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thought of stage performance； and saw in his mind a spectacular
presentation； with all the costumery of an early period as background for
a young and beautiful creature who would play the part of prince。 The
old device of changelings in the cradle （later used in Pudd'nhead Wilson）
presented itself to him； but it could not provide the situations he had
in mind。 Finally came the thought of a playful interchange of raiment
and state （with startling and unlooked…for consequence）the guise and
personality of Tom Canty； of Offal Court； for those of the son of Henry
VIII。； little Edward Tudor； more lately sixth English king of that name。
This little prince was not his first selection for the part。 His
original idea had been to use the late King Edward VII。 （then Prince of
Wales） at about fifteen； but he found that it would never answer to lose
a prince among the slums of modern London； and have his proud estate
denied and jeered at by a modern mob。 He felt that he could not make it
seem real； so he followed back through history； looking along for the
proper time and prince； till he came to little Edward； who was too young
but no matter； he would do。
He decided to begin his new venture in story form。 He could dramatize it
later。 The situation appealed to him immensely。 The idea seemed a
brand…new one； it was delightful； it was fascinating； and he was
saturated with the atmosphere and literature and historythe data and
detail of that delightful old time。 He put away all thought of cheap；
modern play…acting and writing； to begin one of the loveliest and most
entertaining and instructive tales of old English life。 He decided to be
quite accurate in his picture of the period； and he posted himself on old
London very carefully。 He bought a pocket…map which he studied in the
minutest detail。
He wrote about four hundred manuscript pages of the tale that summer；
then； as the inspiration seemed to lag a little； put it aside； as was his
habit； to wait until the ambition for it should be renewed。 It was a
long wait； as usual。 He did not touch it again for more than three
years。
CXIII
TWO DOMESTIC DRAMAS
Some unusual happenings took place that summer of 1877。 John T。 Lewis
（colored）； already referred to as the religious antagonist of Auntie
Cord； by great presence of mind and bravery saved the lives of Mrs。
Clemens's sister…in…law； Mrs。 Charles （〃Charley〃） Langdon； her little
daughter Julia； and her nurse…maid。 They were in a buggy； and their
runaway horse was flying down East Hill toward Elmira to certain
destruction； when Lewis； laboring slowly homeward with a loaded wagon；
saw them coming and turned his team across the road； after which he
leaped out and with extraordinary strength and quickness grabbed the
horse's bridle and brought him to a standstill。 The Clemens and Crane
families； who had seen the runaway start at the farm gate； arrived half
wild with fear； only to find the supposed victims entirely safe。
Everybody contributed in rewarding Lewis。 He received money （1；500） and
various other presents； including inscribed books and trinkets； also；
what he perhaps valued more than anything； a marvelous stem…winding gold
watch。 Clemens； writing a full account to Dr。 Brown of the watch； says：
And if any scoffer shall say； 〃behold this thing is out of
character；〃 there is an inscription within which will silence him；
for it will teach him that this wearer aggrandizes the watch； not
the watch the wearer。
In another paragraph he says：
When Lewis arrived the other evening； after having saved those lives
by a feat which I think is the most marvelous I can call to mind；
when he arrived hunched up on his manure…wagon and as grotesquely
picturesque as usual； everybody wanted to go and see how he looked。
They came back and said he was beautiful。 It was so； too； and yet
he would have photographed exactly as he would have done any day
these past seven years that he has occupied this farm。
Lewis acknowledged his gifts in a letter which closed with a paragraph of
rare native loftiness：
But I beg to say； humbly； that inasmuch as divine Providence saw fit
to use me as an instrument for the saving of those preshious lives；
the honner conferd upon me was greater than the feat performed。
Lewis lived to enjoy his prosperity； and the honor of the Clemens and
Langdon households； for twenty…nine years。 When he was too old to work
there was a pension； to which Clemens contributed； also Henry H。 Rogers。
So the simple…hearted； noble old negro closed his days in peace。
Mrs。 Crane； in a letter； late in July； 1906； told of his death：
He was always cheerful； and seemed not to suffer much pain； told
stories； and was able to eat almost everything。
Three days ago a new difficulty appeared； on account of which his
doctor said he must go to the hospital for care such as it was quite
impossible to give in his home。
He died on his way there。
Thus it happened that he died on the road where he had performed his
great deed。
A second unusual incident of that summer occurred in Hartford。 There had
been a report of a strange man seen about the Clemens place； thought to
be a prospecting burglar； and Clemens went over to investigate。 A little
searching inquiry revealed that the man was not a burglar； but a mechanic
out of employment； a lover of one of the house…maids； who had given him
food and shelter on the premises； intending no real harm。 When the girl
found that her secret was discovered； she protested that he was her
fiance； though she said he appeared lately to have changed his mind and
no longer wished to marry her。
The girl seemed heartbroken； and sympathy for her was naturally the first
and about the only feeling which Clemens developed； for the time being。
He reasoned with the young man； but without making much headway。 Finally
his dramatic instinct prompted him to a plan of a sort which would have
satisfied even Tom Sawyer。 He asked Twichell to procure a license for
the couple； and to conceal himself in a ground floor bath…room。 He
arranged with the chief of police to be on hand in another room； with the
rest of the servants quietly to prepare a wedding…feast； and finally with
Lizzie herself to be dressed for the ceremony。 He had already made an
appointment with the young man to come to； see him at a certain hour on a
〃matter of business；〃 and the young man arrived in the belief； no doubt；
that it was something which would lead to profitable employment。 When he
came in Clemens gently and quietly reviewed the situation； told him of
the young girl's love for him； how he had been sheltered and fed by her；
how through her kindness to him she had compromised her reputation for
honesty and brought upon her all the suspicion of having sheltered a
burglar； how she was ready and willing to marry him； and how he （Clemens）
was ready to assist them to obtain work and a start in life。
But the young man was not enthusiastic。 He was a Swede and slow of
action。 He resolutely declared that he was not read