, 1870-07-24
MARK TWAIE's FIRST AND LAST
POEM,

FfoH. The Aemsruada il. Aucus. Galaxx.

FFotn The Nens.uada IL Arcuts GALAXY
When say that never knew nv auste1e
father to he enA1noted Of but one poem in iii
the long laH centusy that be lived, perau4s
Hho kneN hlm will really believe me; when
sas that have never composed but one poem
y as tue long third OF century that havs
lived, persons who know mo will be sincerely
gsatetul; and, finally, WHEN I say that the
poem which I composed WAS not the one which
my father Was eramored OF, persona who NAV
hare known III both will not need to have tins
truth tbot into them with b mountain howitzer
before they csn receive it, Ay father and
were always on the most distant terms when
wa% boy-a Fort Of armed neutrality, SO TO
speak. at irregular intervals this neutrality
was broken, and suffering ensuel; hui will
10 candid enough to sAy that the breaking and
the suffering Wetc hways divided up with
my father did The breaking, and did tho sui
fs1,nB;; As = general. thing l was
backward, cautiota, nnadventur.
ous boy; but once / jumped on
Atwo-BsofE stable. another time i gave IN
elephant ping Of tobacco aud retired With
l1ne l pretended to be talking in nv rleop,
AID got off posaon Of ; very w1etchsa or1gi-
nal conundrum in hearing OF my father Let
us not p1E inlo the result it was Of no conse-
auence TO any one but me-
But tho poem have referred toss attracting
MAS '.Hiawatla-" some man who cou1ted =
sudden and awful death presented him an
early copy, and never lont faith in my own
seuEes uutil I saw him sit down sud 70 To
reading it in cold blool--saw him open the
book, and heard him read these following
fsieidity with which he always read hin charge
to the jury, OF administered Al oath 10 Nlt-
nesa
Take your bow, O H.awA1hA,
Take your ut1uHs, lasp.t-heAded,
TGkc your waf-club, PuEXANauEun,
And your DittGns, N1nieIaawan,
Amt your birch canoe for sailing,
And the oil OF Mishe- Mama
pocket an imposing " war11ntee deed" and
liked his eyes upon it and dropped into ned,-
tation. know what it was. 4 Texan 1ady
and gentleman had given my half brother, Or
1sn johnson, handsome property in town
in the North: in gratitude to. him for having
eaved their lives BY m act Of brilliant hero
ism.
Br and by my father looked toward me and
sighed. Then he said.
''If had snch eon as this poet, here we're
sut ject wot.hier than the traditions OF these
~ you please: sir, where ?"
IL In this deed"
! "In thc--ae.d :"
ies-in this very deed" said my father,
throwing It on the table. 'Thers is more
Toei4!. tnpse loaancet moro suu!lnltF, more
splendid imagery hidden away in that honaely
document than could be found in all the tra-
| dim Of all thF E1yages TINT i've
y Indeed, cir Could I--tould got il cut,
cir: Could compose the poem, sir, do ron
think ?"
"You!"
wiitcd.
Presently mr. fathers face eoftcned some
| what, and be faid:
"Go and try. But mind. curb folly. No
poetry at the expense Of truth Keep strictly
l rsia would, and bowed myself out, and
"HIawatha" kept dronins in my head
and 20 did MT fathers remarks about the
rutniss and romance hidden in ny subject.
and alRo his Injunction 10 beware Of wasiesul
and c1nberant fancy. noticed, Just here.
me. Now, At tnta moment ca1nc to NE one oil
those rare moods Of daring rechetspess, such
az referred to while ago. Without another
thought, and in p1aln defiance OF tho fact tia!
l knes my father meant me to writo the 70,
nsntic story OF my hAlf-hrother'e adventure
more theirspi.is tooE tho stupid Wsrrsnsest M &
deed itself and chopped it up. into IIiavs
THAN blank verse, without altering OF leaving
It required loads Of courage to 60 down atai1l
and fsce my father with my performance.
eta1tetl three OF fonr timer before finally 70
.ny plnck to where it would stick. Bs at Inst
said wonld 60 down tnd rcad it to him II b
threw me- over the ctureh 1or it. I stood u
10 begin and he told me to cone closer.
edged ura little, hut ttil. left as mich neutra
ground between ne as 1 thoHGht ha woul
stand. Then began. It would be useless 70
nc tn try to tell what conflicting emotions ez
rressedtheuarslses npon his face nor how the
grew more and more intense AZ ! proceeded
nor how fell darkness descended upon hi
ecnntenAnce, and he began to Eag and swallow
| and his hands began to work and twltth, MS
| ree1csl on line sfter line, with the strengt
cbling out Of rne, and mt legs tremhlin
| under nc:
TIE S1oRY OF i GALLANT EEED.
THIS lSDESTCRE, made the tenth
nay Of November, In the fe4r
OF sNT Lori one thousafad eight
Hundred stx-and-nfry,
Eetwccn Joanna S. f Gray,
AMI Philip Cray her nns1ani.
or SAlrn, Eity. In the state
OF Texas. oi The nrs. part,
a Gt 4 4ust,ns 4 na4' t,i:s", WlfSEssEru: Isl sHa
Thut s1li party cf cIst part,
FIR and In consideration
or HE sunl uf twenty thousand
DultarA, lawful money u
The L. ). Of AlarEtCay,
To them IN hand now ra.l BY said
Parry Of the secnna part.
IAc due receipt whereof Il hefe-
IS confessed .:iid atknuK lt.lge1.
Have Grautrt, bs1eaiheal, Sold, Eeualss1,
Released and AlleneA and Conveyed,
Confirmed. nI. by these presents do
Grant ah.l bafRa!n, sell. Rrtnlse.
Auei, RsltAse, Convey, ana Con-
Firm unto the aaI,a Aforesaid
Party Uf the second fart,
AI4l " hts hrirs anu asslGns
Eorrter and ever, ALL