mark twain, a biography, 1866-1875-第14部分

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！


this　time；　with　his　directors。　　Many　reports　of　Mark　Twain's　new　book　had
been　traveling　the　rounds　of　the　press；　some　of　which　declared　it　was　to
be　irreverent；　even　blasphemous；　in　tone。　　The　title　selected；　The　New
Pilgrim's　Progress；　was　in　itself　a　sacrilege。　　Hartford　was　a
conservative　place；　the　American　Publishing　Company　directors　were　of
orthodox　persuasion。　　They　urged　Bliss　to　relieve　the　company　of　this
impending　disaster　of　heresy。　　When　the　author　arrived　one　or　more　of
them　labored　with　him　in　person；　without　avail。　　As　for　Bliss；　he　was
stanch；　he　believed　in　the　book　thoroughly；　from　every　standpoint。　　He
declared　if　the　company　refused　to　print　it　he　would　resign　the
management　and　publish　the　book　himself。　　This　was　an　alarming　suggestion
to　the　stockholders。　　Bliss　had　returned　dividendsa　boon　altogether　too
rare　in　the　company's　former　history。　　The　objectors　retired　and　were
heard　of　no　more。　　The　manuscript　was　placed　in　the　hands　of　Fay　and　Cox；
illustrators；　with　an　order　for　about　two　hundred　and　fifty　pictures。

Fay　and　Cox　turned　it　over　to　True　Williams；　one　of　the　well…known
illustrators　of　that　day。　　Williams　was　a　man　of　great　talentof　fine
imagination　and　sweetness　of　spiritbut　it　was　necessary　to　lock　him　in
a　room　when　industry　was　required；　with　nothing　more　exciting　than　cold
water　as　a　beverage。　　Clemens　himself　aided　in　the　illustrating　by
obtaining　of　Moses　S。　Beach　photographs　from　the　large　collection　he　had
brought　home。




LXVII

A　VISIT　TO　ELMIRA

Meantime　he　had　skilfully　obtained　a　renewal　of　the　invitation　to　spend　a
week　in　the　Langdon　home。

He　meant　to　go　by　a　fast　train；　but；　with　his　natural　gift　for
misunderstanding　time…tables；　of　course　took　a　slow　one；　telegraphing　his
approach　from　different　stations　along　the　road。　　Young　Langdon　concluded
to　go　down　the　line　as　far　as　Waverly　to　meet　him。　　When　the　New　York
train　reached　there　the　young　man　found　his　guest　in　the　smoking…car；
travel…stained　and　distressingly　clad。　　Mark　Twain　was　always
scrupulously　neat　and　correct　of　dress　in　later　years；　but　in　that
earlier　day　neatness　and　style　had　not　become　habitual　and　did　not　give
him　comfort。　　Langdon　greeted　him　warmly　but　with　doubt。　　Finally　he
summoned　courage　to　say；　hesitatingly

〃You've　got　some　other　clothes；　haven't　you？〃

The　arriving　guest　was　not　in　the　least　disturbed。

〃Oh　yes；〃　he　said　with　enthusiasm；　〃　I've　got　a　fine　brand…new　outfit　in
this　bag；　all　but　a　hat。　　It　will　be　late　when　we　get　in；　and　I　won't　see
any　one　to…night。　　You　won't　know　me　in　the　morning。　　We'll　go　out　early
and　get　a　hat。〃

This　was　a　large　relief　to　the　younger　man；　and　the　rest　of　the　journey
was　happy　enough。　　True　to　promise；　the　guest　appeared　at　daylight
correctly；　even　elegantly　clad；；　and　an　early　trip　to　the　shops　secured
the　hat。　　A　gay　and　happy　week　followeda　week　during　which　Samuel
Clemens　realized　more　fully　than　ever　that　in　his　heart　there　was　room
for　only　one　woman　in　all　the　world：　Olivia　Langdon〃Livy；〃　as　they　all
called　herand　as　the　day　of　departure　drew　near　it　may　be　that　the
gentle　girl　had　made　some　discoveries；　too。

No　word　had　passed　between　them。　　Samuel　Clemens　had　the　old…fashioned
Southern　respect　for　courtship　conventions；　and　for　what；　in　that　day　at
least；　was　regarded　as　honor。　　On　the　morning　of　the　final　day　he　said　to
young　Langdon：

