Mark Twain: A Biography. Volume I, