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gave him an unusual distinction。 Long afterward he would become Nigger
Jim in the Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn tales； and so in his gentle
guilelessness win immortality and the love of many men。
Certainly this was a heavenly place for a little boy； the farm of Uncle
John Quarles； and the house was as wonderful as its surroundings。 It was
a two…story double log building； with a spacious floor （roofed in）
connecting the two divisions。 In the summer the table was set in the
middle of that shady； breezy pavilion； and sumptuous meals were served in
the lavish Southern style； brought to the table in vast dishes that left
only room for rows of plates around the edge。 Fried chicken； roast pig；
turkeys； ducks； geese； venison just killed； squirrels； rabbits；
partridges； pheasants； prairie…chickensthe list is too long to be
served here。 If a little boy could not improve on that bill of fare and
in that atmosphere； his case was hopeless indeed。 His mother kept him
there until the late fall； when the chilly evenings made them gather
around the wide； blazing fireplace。 Sixty years later he wrote of that
scene：
I can see the room yet with perfect clearness。 I can see all its
buildings； all its details： the family…room of the house； with the
trundle…bed in one corner and the spinning…wheel in another a wheel
whose rising and falling wail； heard from a distance； was the
mournfulest of all sounds to me； and made me homesick and low…
spirited； and filled my atmosphere with the wandering spirits of the
dead； the vast fireplace； piled high with flaming logs； from whose
ends a sugary sap bubbled out； but did not go to waste； for we
scraped it off and ate it； 。 。 。 the lazy cat spread out on the
rough hearthstones； the drowsy dogs braced against the jambs；
blinking； my aunt in one chimney…corner and my uncle in the other
smoking his corn…cob pipe； the slick and carpetless oak floor
faintly mirroring the flame tongues； and freckled with black
indentations where fire…coals had popped out and died a leisurely
death； half a dozen children romping in the background twilight；
splint…bottom chairs here and theresome with rockers； a cradle
out of service； but waiting with confidence。
One is tempted to dwell on this period； to quote prodigally from these
vivid memoriesthe thousand minute impressions which the child's
sensitive mind acquired in that long…ago time and would reveal everywhere
in his work in the years to come。 For him it was education of a more
valuable and lasting sort than any he would ever acquire from books。
IX
SCHOOL…DAYS
Nevertheless； on his return to Hannibal； it was decided that Little Sam
was now ready to go to school。 He was about five years old； and the
months on the farm had left him wiry and lively； even if not very robust。
His mother declared that he gave her more trouble than all the other
children put together。
〃He drives me crazy with his didoes； when he is in the house；〃 she used
to say； 〃and when he is out of it I am expecting every minute that some
one will bring him home half dead。〃
He did； in fact； achieve the first of his 〃nine narrow escapes from
drowning〃 about this time； and was pulled out of the river one afternoon
and brought home in a limp and unpromising condition。 When with mullein
tea and castor…oil she had restored him to activity； she said： 〃I guess
there wasn't much danger。 People born to be hanged are safe in water。〃
She declared she was willing to pay somebody to take him off her hands
for a part of each day and try to teach him manners。 Perhaps this is a
good place to say that Jane Clemens was the original of Tom Sawyer's
〃Aunt Polly；〃 and her portrait as presented in that book is considered
perfect。 Kind…hearted； fearless； looking and acting ten years older than
her age； as women did in that time； always outspoken and sometimes
severe； she was regarded as a 〃character〃 by her friends； and beloved by
them as； a charitable； sympathetic woman whom it was good to know。 Her
sense of pity was abnormal。 She refused to kill even flies； and punished
the cat for catching mice。 She； would drown the young kittens； when
necessary； but warmed the water for the purpose。 On coming to Hannibal；
she joined the Presbyterian Church； and her religion was of that clean…
cut； strenuous kind which regards as necessary institutions hell and
Satan； though she had been known to express pity for the latter for being
obliged to surround himself with such poor society。 Her children she
directed with considerable firmness； and all were tractable and growing
in grace except Little Sam。 Even baby Henry at two was lisping the
prayers that Sam would let go by default unless carefully guarded。 His
sister Pamela； who was eight years older and always loved him dearly；
usually supervised these spiritual exercises； and in her gentle care
earned immortality as the Cousin Mary of Tom Sawyer。 He would say his
prayers willingly enough when encouraged by sister Pamela； but he much
preferred to sit up in bed and tell astonishing tales of the day's
adventuretales which made prayer seem a futile corrective and caused
his listeners to wonder why the lightning was restrained so long。 They
did not know they were glimpsing the first outcroppings of a genius that
would one day amaze and entertain the nations。 Neighbors hearing of
these things （also certain of his narrations） remonstrated with Mrs。
Clemens。
〃You don't believe anything that child says； I hope。〃
〃Oh yes； I know his average。 I discount him ninety per cent。 The rest
is pure gold。〃 At another time she said： 〃 Sammy is a well of truth； but
you can't bring it all up in one bucket。〃
This； however； is digression； the incidents may have happened somewhat
later。
A certain Miss E。 Horr was selected to receive the payment for taking
charge of Little Sam during several hours each day； directing him
mentally and morally in the mean time。 Her school was then in a log
house on Main Street （later it was removed to Third Street）； and was of
the primitive old…fashioned kind； with pupils of all ages； ranging in
advancement from the primer to the third reader； from the tables to long
division； with a little geography and grammar and a good deal of
spelling。 Long division and the third reader completed the curriculum in
that school。 Pupils who decided to take a post…graduate course went to a
Mr。 Cross； who taught in a frame house on the hill facing what is now the
Public Square。
Miss Horr received twenty…five cents a week for each pupil； and opened
her school with prayer； after which came a chapter of the Bible； with
explanations； and the rules of conduct。 Then the A B C class was called；
because their recital was a hand…to…hand struggle； requiring no
preparation。
The rules of conduct that first day interested Little Sam。 He calculated
how much he would need to trim in； to sail close to the danger…line and
still avoid disaster。 He made a miscalculation during the forenoon and
received warning； a second offense would mean punishment。 He did not
mean to be