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the work necessary to the care of a lamp； and wrote by the light of a
candle。 To hide 〃Sam's candle〃 was a sure way to get prompt and vigorous
return。 He would look for it a little； then he would begin a slow；
circular walka habit acquired in the limitations of the pilot…house
and his denunciation of the thieves was like a great orchestration of
wrong。 By and by the office boy； supposedly innocent； would find another
for him； and all would be forgotten。 He made a placard； labeled with
fearful threats and anathemas； warning any one against touching his
candle； but one night both the placard and the candle were gone。
Now； amoung his Virginia acquaintances was a young minister； a Mr。
Rising； 〃the fragile； gentle new fledgling〃 of the Buck Fanshaw episode。
Clemens greatly admired Mr。 Rising's evident sincerity； and the young
minister had quickly recognized the new reporter's superiority of mind。
Now and then he came to the office to call on him。 Unfortunately； he
happened to step in just at that moment when； infuriated by the latest
theft of his property； Samuel Clemens was engaged in his rotary
denunciation of the criminals； oblivious of every other circumstance。
Mr。 Rising stood spellbound by this； to him； new phase of genius； and at
last his friend became dimly aware of him。 He did not halt in his
scathing treadmill and continued in the slow monotone of speech：
〃I know； Mr。 Rising； I know it's wicked to talk like this； I know it is
wrong。 I know I shall certainly go to hell for it。 But if you had a
candle； Mr。 Rising； and those thieves should carry it off every night； I
know that you would say； just as I say； Mr。 Rising； G…d dn their
impenitent souls； may they roast in hell for a million years。〃
The little clergyman caught his breath。
〃Maybe I should； Mr。 Clemens；〃 he replied； 〃but I should try to say；
'Forgive them； Father； they know not what they do。'〃
〃Oh； well！ if you put it on the ground that they are just fools； that
alters the case； as I am one of that class myself。 Come in and we'll try
to forgive them and forget about it。〃
＇Mark Twain had a good many experiences with young ministers。 He was
always fond of them； and they often sought him out。 Once； long
afterward； at a hotel； he wanted a boy to polish his shoes； and had rung
a number of times without getting any response。 Presently； he thought he
heard somebody approaching in the hall outside。 He flung open the door；
and a small； youngish…looking person； who seemed to have been hesitating
at the door； made a movement as though to depart hastily。 Clemens
grabbed him by the collar。
〃Look here；〃 he said； 〃I've been waiting and ringing here for half an
hour。 Now I want you to take those shoes； and polish them； quick。 Do
you hear？〃
The slim； youthful person trembled a good deal； and said： 〃I would； Mr。
Clemens； I would indeed； sir； if I could。 But I'm a minister of the
Gospel； and I'm not prepared for such work。〃
XXXIX
PHILOSOPHY AND POETRY
There was a side to Samuel Clemens that in those days few of his
associates saw。 This was the poetic； the philosophic； the contemplative
side。 Joseph Goodman recognized this phase of his character； and； while
he perhaps did not regard it as a future literary asset； he delighted in
it； and in their hours of quiet association together encouraged its
exhibition。 It is rather curious that with all his literary penetration
Goodman did not dream of a future celebrity for Clemens。 He afterward
said：
〃If I had been asked to prophesy which of the two men； Dan de Quille or
Sam； would become distinguished； I should have said De Quille。 Dan was
talented； industrious； and； for that time and place； brilliant。 Of
course； I recognized the unusualness of Sam's gifts； but he was eccentric
and seemed to lack industry； it is not likely that I should have
prophesied fame for him then。〃
Goodman； like MacFarlane in Cincinnati； half a dozen years before； though
by a different method； discovered and developed the deeper vein。 Often
the two； dining together in a French restaurant； discussed life； subtler
philosophies； recalled various phases of human history； remembered and
recited the poems that gave them especial enjoyment。 〃The Burial of
Moses；〃 with its noble phrasing and majestic imagery； appealed strongly
to Clemens； and he recited it with great power。 The first stanza in
particular always stirred him； and it stirred his hearer as well。 With
eyes half closed and chin lifted； a lighted cigar between his fingers； he
would lose himself in the music of the stately lines。
By Nebo's lonely mountain；
On this side Jordan's wave；
In a vale in the land of Moab；
There lies a lonely grave。
And no man knows that sepulchre；
And no man saw it e'er；
For the angels of God； upturned the sod；
And laid the dead man there。
Another stanza that he cared for almost as much was the one beginning：
And had he not high honor
The hill…side for a pall；
To lie in state while angels wait
With stars for tapers tall；
And the dark rock…pines； like tossing plumes；
Over his bier to wave；
And God's own hand in that lonely land；
To lay him in the grave？
Without doubt he was moved to emulate the simple grandeur of that poem；
for he often repeated it in those days； and somewhat later we find it
copied into his notebook in full。 It would seem to have become to him a
sort of literary touchstone； and in some measure it may be regarded as
accountable for the fact that in the fullness of time 〃he made use of the
purest English of any modern writer。〃 These are Goodman's words； though
William Dean Howells has said them； also； in substance； and Brander
Matthews； and many others who know about such things。 Goodman adds； 〃The
simplicity and beauty of his style are almost without a parallel； except
in the common version of the Bible；〃 which is also true。 One is reminded
of what Macaulay said of Milton：
〃There would seem at first sight to be no more in his words than in other
words。 But they are words of enchantment。 No sooner are they pronounced
than the past is present and the distance near。 New forms of beauty
start at once into existence； and all the burial…places of the memory
give up their dead。〃
One drifts ahead； remembering these things。 The triumph of words； the
mastery of phrases； lay all before him at the time of which we are
writing now。 He was twenty…seven。 At that age Rudyard Kipling had
reached his meridian。 Samuel Clemens was still in the classroom。
Everything came as a lesson…phrase； form； aspect； and combination；
nothing escaped unvalued。 The poetic phase of things particularly
impressed him。 Once at a dinner with Goodman； when the lamp…light from
the chandelier struck down through the claret on the tablecloth in a
great red stain； he pointed to it dramatically 〃Look； Joe；〃 he said； 〃the
angry tint of wine。〃
It was at one of these private sessions； late in '62； that Clemens
proposed to report the coming meeting of the Carson legislature。 H