New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-01
little Sammy Clemens.


years ago. when our good State was locke
upon by some as a bowling wilderness b
the ambitious sciOns of Down East LanC
aud otherwhere the Clemmens stock cam
hIther. The white topped emigrant wagol
that bore the precious cargo from the oil
homestead IN Tennessee arrived in goo,
condition and made halt among the fai
hills OF the good old county of Monroe
Then it was that the father looked abrOat
upon the strange land, had faith in it
golden promises, and said, at Is WE'LL To
ward the southern portion of the county
and at the JUNCTION OF the south and middle
forks OF Salt river, stands the little town Of
Florida which, at that time-nearly tift,
years ago-contained population approx
mating hundred souls. Here it was tina
the fond father and tender mother endec
erected their household affairs; and here il
was that Samuel Langhorn Clemens-oul
removed mark Twain'-was born.
The town of Florida was never an OK
tremely prepossessing place in appearance,
and at the time the curly headed little
Sammy claimed it for a home, offered but
few advantages. On the one side was the
rocky bank and sandy shoals of Salt river,
whittier the village boys went on summer
afternoons In pursuit of catfish and tad.
poles or to indulge In the dangerous luxury
| of a swim. On the other side was some ex-
cel!ent specimens of Missouri timber-the
well known families of oak, shell. bark
hickory. black walnut and others being
well represented, while further on the land
scape was interspersed with an occasional
| corn field. an unpretending farm house, a
glimpse of prairie, paw-paw grove, a
patch of well patronlzed hazel brush The
, town itself boosted OF no such modern IN
novation as q church edifice and the good
! people worshiped in little temple of
hewn timber. which subserved the double
| purpose OF place for teaching the '.young
! idea" and expounding the living truth to
! the more advanced sinner.
Florida ha. never been blessed with the
advantages OF a railway: the snorting iron.
horse ha, never yet startled the inhabitants
! by its midnight screech. and at that time
| not e:en the weekly stage lighted up the
! village by its welcome approach: but the
! mai. was carried by u boy ON horseback.
I! who showed himself about twice month.
! The village boosted the usual number;
! there was the "tavern. with Creaking sign
! and ample barn. for no traveller came there
| without his "beast:' there was the black
smith shop. with sparks dying out of the
open door, that Samuel used to watch with
expanded pupils, in lieu OF circus: for no
demoralzing "show' had ever spread its
flaming bills rs Turing bait to catch the
exemplary young Fioridians. Clemens, the
ttutIs htpl stOIe OI JLt HAIL Slfcel, ana
his dazzling array of field and household
goods was never passed by the farm woman
with hec butter or spring chickens. nor yet
by the more pVetentlOus denizens OF the city
who came ''Gowa town 20 DO :. tit,l~ siop-
ping.
HI. oldest son. O.ien. was 4arse enough
to assist 70 sons extent will, some Of the
lighter chores about the store: such as to
bring from the "'loft~ some desired article.
-, tll sfncp n tho lar iaa Cd
from their horses. sweep out the store, etc:
bI: the little red. headed, freckled faced
Sam GonEed his butternue pants and home
made st.aw IA. from day to day. and set
out n good season 20 spend the rOay.winged
Lonrs with the village boys as pleasure dis.
tatei or taste inclined. Often might Is
bare feet be heard pattsrins il the dusty
highway: often might his curly red head be
seen in q group Of others, bent on the
robbing o: some matron bird, or Iuartered
beneath the outrageous canopy Of wal
nuc tree. engaged in social game of
humble peg" and again might the EN-
bronze author, lecturer and traveller be seen
with his trowsers rolled above his knees,
wading in the shallow. miniature sounds of
Salt river.
Ala. tina. VA. hi. ~Golden age;'' and
''roughing it had never been experienced
by that veritable "InnOcent at"-home. The
leaves which toated on the creek were the
only ships he had ever seen; the school
bous" and his mothers bedroom the Sec
ture rooms; the oak, the sycamore and
elm. the kings, dukess and lords which
bowed to him. His greatest task was to
drive home the cows at night; his Hottest
ambition to attain the highest limb of the
cherry tree. and his richest reward for orig
inal jokes and pranks sound spanking"
from his conscientious mother. Samuel was |
born in the year 1885. and was next to"
the youngest child.
When he was some SIX or eight years of |
age his father removed to Hannibal, first |
engaging in mercantile pursuits, and then |
the law, and finally achieved an honorable |
position on the bench. But, somehow,
times went wrong with him-he lost what |
little property he had accumulated, and |
then died.
Mrs Clemens was left widow with four
children - Orion, Pamela. Samuel and
Henry-and it required all her tact and
good management to provide for herself
and family. She took in a few boarders,
her daughter Pamela gave music lessons,
Orion started a weekly newspaper, and |
Sammy was apprenticed in the printing 7
office TO acquire a knowledge of the "art 1!
preservat.ve." Though Sam was regarded,
even then. az something of wit, he was
not considered so precocouS or talented as !
his younger brother, Henry, and oftentimes
was he reprimanded by his good mother for
his ,ll-Nmed levitr and disposition toward
''siliine IS and practical Jokes. !
After time Miss Pamela Clemens mar.
cled Mr.. Moffet: Orion was earning a re
spectacle livelihood, and as times seemed
promising. the enterprising Sam concluded
he would e'strlke out" little in the world.
Accordingly. he packed his valise, putting
IN his fine shirt, Sunday pants, fine tooth
comb. a bottle of ponatum, his white hand
kerchlef and 'tOther vest. and at the age of
eighteen set his face btavely and proudly
.oward the Future Great City" There
was no grand reception given upon his ar
avail. no toast drank; his name was not
;hronicled in all or even any OF the papers,
lor was he interviewed by single reporter.
a short. there was no ovationo s.. Louis
lid not 'ovate" worth a cent.
But Sam Clemens, after depositfpg his
,arpet sack at cheap hotel wandered
Town Main, meeting thousand people mot
me OF whGfn Recognized him or seemed to
are a snap for Che loneliness and desolM
ION that doomed up and seemed TO be grow. !
ng in him. And then he thought of Han
.ibal and home. But he was brave He
topped before high building with some
gures and things away up on the end, like
ne lnscriptlo3 On tombstone, and after a
hort pause proceeded up ever SO many
lights OF stairs, and then asked for the
boss. Well. he had a ''iob." first in one
rinting office and then in another, After
iard he took it into his head that naviga-
ion was the one thing that could satisfy
he cravings of his ambition, and we find
I'm, as pilot, plying up and down the river