〃Charley；　my　week　is　up；　and　I　must　go　home。〃

The　young　man　expressed　a　regret　which　was　genuine　enough；　though　not
wholly　unqualified。　　His　older　sister；　Mrs。　Crane；　leaving　just　then　for
a　trip　to　the　White　Mountains；　had　said：

〃Charley；　I　am　sure　Mr。　Clemens　is　after　our　Livy。　　You　mustn't　let　him
carry　her　off　before　our　return。〃

The　idea　was　a　disturbing　one。　　The　young　man　did　not　urge　his　guest　to
prolong　his…visit。　　He　said：

〃We'll　have　to　stand　it；　I　guess；　but　you　mustn't　leave　before　to…night。〃

〃I　ought　to　go　by　the　first　train；〃　Clemens　said；　gloomily。　　〃I　am　in
love。〃

〃In　what！〃

〃In　love…with　your　sister；　and　I　ought　to　get　away　from　here。〃

The　young　man　was　now　very　genuinely　alarmed。　　To　him　Mark　Twain　was　a
highly　gifted；　fearless；　robust　mana　man's　manand　as　such　altogether
admirablelovable。　　But　OliviaLivyshe　was　to　him　little　short　of　a
saint。　　No　man　was　good　enough　for　her；　certainly　not　this　adventurous
soldier　of　letters　from　the　West。　　Delightful　he　was　beyond　doubt；
adorable　as　a　companion；　but　not　a　companion　for　Livy。

〃Look　here；　Clemens；〃　he　said；　when　he　could　get　his　voice。　　〃There's　a
train　in　half　an　hour。　　I'll　help　you　catch　it。　　Don't　wait　till　to…
night。　　Go　now。〃

Clemens　shook　his　head。

〃No；　Charley；〃　he　said；　in　his　gentle　drawl；　〃I　want　to　enjoy　your
hospitality　a　little　longer。　　I　promise　to　be　circumspect；　and　I'll　go
to…night。〃

That　night；　after　dinner；　when　it　was　time　to　take　the　New　York　train；　a
light　two…seated　wagon　was　at　the　gate。　　The　coachman　was　in　front；　and
young　Langdon　and　his　guest　took　the　back　seat。　　For　some　reason　the　seat
had　not　been　locked　in　its　place；　and　when；　after　the　good…bys；　the
coachman　touched　the　horse　it　made　a　quick　spring　forward；　and　the　back
seat；　with　both　passengers；　described　a　half…circle　and　came　down　with
force　on　the　cobbled　street。　　Neither　passenger　was　seriously　hurt；
Clemens　not　at　allonly　dazed　a　little　for　a　moment。　　Then　came　an
inspiration；　here　was　a　chance　to　prolong　his　visit。　　Evidently　it　was
not　intended　that　he　should　take　that　train。　　When　the　Langdon　household
gathered　around　with　restoratives　he　did　not　recover　too　quickly。　　He
allowed　them　to　support　or　carry　him　into　the　house　and　place　him　in　an
arm…chair　and　apply　remedies。　　The　young　daughter　of　the　house　especially
showed　anxiety　and　attention。　　This　was　pure　happiness。　　He　was　perjuring
himself；　of　course；　but　they　say　Jove　laughs　at　such　things。

He　recovered　in　a　day　or　two；　but　the　wide　hospitality　of　the　handsome
Langdon　home　was　not　only　offered　now；　it　was　enforced。　　He　was　still
there　two　weeks　later；　after　which　he　made　a　trip　to　Cleveland　to　confide
in　Mrs。　Fairbanks　how　he　intended　to　win　Livy　Langdon　for　his　wife。




LXVIII

THE　REV。　〃JOE〃　TWICHELL

He　returned　to　Hartford　to　look　after　the　progress　of　his　book。　　Some　of
it　was　being　put　into　type；　and　with　his　mechanical　knowledge　of　such
things　he　was　naturally　interested　in　the　process。

He　made　his　headquarters　with　the　Blisses；　then　living　at　821　Asylum
Avenue；　and　read　proof　in　a　little　upper　room；　where　the　lamp　was　likely
to　be　burning　most　of　the　time；　where　the　atmosphere　was　nearly　always
blue　with　smoke；　and　the　window…sill　full　of　cigar　butts。　　Mrs。　Bliss
took　him　into　the　quiet　social　life　of　the　neighborhoodto　small　church
receptions；　society　gatherings　and　the　likeall　of　which　he　seemed　to
enjoy。　　Most　of　the　dwellers　in　that　neighborhood　were　members　of　the
Asylum　Hill　Congregational　Church；　then　recently　completed；　all　but　the
spire。　　It　was　a　cultured　circle；　well…off　in　the　world's　goods；　its　male
members；　for　the　most　part；　concerned　in　various　commercial　ventures。

