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！
stranded logs adrift while he lounged comfortably on a boulder； and
watched them go tearing by； also how he made Harris run a race with one
of those logs。 But that is literature。 Twichell； in a letter home； has
preserved a likelier and lovelier story：
Mark is a queer fellow。 There is nothing that he so delights in as
a swift； strong stream。 You can hardly get him to leave one when
once he is within the influence of its fascinations。 To throw in
stones and sticks seems to afford him rapture。 Tonight； as we were
on our way back to the hotel； seeing a lot of driftwood caught by
the torrent side below the path； I climbed down and threw it in。
When I got back to the path Mark was running down…stream after it as
hard as he could go； throwing up his hands and shouting in the
wildest ecstasy； and when a piece went over a fall and emerged to
view in the foam below he would jump up and down and yell。 He said
afterward that he hadn't been so excited in three months。 He acted
just like a boy； another feature of his extreme sensitiveness in
certain directions。
Then generalizing； Twichell adds：
He has coarse spots in him。 But I never knew a person so finely
regardful of the feelings of others in some ways。 He hates to pass
another person walking； and will practise some subterfuge to take
off what he feels is the discourtesy of it。 And he is exceedingly
timid； tremblingly timid； about approaching strangers； hates to ask
a question。 His sensitive regard for others extends to animals。
When we are driving his concern is all about the horse。 He can't
bear to see the whip used； or to see a horse pull hard。 To…day；
when the driver clucked up his horse and quickened his pace a
little； Mark said； 〃The fellow's got the notion that we are in a
hurry。〃 He is exceedingly considerate toward me in regard of
everythingor most things。
The days were not all sunshine。 Sometimes it rained and they took
shelter by the wayside； or； if there was no shelter； they plodded along
under their umbrellas； still talking away； and if something occurred that
Clemens wanted to put down they would stand stock still in the rain； and
Twichell would hold the umbrella while Clemens wrotea good while
sometimesoblivious to storm and discomfort and the long way yet ahead。
After the day on Gemmi Pass Twichell wrote home：
Mark； to…day； was immensely absorbed in the flowers。 He scrambled
around and gathered a great variety； and manifested the intensest
pleasure in them。 He crowded a pocket of his note…book with his
specimens and wanted more room。 So I stopped the guide and got out
my needle and thread； and out of a stiff paper； a hotel
advertisement； I had about me made a paper bag； a cornucopia like；
and tied it to his vest in front； and it answered the purpose
admirably。 He filled it full with a beautiful collection； and as
soon as we got here to…night he transferred it to a cardboard box
and sent it by mail to Livy。 A strange Mark he is； full of
contradictions。 I spoke last night of his sensitive to others'
feelings。 To…day the guide got behind； and came up as if he would
like to go by； yet hesitated to do so。 Mark paused； went aside and
busied himself a minute picking a flower。 In the halt the guide got
by and resumed his place in front。 Mark threw the flower away；
saying； 〃I didn't want that。 I only wanted to give the old man a
chance to go on without seeming to pass us。〃 Mark is splendid to
walk with amid such grand scenery； for he talks so well about it；
has such a power of strong； picturesque expression。 I wish you
might have heard him to…day。 His vigorous speech nearly did justice
to the things we saw。
In an address which Twichell gave many years later he recalls another
pretty incident of their travels。 They had been toiling up the Gorner
Grat。
As we paused for a rest； a lamb from a flock of sheep near by ventured
inquisitively toward us； whereupon Mark seated himself on a rock； and
with beckoning hand and soft words tried to get it to come to him。
On the lamb's part it was a struggle between curiosity and timidity； but
in a succession of advances and retreats it gained confidence； though at
a very gradual rate。 It was a scene for a painter： the great American
humorist on one side of the game and that silly little creature on the
other； with the Matterhorn for a background。 Mark was reminded that the
time he was consuming was valuablebut to no purpose。 The Gorner Grat
could wait。 He held on with undiscouraged perseverance till he carried
his point： the lamb finally put its nose in his hand； and he was happy
over it all the rest of the day。
The matter of religion came up now and again in the drift of their
discussions。 It was Twichell's habit to have prayers in their room every
night at the hotels； and Clemens was willing to join in the observances。
Once Twichell； finding him in a responsive mooda remorseful moodgave
his sympathy； and spoke of the larger sympathy of divinity。 Clemens
listened and seemed soothed and impressed； but his philosophies were too
wide and too deep for creeds and doctrines。 A day or two later； as they
were tramping along in the hot sun； his honesty had to speak out。
〃Joe；〃 he said； 〃I'm going to make a confession。 I don't believe in your
religion at all。 I've been living a lie right straight along whenever I
pretended to。 For a moment； sometimes； I have been almost a believer；
but it immediately drifts away from me again。 I don't believe one word
of your Bible was inspired by God any more than any other book。 I
believe it is entirely the work of man from beginning to endatonement
and all。 The problem of life and death and eternity and the true
conception of God is a bigger thing than is contained in that book。〃
So the personal side of religious discussion closed between them； and was
never afterward reopened。
They joined Mrs。 Clemens and the others at Lausanne at last； and their
Swiss holiday was over。 Twichell set out for home by way of England； and
Clemens gave himself up to reflection and rest after his wanderings。
Then； as the days of their companionship passed in review； quickly and
characteristically he sent a letter after his comrade：
DEAR OLD JOE； It is actually all over！ I was so low…spirited at the
station yesterday； and this morning； when I woke； I couldn't seem to
accept the dismal truth that you were really gone； and the pleasant
tramping and talking at an end。 Ah；； my boy！ it has been such a
rich holiday to me； and I feel under such deep and honest
obligations to you for coming。 I am putting out of my mind all
memory of the times when I misbehaved toward you and hurt you； I am
resolved to consider it forgiven； and to store up and remember only
the charming hours of the journeys and the times when I was not
unworthy to be with you and share a companionship which to me stan