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one of our foremost cartoonists。 Webster engaged Kemble and put the
manuscript in his hands。 Through the publication of certain chapters of
Huck Finn in the Century Magazine； Kemble was brought to the notice of
its editors； who wrote Clemens that they were profoundly indebted to him
for unearthing 〃such a gem of an illustrator。〃
Clemens； encouraged and full of enthusiasm； now endeavored to interest
himself in the practical details of manufacture； but his stock of
patience was light and the details were many。 His early business period
resembles； in some of its features； his mining experience in Esmeralda；
his letters to Webster being not unlike those to Orion in that former
day。 They are much oftener gentle； considerate； even apologetic； but
they are occasionally terse； arbitrary； and profane。 It required effort
for him to be entirely calm in his business correspondence。 A criticism
of one of Webster's assistants will serve as an example of his less quiet
method：
Charley； your proof…reader； is an idiot； and not only an idiot； but
blind； and not only blind； but partly dead。
Of course； one must regard many of Mark Twain's business aspects
humorously。 To consider them otherwise is to place him in a false light
altogether。 He wore himself out with his anxieties and irritations； but
that even he； in the midst of his furies； saw the humor of it all is
sufficiently evidenced by the form of his savage phrasing。 There were
few things that did not amuse him； and certainly nothing amused more； or
oftener； than himself。
It is proper to add a detail in evidence of a business soundness which he
sometimes manifested。 He had observed the methods of Bliss and Osgood；
and had drawn his conclusions。 In the beginning of the Huck Finn canvass
he wrote Webster：
Keep it diligently in mind that we don't issue till we have made a
big sale。
Get at your canvassing early and drive it with all your might； with
an intent and purpose of issuing on the 1oth or 15th of next
December （the best time in the year to tumble a big pile into the
trade）； but if we haven't 40；000 subscriptions we simply postpone
publication till we've got them。 It is a plain； simple policy； and
would have saved both of my last books if it had been followed。
＇That is to say； 'The Prince and the Pauper' and the Mississippi
book； neither of which had sold up to his expectations on the；
initial canvass。＇
CL
FARM PICTURES
Gerhardt returned from Paris that summer； after three years of study； a
qualified sculptor。 He was prepared to take commissions； and came to
Elmira to model a bust of his benefactor。 The work was finished after
four or five weeks of hard effort and pronounced admirable； but Gerhardt；
attempting to make a cast one morning； ruined it completely。 The family
gathered round the disaster； which to them seemed final； but the sculptor
went immediately to work； and in an amazingly brief time executed a new
bust even better than the first； an excellent piece of modeling and a
fine likeness。 It was decided that a cut of it should be used as a
frontispiece for the new book； The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn。
Clemens was at this time giving the final readings to the Huck Finn
pages； a labor in which Mrs。 Clemens and the children materially
assisted。 In the childish biography which Susy began of her father； a
year later； she says：
Ever since papa and mama were married papa has written his books and
then taken them to mama in manuscript； and she has expurgated
＇Susy's spelling is preserved＇them。 Papa read Huckleberry Finn to
us in manuscript；＇Probably meaning proof。＇ just before it came
out； and then he would leave parts of it with mama to expurgate；
while he went off to the study to work； and sometimes Clara and I
would be sitting with mama while she was looking the manuscript
over； and I remember so well； with what pangs of regret we used to
see her turn down the leaves of the pages； which meant that some
delightfully terrible part must be scratched out。 And I remember
one part pertickularly which was perfectly fascinating it was so
terrible； that Clara and I used to delight in and oh； with what
despair we saw mama turn down the leaf on which it was written； we
thought the book would almost be ruined without it。 But we
gradually came to think as mama did。
Commenting on this phase of Huck's evolution Mark Twain has since
written：
I remember the special case mentioned by Susy； and can see the group
yettwo…thirds of it pleading for the life of the culprit sentence
that was so fascinatingly dreadful； and the other third of it
patiently explaining why the court could not grant the prayer of the
pleaders； but I do not remember what the condemned phrase was。 It
had much company； and they all went to the gallows； but it is
possible that that especially dreadful one which gave those little
people so much delight was cunningly devised and put into the book
for just that function； and not with any hope or expectation that it
would get by the 〃expergator〃 alive。 It is possible； for I had that
custom。
Little Jean was probably too youthful yet to take part in that literary
arbitration。 She was four； and had more interest in cows。 In some
memoranda which her father kept of that periodthe 〃Children's Book〃he
says：
She goes out to the barn with one of us every evening toward six
o'clock； to look at the cowswhich she adoresno weaker word can
express her feeling for them。 She sits rapt and contented while
David milks the three； making a remark now and thenalways about
the cows。 The time passes slowly and drearily for her attendant；
but not for her。 She could stand a week of it。 When the milking is
finished； and 〃Blanche；〃 〃Jean；〃 and 〃the cross cow〃 are turned into
the adjoining little cow…lot； we have to set Jean on a shed in that
lot； and stay by her half an hour； till Eliza； the German nurse；
comes to take her to bed。 The cows merely stand there； and do
nothing； yet the mere sight of them is all…sufficient for Jean。 She
requires nothing more。 The other evening； after contemplating them
a long time； as they stood in the muddy muck chewing the cud； she
said； with deep and reverent appreciation； 〃Ain't this a sweet
little garden？〃
Yesterday evening our cows （after being inspected and worshiped by
Jean from the shed for an hour） wandered off down into the pasture
and left her bereft。 I thought I was going to get back home； now；
but that was an error。 Jean knew of some more cows in a field
somewhere； and took my hand and led me thitherward。 When we turned
the corner and took the right…hand road； I saw that we should
presently be out of range of call and sight； so I began to argue
against continuing the expedition； and Jean began to argue in favor
of it； she using English for light skirmishing and German for
〃busine