The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-11-03
800 o o &c
THE FRIENDS OF MARK
TWAIN'S BOYHOOD
BY HOMER BASSFORD
BY HOMER BASSFORD

V0-9
Sam Clemens and the others of us
USED TO tear those stones loose" said
Eo Pierce on recent Sunday. some
tunes working days and nights together
10 get particularly big one free Then
we q start her down the hill. One time
we cut loose a whaler, and when we
saw the course it was taking, we began
10 shiVer In our boots. 1t would hit the
mill. once the stone struck fat Mace
on the slope and we held our breathing
In the hope that it would stop. We.
GRABBED each other by the shirt-sleeyo y
and strained our eyes as the great ro =.
paused, wobbled. struck a smaller 70 Z
and then, with a whirl to one side s.l
OF to the bottom with a speed tina,
would have filed our hearts with ioy
If the mill had not been there. rs
Mebbe she'll hit something an turn
out, Sam suggested
Sure enough, at that instant the
rolling stone struck a small boulder and
shot twenty feet down a side course.
but our relief was of short life. for
there was yet another boulder 4: i'm
just the right position to restore the
course of our big one. While we were
watching, the head miller appeared at
one OF the doors. He grasped the situa.
ton In an instant and, calling his help
ers out, he and the others ran for their
lives. Sam and / waited for the ston.
to strike. 1t went through the wall and
landed far inside the mill. Then We
got away. Many times we sent rocks
down that hill. AS look back at it.
wonder that we didn't kill some one"
MARK TwAIN's BROAD RANGE OF
STUDIES.
Not many years ago-less than fifteen
perhaps-Mr. Clemens went to Hanni-
bal for the purpose Of spending a short
time amid the scenes of his boyhood.
In the course of his visit he was I. uch
in the company of his lifelong friend,
Colonel Ro Bards, who is one of the pill
lars Of the community. With Colonel
Ro Bards he made a tour of the church
es one bright Sunday morning, taking
particular interest in the children. AT
the place of his first visit the host told
the Sunday school Superintendent that
the distinguished visitor would be glad
to address the little folks. Mr.. Clemens
at once grew reminiscent. He was glad
to be home again. back among the hills
of his early youth, where he knew ev-
cry rock and gully. 1t was good to be
in the old home Sunday-school again.
Here Colonel Ro Bards' and the Super
intendent exchanged glances of do lbt.
Yes" continued the speaker, land
you must know how it delights me to
be in this Sunday-school where every
bench is to me as an old friend. I sat
right over there where the stove used
to be--right in that seat where the lit
tie girl with the red dress is now. All.
how it all comes back to mel"
Then Colonel Ro Bards pulled at the
famous mans coat-tails and Indicated
that IL was time to hurry on. At the
next Sunday-schoo. Mr.. Clemens was
soon on his feet.
My dear friends" he said. I'm so
happy to be here again. close to scenes
] once knew SO well. for right there,
within twenty feet of where I stand. is
the seat in which I used to sit with
Charley Curtis Cor some one equally
we'll known. How well I remember
IT aIl,''
Colonel Ro Bards blushed for his
guest and begged a pressure of time as
an excuse for leaving. When the two
were safely out of the church, Colonel
70 Bards turned on him.
"See here. sam" he said, you never
, went to Sunday-school in' that church.
1t wasn't there when YOU lived in Han
, nibal. or the other one, either, for that
matter"
Goodness me. Can that be so?' Mr..
, Clemens exclaimed. How time does
! ny!''
Then the two visited a third church.
= spick and span new one of which the
congregation was very proud. Mr..
I Clemens, as soon as his presence be-
came known. was duly pressed for a
few remarks.
Il can only say he said. that ] am
very happy to be here this morning.
The sight Of this magnificent edifice re-
calls to my mind other days than this.
: 1t brings to my thoughts another group
/. of youngsters, hardly as well dressed
, as these bright-faced boys and girls,
but all quite as anxious to become good
men and women. I was one of them
f, Nj seat was over there near where the
boy with a red necktie is sitting. In
, deed. I think ii must be the same seat.
? Then, walking closer, as If to scruti-
n nize the place more carefully, he said
Yes. it's the same"
Come on said Colonel Ro Bards
TITS time to go to dinner"
n On A ID 4