The　church　stood　almost　across　the　way　from　the　Bliss　home；　and　Mark
Twain；　with　his　picturesque　phrasing；　referred　to　it　as　the　〃stub…tailed
church；〃　on　account　of　its　abbreviated　spire；　also；　later；　with　a
knowledge　of　its　prosperous　membership；　as　the　〃Church　of　the　Holy
Speculators。〃　　He　was　at　an　evening　reception　in　the　home　of　one　of　its
members　when　he　noticed　a　photograph　of　the　unfinished　building　framed
and　hanging　on　the　wall。

〃Why；　yes；〃　he　commented；　in　his　slow　fashion；　〃this　is　the　'　Church　of
the　Holy　Speculators。'〃

〃Sh；〃　cautioned　Mrs。　Bliss。　　〃Its　pastor　is　just　behind　you。　　He　knows
your　work　and　wants　to　meet　you。〃　　Turning；　she　said：　〃Mr。　Twichell；　this
is　Mr。　Clemens。　　Most　people　know　him　as　Mark　Twain。〃

And　so；　in　this　casual　fashion；　he　met　the　man　who　was　presently　to
become　his　closest　personal　friend　and　counselor；　and　would　remain　so　for
more　than　forty　years。

Joseph　Hopkins　Twichell　was　a　man　about　his　own　age；　athletic　and
handsome；　a　student　and　a　devout　Christian；　yet　a　man　familiar　with　the
world；　fond　of　sports；　with　an　exuberant　sense　of　humor　and　a　wide
understanding　of　the　frailties　of　humankind。　　He　had　been　〃port　waist
oar〃　at　Yale；　and　had　left　college　to　serve　with　General　〃Dan〃　Sickles　as
a　chaplain　who　had　followed　his　duties　not　only　in　the　camp；　but　on　the
field。

Mention　has　already　been　made　of　Mark　Twain's　natural　leaning　toward
ministers　of　the　gospel；　and　the　explanation　of　it　is　easier　to　realize
than　to　convey。　　He　was　hopelessly　unorthodoxrankly　rebellious　as　to
creeds。　　Anything　resembling　cant　or　the　curtailment　of　mental　liberty
roused　only　his　resentment　and　irony。　　Yet　something　in　his　heart　always
warmed　toward　any　laborer　in　the　vineyard；　and　if　we　could　put　the
explanation　into　a　single　sentence；　perhaps　we　might　say　it　was　because
he　could　meet　them　on　that　wide；　common　ground　sympathy　with　mankind。
Mark　Twain's　creed；　then　and　always；　may　be　put　into　three　words；
〃liberty；　justice；　humanity。〃　　It　may　be　put　into　one　word；　〃humanity。〃

Ministers　always　loved　Mark　Twain。　　They　did　not　always　approve　of　him；
but　they　adored　him：　The　Rev。　Mr。　Rising；　of　the　Comstock；　was　an　early
example　of　his　ministerial　friendships；　and　we　have　seen　that　Henry　Ward
Beecher　cultivated　his　company。　　In　a　San　Francisco　letter　of　two　years
before；　Mark　Twain　wrote　his　mother；　thinking　it　would　please　her：

I　am　as　thick　as　thieves　with　the　Reverend　Stebbins。　　I　am　laying　for　the
Reverend　Scudder　and　the　Reverend　Doctor　Stone。　　I　am　running　on
preachers　now　altogether；　and　I　find　them　gay。

So　it　may　be　that　his　first　impulse　toward　Joseph　Twichell　was　due　to　the
fact　that　he　was　a　young　member　of　that　army　whose　mission　is　to　comfort
and　uplift　mankind。　　But　it　was　only　a　little　time　till　the　impulse　had
grown　into　a　friendship　that　went　beyond　any　profession　or　doctrine；　a
friendship　that　ripened　into　a　permanent　admiration　and　love　for　〃Joe〃
Twichell　himself；　as　one　of　the　noblest　specimens　of　his　race。

He　was　invited　to　the　Twichell　home；　where　he　met　the　youn