　their　small
darky　followers。　　Shoes　were　taken　off　the　first　of　April。　　For　a　time　a
pair　of　old　woolen　stockings　were　worn；　but　these　soon　disappeared；
leaving　the　feet　bare　for　the　summer。　　One　of　their　dreads　was　the
possibility　of　sticking　a　rusty　nail　into　the　foot；　as　this　was　liable　to
cause　lockjaw；　a　malady　regarded　with　awe　and　terror。　　They　knew　what
lockjaw　wasUncle　John　Quarles's　black　man；　Dan；　was　subject　to　it。
Sometimes　when　he　opened　his　mouth　to　its　utmost　capacity　he　felt　the
joints　slip　and　was　compelled　to　put　down　the　cornbread；　or　jole　and
greens；　or　the　piece　of　'possum　he　was　eating；　while　his　mouth　remained　a
fixed　abyss　until　the　doctor　came　and　restored　it　to　a　natural　position
by　an　exertion　of　muscular　power　that　would　have　well…nigh　lifted　an　ox。

Uncle　John　Quarles；　his　home；　his　farm；　his　slaves；　all　were　sources　of
never…ending　delight。　　Perhaps　the　farm　was　just　an　ordinary　Missouri
farm　and　the　slaves　just　average　negroes；　but　to　those　children　these
things　were　never　apparent。　　There　was　a　halo　about　anything　that
belonged　to　Uncle　John　Quarles；　and　that　halo　was　the　jovial；　hilarious
kindness　of　that　gentle…hearted；　humane　man。　　To　visit　at　his　house　was
for　a　child　to　be　in　a　heaven　of　mirth　and　pranks　continually。　　When　the
children　came　for　eggs　he　would　say：

〃Your　hens　won't　lay；　eh？　　Tell　your　maw　to　feed　'em　parched　corn　and
drive　'em　uphill；〃　and　this　was　always　a　splendid　stroke　of　humor　to　his
small　hearers。

Also；　he　knew　how　to　mimic　with　his　empty　hands　the　peculiar　patting　and
tossing　of　a　pone　of　corn…bread　before　placing　it　in　the　oven。　　He　would
make　the　most　fearful　threats　to　his　own　children；　for　disobedience；　but
never　executed　any　of　them。　　When　they　were　out　fishing　and　returned　late
he　would　say：

〃Youif　I　have　to　hunt　you　again　after　dark；　I　will　make　you　smell　like
a　burnt　horn！〃

Nothing　could　exceed　the　ferocity　of　this　threat；　and　all　the　children；
with　delightful　terror　and　curiosity；　wondered　what　would　happenif　it
ever　did　happenthat　would　result　in　giving　a　child　that　peculiar　savor。
Altogether　it　was　a　curious　early　childhood　that　Little　Sam　hadat　least
it　seems　so　to　us　now。　　Doubtless　it　was　commonplace　enough　for　that　time
and　locality。




V

THE　WAY　OF　FORTUNE

Perhaps　John　Quarles's　jocular；　happy…go…lucky　nature　and　general　conduct
did　not　altogether　harmonize　with　John　Clemens's　more　taciturn　business
methods。　　Notwithstanding　the　fact　that　he　was　a　builder　of　dreams；
Clemens　was　neat　and　methodical；　with　his　papers　always　in　order。　　He　had
a　hearty　dislike　for　anything　resembling　frivolity　and　confusion；　which
very　likely　were　the　chief　features　of　John　Quarles's　storekeeping。　　At
all　events；　they　dissolved　partnership　at　the　end　of　two　or　three　years；
and　Clemens　opened　business　for　himself　across　the　street。　　He　also
practised　law　whenever　there　were　cases；　and　was　elected　justice　of　the
peace；　acquiring　the　permanent　title　of　〃Judge。〃　　He　needed　some　one　to
assist　in　the　store；　and　took　in　Orion；　who　was　by　this　time　twelve　or
thirteen　years　old；　but；　besides　his　youth；　Orionall　his　days　a
visionarywas　a　studious；　pensive　lad　with　no　taste　for　commerce。　　Then
a　partnership　was　formed　with　a　man　who　developed　neither　capital　nor
business　ability；　and　proved　a　disaster　in　the　end。　　The　modest　tide　of
success　which　had　come　with　John　Clemens's　establishment　at　Florida　had
begun　to　wane。　　Another　boy；　Henry；　born　in　July；　1838；　added　one　more
responsibility　to　his　burdens。

There　still　remained　a　promise　of　better　things。　　There　seemed　at　least　a
good　prospect　that　the　scheme　for　making　Salt　River　navigable　was　likely
to　become　operative。　　With　even　small　boats　（bateaux）　running　as　high　as
the　lower　branch　of　the　South　Fork；　Florida　would　become　an　emporium　of
trade；　and　merchants　and　property…owners　of　that　village　would　reap　a
harvest。　　An　act　of　the　Legislature　was　passed　incorporating　the
navigation　company；　with　Judge　Clemens　as　its　president。　　Congress　was
petitioned　to　aid　this　work　of　internal　improvement。　　So　confident　was
the　company　of　success　that　the　hamlet　was　thrown　into　a　fever　of
excitement　by　the　establishment　of　a　boatyard　and；　the　actual
construction　of　a　bateau；　but　a　Democratic　Congress　turned　its　back　on
the　proposed　improvement。　　No　boat　bigger　than　a　skiff　ever　ascended　Salt
River；　though　there　was　a　wild　report；　evidently　a　hoax；　that　a　party　of
picnickers　had　seen　one　night　a　ghostly　steamer；　loaded　and　manned；
puffing　up　the　stream。　　An　old　Scotchman；　Hugh　Robinson；　when　he　heard　of
it；　said：

