mark twain, a biography, 1835-1866-第6部分

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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　so　in　his　gentle
guilelessness　win　immortality　and　the　love　of　many　men。

Certainly　this　was　a　heavenly　place　for　a　little　boy；　the　farm　of　Uncle
John　Quarles；　and　the　house　was　as　wonderful　as　its　surroundings。　　It　was
a　two…story　double　log　building；　with　a　spacious　floor　（roofed　in）
connecting　the　two　divisions。　　In　the　summer　the　table　was　set　in　the
middle　of　that　shady；　breezy　pavilion；　and　sumptuous　meals　were　served　in
the　lavish　Southern　style；　brought　to　the　table　in　vast　dishes　that　left
only　room　for　rows　of　plates　around　the　edge。　　Fried　chicken；　roast　pig；
turkeys；　ducks；　geese；　venison　just　killed；　squirrels；　rabbits；
partridges；　pheasants；　prairie…chickensthe　list　is　too　long　to　be
served　here。　　If　a　little　boy　could　not　improve　on　that　bill　of　fare　and
in　that　atmosphere；　his　case　was　hopeless　indeed。　　His　mother　kept　him
there　until　the　late　fall；　when　the　chilly　evenings　made　them　gather
around　the　wide；　blazing　fireplace。　　Sixty　years　later　he　wrote　of　that
scene：

　　　　　I　can　see　the　room　yet　with　perfect　clearness。　　I　can　see　all　its
　　　　　buildings；　all　its　details：　the　family…room　of　the　house；　with　the
　　　　　trundle…bed　in　one　corner　and　the　spinning…wheel　in　another　a　wheel
　　　　　whose　rising　and　falling　wail；　heard　from　a　distance；　was　the
　　　　　mournfulest　of　all　sounds　to　me；　and　made　me　homesick　and　low…
　　　　　spirited；　and　filled　my　atmosphere　with　the　wandering　spirits　of　the
　　　　　dead；　the　vast　fireplace；　piled　high　with　flaming　logs；　from　whose
　　　　　ends　a　sugary　sap　bubbled　out；　but　did　not　go　to　waste；　for　we
　　　　　scraped　it　off　and　ate　it；　。　　。　　。　　the　lazy　cat　spread　out　on　the
　　　　　rough　hearthstones；　the　drowsy　dogs　braced　against　the　jambs；
　　　　　blinking；　my　aunt　in　one　chimney…corner　and　my　uncle　in　the　other
　　　　　smoking　his　corn…cob　pipe；　the　slick　and　carpetless　oak　floor
　　　　　faintly　mirroring　the　flame　tongues；　and　freckled　with　black
　　　　　indentations　where　fire…coals　had　popped　out　and　died　a　leisurely
　　　　　death；　half　a　dozen　children　romping　in　the　background　twilight；
　　　　　splint…bottom　chairs　here　and　theresome　with　rockers；　a　cradle
　　　　　out　of　service；　but　waiting　with　confidence。

One　is　tempted　to　dwell　on　this　period；　to　quote　prodigally　from　these
vivid　memoriesthe　thousand　minute　impressions　which　the　child's
sensitive　mind　acquired　in　that　long…ago　time　and　would　reveal　everywhere
in　his　work　in　the　years　to　come。　　For　him　it　was　education　of　a　more
valuable　and　lasting　sort　than　any　he　would　ever　acquire　from　books。




IX

SCHOOL…DAYS

Nevertheless；　on　his　return　to　Hannibal；　it　was　decided　that　Little　Sam
was　now　ready　to　go　to　school。　　He　was　about　five　years　old；　and　the
months　on　the　farm　had　left　him　wiry　and　lively；　even　if　not　very　robust。
His　mother　declared　that　he　gave　her　more　trouble　than　all　the　other
children　put　together。

〃He　drives　me　crazy　with　his　didoes；　when　he　is　in　the　house；〃　she　used
to　say；　〃and　when　he　is　out　of　it　I　am　expecting　every　minute　that　some
one　will　bring　him　home　half　dead。〃

He　did；　in　fact；　achieve　the　first　of　his　〃nine　narrow　escapes　from
drowning〃　about　this　time；　and　was　pulled　out　of　the　river　one　afternoon
and　brought　home　in　a　limp　and　unpromising　condition。　　When　with　mullein
tea　and　castor…oil　she　had　restored　him　to　activity；　she　said：　〃I　guess
there　wasn't　much　danger。　　People　born　to　be　hanged　are　safe　in　water。〃

She　declared　she　was　willing　to　pay　somebody　to　take　him　off　her　hands
for　a　part　of　each　day　and　try　to　teach　him　manners。　　Perhaps　this　is　a
good　place　to　say　that　Jane　Clemens　was　the　original　of　Tom　Sawyer's
〃Aunt　Polly；〃　and　her　portrait　as　presented　in　that　book　is　considered
perfect。　　Kind…hearted；　fearless；　looking　and　acting　ten　years　older　than
her　age；　as　women　did　in　that　time；　always　outspoken　and　sometimes
severe；　she　was　regarded　as　a　〃character〃　by　her　friends；　and　beloved　by
them　as；　a　charitable；　sympathetic　woman　whom　it　was　good　to　know。　　Her
sense　of　pity　was　abnormal。　　She　refused　to　kill　even　flies；