mark twain, a biography, 1907-1910-第42节
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！
Henry is gone！ His death was horrible！ How I could have sat by him；
hung over him； watched day and night every change of expression； and
ministered to every want in my power that I could discover。 This was
denied to me； but Sam； whose organization is such as to feel the utmost
extreme of every feeling； was there。 Both his capacity of enjoyment and
his capacity of suffering are greater than mine； and knowing how it would
have affected me to see so sad a scene； I can somewhat appreciate Sam's
sufferings。 In this time of great trouble； when my two brothers； whose
heartstrings have always been a part of my own； were suffering the utmost
stretch of mortal endurance； you were there； like a good angel； to aid
and console； and I bless and thank you for it with my whole heart。 I
thank all who helped them then； I thank them for the flowers they sent to
Henry； for the tears that fell for their sufferings； and when he died；
and all of them for all the kind attentions they bestowed upon the poor
boys。 We thank the physicians； and we shall always gratefully remember
the kindness of the gentleman who at so much expense to himself enabled
us to deposit Henry's remains by our father。
With many kind wishes for your future welfare； I remain your earnest
friend；
Respectfully；
ORION CLEMENS。
APPENDIX B
MARK TWAIN'S BURLESQUE OF CAPTAIN ISAIAH SELLERS
（See Chapter xxvii）
The item which served as a text for the 〃Sergeant Fathom〃 communication
was as follows：
VICKSBURG； May 4； 1859。
My opinion for the benefit of the citizens of New Orleans： The water is
higher this far up than it has been since 1815。 My opinion is that the
water will be four feet deep in Canal Street before the first of next
June。 Mrs。 Turner's plantation at the head of Big Black Island is all
under water； and it has not been since 1815。
I。 SELLERS。＇Captain Sellers； as
in this case； sometimes signed
his own name to his
communications。＇
THE BURLESQUE
INTRODUCTORY
Our friend Sergeant Fathom； one of the oldest cub pilots on the river；
and now on the Railroad Line steamer Trombone； sends us a rather bad
account concerning the state of the river。 Sergeant Fathom is a 〃cub〃 of
much experience； and although we are loath to coincide in his view of the
matter； we give his note a place in our columns； only hoping that his
prophecy will not be verified in this instance。 While introducing the
Sergeant； 〃we consider it but simple justice （we quote from a friend of
his） to remark that he is distinguished for being； in pilot phrase；
'close；' as well as superhumanly 'safe。'〃 It is a well…known fact that
he has made fourteen hundred and fifty trips in the New Orleans and St。
Louis trade without causing serious damage to a steamboat。 This
astonishing success is attributed to the fact that he seldom runs his
boat after early candle…light。 It is related of the Sergeant that upon
one occasion he actually ran the chute of Glasscock's Island； down…
stream； in the night； and at a time； too； when the river was scarcely
more than bank full。 His method of accomplishing this feat proves what
we have just said of his 〃safeness〃he sounded the chute first； and then
built a fire at the head of the island to run by。 As to the Sergeant's
〃closeness；〃 we have heard it whispered that he once went up to the right
of the 〃Old Hen；〃＇Glasscock's Island and the 〃Old Hen〃 were
phenomenally safe places。＇ but this is probably a pardonable little
exaggeration； prompted by the love and admiration in which he is held by
various ancient dames of his acquaintance （for albeit the Sergeant may
have already numbered the allotted years of man； still his form is erect；
his step is firm； his hair retains its sable hue； and； more than all； he
hath a winning way about him； an air of docility and sweetness； if you
will； and a smoothness of speech； together with an exhaustless fund of
funny sayings； and； lastly； an overflowing stream； without beginning； or
middle； or end； of astonishing reminiscences of the ancient Mississippi；
which； taken together； form a 'tout ensemble' which is sufficient excuse
for the tender epithet which is； by common consent； applied to him by all
those ancient dames aforesaid； of 〃che…arming creature！〃）。 As the
Sergeant has been longer on the river； and is better acquainted with it
