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〃Ammoniathe food of the gods；〃 and so on down the alphabet。
Susy； in her biography； mentions that her father at this is time read to
them a little article which he had just written； entitled 〃Luck；〃 and
that they thought it very good。 It was a story which Twichell had heard
and told to Clemens； who set it down about as it came to him。 It was
supposed to be true； yet Clemens seemed to think it too improbable for
literature and laid it away for a number of years。 We shall hear of it
again by and by。
》From Susy's memoranda we gather that humanity at this time was to be
healed of all evils and sorrows through 〃mind cure 〃
Papa has been very much interested of late in the 〃mind…cure〃
theory。 And； in fact； so have we all。 A young lady in town has
worked wonders by using the 〃mind cure〃 upon people； she is
constantly busy now curing peoples' diseases in this wayand curing
her own； even； which to me seems the most remarkable of all。
A little while past papa was delighted with the knowledge of what he
thought the best way of curing a cold； which was by starving it。
This starving did work beautifully； and freed him from a great many
severe colds。 Now he says it wasn't the starving that helped his
colds； but the trust in the starving； the 〃mind cure〃 connected with
the starving。
I shouldn't wonder if we finally became firm believers in 〃mind
cure。〃 The next time papa has a cold I haven't a doubt he will send
for Miss Holden； the young lady who is doctoring in the 〃mind…cure〃
theory； to cure him of it。
Again； a month later； she writes：
April 19； 1886。 Yes； the 〃mind cure〃 does seem to be working
wonderfully。 Papa； who has been using glasses now for more than a
year； has laid them off entirely。 And my near…sightedness is really
getting better。 It seems marvelous。 When Jean has stomack…ache
Clara and I have tried to divert her by telling her to lie on her
side and try 〃mind cure。〃 The novelty of it has made her willing to
try it； and then Clara and I would exclaim about how wonderful it
was she was getting better。 And she would think it realy was
finally； and stop crying； to our delight。
The other day mama went into the library and found her lying on the
sofa with her back toward the door。 She said； 〃Why； Jean； what's
the matter？ Don't you feel well？〃 Jean said that she had a little
stomack…ache； and so thought she would lie down。 Mama said； 〃Why
don't you try 'mind cure'？〃 〃I am；〃 Jean answered。
Howells and Twichell were invited to try the 〃mind cure；〃 as were all
other friends who happened along。 To the end of his days Clemens would
always have some panacea to offer to allay human distress。 It was a good
trait； when all is said； for it had its root in his humanity。 The 〃mind
cure〃 did not provide all the substance of things hoped for； though he
always allowed for it a wide efficacy。 Once； in later years； commenting
on Susy's record； he said：
The mind cannot heal broken bones； and doubtless there are many
other physical ills which it cannot heal； but it can greatly help to
modify the severities of all of them without exception； and there
are mental and nervous ailments which it can wholly heal without the
help of physician or surgeon。
Susy records another burning interest of this time：
Clara sprained her ankle a little while ago by running into a tree
when coasting； and while she was unable to walk with it she played
solotaire with cards a great deal。 While Clara was sick and papa
saw her play solotaire so much he got very much interested in the
game； and finally began to play it himself a little； then Jean took
it up； and at last mama even played it occasionally； Jean's and
papa's love for it rapidly increased； and now Jean brings the cards
every night to the table and papa and mama help her play； and before
dinner is at an end papa has gotten a separate pack of cards and is
playing alone； with great interest。 Mama and Clara next are made
subject to the contagious solotaire； and there are four
solotarireans at the table； while you hear nothing but 〃Fill up the
place；〃 etc。 It is dreadful！
But a little further along Susy presents her chief subject more
seriously。 He is not altogether absorbed with 〃mind cure〃 and solitaire；
or even with making humorous tales。
Papa has done a great deal in his life I think that is good and very
remarkable； but I think if he had had the advantages with which he
could have developed the gifts which he has made no use of in
writing his books； or in any other way； for peoples' pleasure and
benefit outside of his own family and intimate friends； he could
have done more than he has； and a great deal more； even。 He is
known to the public as a humorist； but he has much more in him that
is earnest than that is humorous。 He has a keen sense of the
ludicrous； notices funny stories and incidents； knows how to tell
them； to improve upon them； and does not forget them。
And again：
When we are all alone at home nine times out of ten he talks about
some very earnest subject （with an occasional joke thrown in）； and
he a good deal more often talks upon such subjects than upon the
other kind。
He is as much of a philosopher as anything； I think。 I think he
could have done a great deal in this direction if he had studied
while young； for he seems to enjoy reasoning out things； no matter
what； in a great many such directions he has greater ability than in
the gifts which have made him famous。
It was with the keen eyes and just mind of childhood that Susy estimated；
and there is little to add to her valuation。
Susy's biography came to an end that summer after starting to record a
visit which they all made to Keokuk to see Grandma Clemens。 They went by
way of the Lakes and down the Mississippi from St。 Paul。 A pleasant
incident happened that first evening on the river。 Soon after nightfall
they entered a shoal crossing。 Clemens； standing alone on the hurricane…
deck； heard the big bell forward boom out the call for leads。 Then came
the leadsman's long…drawn chant； once so familiar； the monotonous
repeating in river parlance of the depths of water。 Presently the lead
had found that depth of water signified by his nom de plume and the call
of 〃Mark Twain； Mark Twain〃 floated up to him like a summons from the
past。 All at once a little figure came running down the deck； and Clara
confronted him； reprovingly：
〃Papa；〃 she said； 〃I have hunted all over the boat for you。 Don't you
know they are calling for you？〃
They remained in Keokuk a week； and Susy starts to tell something of
their visit there。 She begins：
〃We have arrived in Keokuk after a very pleasant〃
The sentence remains unfinished。 We cannot know what was the
interruption or what new interest kept her from her task。 We can only
regret that the loving little hand d