Bringing together 38 tales and sketches, "The 30 000 Dollar Bequest and Other Stories" provides a rare long view of Twain's work, covering virtually his entire career, from "Advice to Young Girls" (a spoof that appeared in 1865, just months before he achieved national acclaim for his "Jumping Frog" tale), to the title story, written in 1904.
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Mark Twain. 30,000 Dollar Bequest and Other Stories
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
A Dog’s Tale
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Was It Heaven? Or Hell?
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
A Cure For The Blues
The Curious Book
The Enemy Conquered; Or, Love Triumphant
The Californian’s Tale
A Helpless Situation
The Letter
The Reply
A Telephonic Conversation
Edward Mills And George Benton: A Tale
The Five Boons Of Life
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
The First Writing-Machines
Italian Without A Master
Italian With Grammar
A Burlesque Biography
How To Tell A Story
The Wounded Soldier
The Golden Arm
General Washington’s Negro Body-Servant
Another Old Hero Gone
Another Cherished Remnant Of The Revolution Gone
Wit Inspirations Of The “Two-Year-Olds”
An Entertaining Article
A Letter To The Secretary Of The Treasury
Amended Obituaries
A Monument To Adam
A Humane Word From Satan
Introduction To “The New Guide Of The Conversation In Portuguese And English” by Pedro Carolino
Dialogue 16
Dialogue 17
Advice To Little Girls
Post-Mortem Poetry[1]
The Danger Of Lying In Bed
Portrait Of King William III
Commendations Of The Portrait
Does The Race Of Man Love A Lord?
Extracts From Adam’s Diary
Eve’s Diary
Extract From Adam’s Diary
After the Fall
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Now came great news! Stunning news – joyous news, in fact. It came from a neighboring state, where the family’s only surviving relative lived. It was Sally’s relative – a sort of vague and indefinite uncle or second or third cousin by the name of Tilbury Foster, seventy and a bachelor, reputed well off and corresponding sour and crusty. Sally had tried to make up to him once, by letter, in a bygone time, and had not made that mistake again. Tilbury now wrote to Sally, saying he should shortly die, and should leave him thirty thousand dollars, cash; not for love, but because money had given him most of his troubles and exasperations, and he wished to place it where there was good hope that it would continue its malignant work. The bequest would be found in his will, and would be paid over. Provided, that Sally should be able to prove to the executors that he had taken no notice of the gift by spoken word or by letter, had made no inquiries concerning the MORIBUND’S progress toward the everlasting tropics, and had not attended the funeral.
As soon as Aleck had partially recovered from the tremendous emotions created by the letter, she sent to the relative’s habitat and subscribed for the local paper.
.....
He rose. Hester, speaking for both, said; coldly:
“We have lied; we perceive it; it will occur no more. To lie is a sin. We shall never tell another one of any kind whatsoever, even lies of courtesy or benevolence, to save any one a pang or a sorrow decreed for him by God.”