than any other 〃cub〃 extant； his remarks are entitled to far more
consideration； and are always read with the deepest interest by high and
low； rich and poor； from 〃Kiho〃 to Kamschatka； for let it be known that
his fame extends to the uttermost parts of the earth：
THE COMMUNICATION
R。R。 Steamer Trombone； VICKSBURG； May 8； 1859。
The river from New Orleans up to Natchez is higher than it has been since
the niggers were executed （which was in the fall of 1813 and my opinion
is that if the rise continues at this rate the water will be on the roof
of the St。 Charles Hotel before the middle of January。 The point at
Cairo； which has not even been moistened by the river since 1813； is now
entirely under water。
However； Mr。 Editor； the inhabitants of the Mississippi Valley should not
act precipitately and sell their plantations at a sacrifice on account of
this prophecy of mine； for I shall proceed to convince them of a great
fact in regard to this matter； viz。： that the tendency of the Mississippi
is to rise less and less high every year （with an occasional variation of
the rule）； that such has been the case for many centuries； and eventually
that it will cease to rise at all。 Therefore； I would hint to the
planters； as we say in an innocent little parlor game commonly called
〃draw；〃 that if they can only 〃stand the rise 〃 this time they may enjoy
the comfortable assurance that the old river's banks will never hold a
〃full〃 again during their natural lives。
In the summer of 1763 I came down the river on the old first Jubilee。
She was new then； however； a singular sort of a single…engine boat； with
a Chinese captain and a Choctaw crew； forecastle on her stern； wheels in
the center； and the jackstaff 〃nowhere；〃 for I steered her with a window…
shutter； and when we wanted to land we sent a line ashore and 〃rounded
her to〃 with a yoke of oxen。
Well； sir； we wooded off the top of the big bluff above Selmathe only dry
land visibleand waited there three weeks； swapping knives and playing
〃seven up〃 with the Indians； waiting for the river to fall。 Finally； it
fell about a hundred feet； and we went on。 One day we rounded to； and I
got in a horse…trough； which my partner borrowed from the Indians up
there at Selma while they were at prayers； and went down to sound around
No。 8； and while I was gone my partner got aground on the hills at
Hickman。 After three days' labor we finally succeeded in sparring her
off with a capstan bar； and went on to Memphis。 By the time we got there
the river had subsided to such an extent that we were able to land where
the Gayoso House now stands。 We finished loading at Memphis； and loaded
part of the stone for the present St。 Louis Court House （which was then
in process of erection）； to be taken up on our return trip。
You can form some conception； by these memoranda； of how high the
water was in 1763。 In 1775 it did not rise so high by thirty feet；
in 1790 it missed the original mark at least sixty…five feet； in
1797； one hundred and fifty feet； and in 1806； nearly two hundred and
fifty feet。 These were 〃high…water〃 years。 The 〃high waters〃 since then
have been so insignificant that I have scarcely taken the trouble to
notice them。 Thus； you will perceive that the planters need not feel
uneasy。 The river may make an occasional spasmodic effort at a flood；
but the time is approaching when it will cease to rise altogether。
In conclusion； sir； I will condescend to hint at the foundation of these
arguments： When me and De Soto discovered the Mississippi I could stand
at Bolivar Landing （several miles above 〃Roaring Waters Bar〃） and pitch a
biscuit to the main shore on the other side； and in low water we waded
across at Donaldsonville。 The gradual widening and deepening of the
river is the whole secret of the matter。
Yours； etc。
SERGEANT FATHOM。
APPENDIX C
I
MARK TWAIN'S EMPIRE CITY HOAX
（See Chapter xli）
THE LATEST SENSATION
A Victim to Jeremy Diddling TrusteesHe Cuts his Throat from Ear to
Ear； Scalps his Wife； and Dashes Out the Brains of Six Helpless
Children！
From Abram Curry； who arrived here yesterday afternoon from Carson； we
learn the following particulars concerning a bloody massacre which was
committed in Ormsby County night before last。 It seems that during the
past six months a man named P。 Hopkins； or Philip Hopkins； has been
residing with his family in the old log…house just at the edge of the
great pine forest which lies b
