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builders； and being a practical man； he cut away Helen's Bowerdestroyed
it utterly。 Susy first discovered the vandalism； and came rushing to the
house in a torrent of sorrow。 For her the joy of life seemed ended； and
it was long before she could be comforted。 But Ellerslie in time
satisfied her hunger for retreat； became； in fact； the nucleus around
which the children's summer happiness centered。
To their elders the farm remained always the quiet haven。 Once to
Orion's wife Clemens wrote：
This is a superb Sunday 。 。 。 。
The city in the valley is purple with shade； as seen from up here at
the study。 The Cranes are reading and loafing in the canvas…
curtained summer…house； fifty yards away； on a higher （the highest）
point； the cats are loafing over at Ellerslie； which is the
children's estate and dwelling house in their own private grounds
（by deed from Susie Crane）； a hundred yards from the study； among
the clover and young oaks and willows。 Livy is down at the house；
but I shall now go and bring her up to the Cranes to help us occupy
the lounges and hammocks； whence a great panorama of distant hills
and valley and city is seeable。 The children have gone on a lark
through the neighboring hills and woods； Susie and Clara horseback
and Jean； driving a buggy； with the coachman for comrade and
assistant at need。 It is a perfect day indeed。
The ending of each year's summer brought only regret。 Clemens would
never take away all his things。 He had an old superstition that to leave
some article insured return。 Mrs。 Clemens also left somethingher
heart's content。 The children went around bidding various objects good…
by and kissed the gates of Ellerslie too。
CLVIII
MARK TWAIN AT FIFTY
Mark Twain's fiftieth birthday was one of the pleasantly observed events
of that year。 There was no special celebration； but friends sent kindly
messages； and The Critic； then conducted by Jeannette and Joseph Gilder；
made a feature of it。 Miss Gilder wrote to Oliver Wendell Holmes and
invited some verses； which with his never…failing kindliness he sent；
though in his accompanying note he said：
〃I had twenty…three letters spread out on my table for answering； all
marked immediate； when your note came。〃
Dr。 Holmes's stanzas are full of his gentle spirit：
TO MARK TWAIN
（On his fiftieth birthday）
Ah； Clemens； when I saw thee last；
We both of us were younger；
How fondly mumbling o'er the past
Is Memory's toothless hunger！
So fifty years have fled； they say；
Since first you took to drinking；
I mean in Nature's milky way
Of course no ill I'm thinking。
But while on life's uneven road
Your track you've been pursuing；
What fountains from your wit have flowed
What drinks you have been brewing！
I know whence all your magic came；
Your secret I've discovered；
The source that fed your inward flame；
The dreams that round you hovered。
Before you learned to bite or munch；
Still kicking in your cradle；
The Muses mixed a bowl of punch
And Hebe seized the ladle。
Dear babe； whose fiftieth year to…day
Your ripe half…century rounded；
Your books the precious draught betray
The laughing Nine compounded。
So mixed the sweet； the sharp； the strong；
Each finds its faults amended；
The virtues that to each belong
In happiest union blended。
And what the flavor can surpass
Of sugar； spirit； lemons？
So while one health fills every glass
Mark Twain for Baby Clemens！
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES。
Frank R。 Stockton； Charles Dudley Warner； and Joel Chandler Harris sent
pleasing letters。 Warner said：
You may think it an easy thing to be fifty years old； but you will
find it's not so easy to stay there； and your next fifty years will
slip away much faster than those just accomplished。
Many wrote letters privately； of course； and Andrew Lang； like Holmes；
sent a poem that has a special charm。
FOR MARK TWAIN
To brave Mark Twain； across the sea；
The years have brought his jubilee。
One hears it； half in pain；
That fifty years have passed and gone
Since danced the merry star that shone
Above the babe Mark Twain。
We turn his pages and we see
The Mississippi flowing free；
We turn again and grin
O'er all Tom Sawyer did and planned
With him of the ensanguined hand；
With Huckleberry Finn！
Spirit of Mirth； whose chime of bells
Shakes on his cap； and sweetly swells
Across the Atlantic main；
Grant that Mark's laughter never die；
That men through many a century
May chuckle o'er Mark Twain！
Assuredly Mark Twain was made happy by these attentions； to Dr。 Holmes he
wrote：
DEAR DR。 HOLMES； I shall never be able to tell you the half of how
proud you have made me。 If I could you would say you were nearly paid
for the trouble you took。 And then the family： If I could convey the
electrical surprise and gratitude and exaltation of the wife and the
children last night； when they happened upon that Critic where I had；
with artful artlessness； spread it open and retired out of view to see
what would happenwell； it was great and fine and beautiful to see； and
made me feel as the victor feels when the shouting hosts march by： and if
you also could have seen it you would have said the account was squared。
For I have brought them up in your company； as in the company of a warm
and friendly and beneficent but far…distant sun； and so； for you to do
this thing was for the sun to send down out of the skies the miracle of a
special ray and transfigure me before their faces。 I knew what that poem
would be to them； I knew it would raise me up to remote and shining
heights in their eyes； to very fellowship with the chambered Nautilus
itself； and that from that fellowship they could never more dissociate me
while they should live； and so I made sure to be by when the surprise
should come。
Charles Dudley Warner is charmed with the poem for its own felicitous
sake； and so indeed am I； but more because it has drawn the sting of my
fiftieth year； taken away t