〃I　don't　doubt　a　word　they　say。　　In　Scotland；　it　often　happens　that　when
people　have　been　killed；　or　are　troubled；　they　send　their　spirits　abroad
and　they　are　seen　as　much　like　themselves　as　a　reflection　in　a　looking…
glass。　　That　was　a　ghost　of　some　wrecked　steamboat。〃

But　John　Quarles；　who　was　present；　laughed：

〃If　ever　anybody　was　in　trouble；　the　men　on　that　steamboat　were；〃　he
said。　　〃They　were　the　Democratic　candidates　at　the　last　election。　　They
killed　Salt　River　improvements；　and　Salt　River　has　killed　them。　　Their
ghosts　went　up　the　river　on　a　ghostly　steamboat。〃

It　is　possible　that　this　comment；　which　was　widely　repeated　and　traveled
far；　was　the　origin　of　the　term　〃Going　up　Salt　River；〃　as　applied　to
defeated　political　candidates。　　＇The　dictionaries　give　this　phrase　as
probably　traceable　to　a　small；　difficult　stream　in　Kentucky；　but　it　seems
more　reasonable　to　believe　that　it　originated　in　Quarles's　witty
comment。＇

No　other　attempt　was　ever　made　to　establish　navigation　on　Salt　River。
Rumors　of　railroads　already　running　in　the　East　put　an　end　to　any　such
thought。　　Railroads　could　run　anywhere　and　were　probably　cheaper　and
easier　to　maintain　than　the　difficult　navigation　requiring　locks　and
dams。　　Salt　River　lost　its　prestige　as　a　possible　water　highway　and
became　mere　scenery。　　Railroads　have　ruined　greater　rivers　than　the
Little　Salt；　and　greater　villages　than　Florida；　though　neither　Florida
nor　Salt　River　has　been　touched　by　a　railroad　to　this　day。　　Perhaps　such
close　detail　of　early　history　may　be　thought　unnecessary　in　a　work　of
this　kind；　but　all　these　things　were　definite　influences　in　the　career　of
the　little　lad　whom　the　world　would　one　day　know　as　Mark　Twain。




VI

A　NEW　HOME

The　death　of　little　Margaret　was　the　final　misfortune　that　came　to　the
Clemens　family　in　Florida。　　Doubtless　it　hastened　their　departure。
There　was　a　superstition　in　those　days　that　to　refer　to　health　as　good
luck；　rather　than　to　ascribe　it　to　the　kindness　of　Providence；　was　to
bring　about　a　judgment。　　Jane　Clemens　one　day　spoke　to　a　neighbor　of
their　good　luck　in　thus　far　having　lost　no　member　of　their　family。　　That
same　day；　when　the　sisters；　Pamela　and　Margaret；　returned　from　school；
Margaret　laid　her　books　on　the　table；　looked　in　the　glass　at　her　flushed
cheeks；　pulled　out　the　trundle…bed；　and　lay　down。

She　was　never　in　her　right　mind　again。　　The　doctor　was　sent　for　and
diagnosed　the　case　〃bilious　fever。〃　　One　evening；　about　nine　o'clock；
Orion　was　sitting　on　the　edge　of　the　trundle…bed　by　the　patient；　when　the
door　opened　and　Little　Sam；　then　about　four　years　old；　walked　in　from　his
bedroom；　fast　asleep。　　He　came　to　the　side　of　the　trundle…bed　and　pulled
at　the　bedding　near　Margaret's　shoulder　for　some　time　before　he　woke。
Next　day　the　little　girl　was　〃picking　at　the　coverlet；〃　and　it　was　known
that　she　could　not　live。　　About　a　week　later　she　died。　　She　was　nine
years　old；　a　beautiful　child；　plump　in　form；　with　rosy　cheeks；　black
hair；　and　bright　eyes。　　This　was　in　August；　1839。　　It　was　Little　Sam's
first　sight　of　deaththe　first　break　in　the　Clemens　family：　it　left　a
sad　household。　　The　shoemaker　who　lived　next　door　claimed　to　have　seen
several　weeks　previous；　in　a　vision；　the　coffin　and　the　funeral…
procession　pass　the　gate　by　the　winding　road；　to　the　cemetery；　exactly　as
it　happened。

Matters　were　now　going　badly　enough　with　John　Clemens。　　Yet　he　never　was
without　one　great　comforting　thoughtthe　future　of　the　Tennessee　land。
It　underlaid　every　plan；　it　was　an　anodyne　for　every　ill。

〃When　we　sell　the　Tennessee　land　everything　will　be　all　right；〃　was　the
refrain　that　brought　solace　in　the　darkest　hours。　　A　blessing　for　him
that　this　was　so；　for　he　had　little　else　to　brighten　his　days。
Negotiations　looking　to　the　sale　of　the　land　were　usually　in　progress。
When　the　pressure　became　very　hard　and　finances　were　at　their　lowest　ebb；
it　was　offered　at　any　priceat　five　cents　an　acre；　sometimes。　　When
conditions　improved；　however　little；　the　price　suddenly　advanced　even　to
its　maximum　of　one　thousand　dollars　an　acre。　　Now　and　then　a　genuine
offer　came　along；　but；　though　eagerly　welcomed　at　the　moment；　it　was
always　refused　after　a　little　consideration。

〃We　will　struggle　along　somehow；　Jane；〃　he　would　say。　　〃We　will　not　throw
away　the　children's　fortune。〃

There　was　one　other　who　believed　in　the　Tennessee　landJane　Clemens's
favorite　cousin；　James　Lampton；　the　courtliest；　gentlest；　most　prodigal
optimist　of　all　that　guileless　race。　　To　James　Lampton　the　land　always
had　〃millions　in　it〃everything　had。　　He　made　stupendous　fortunes　d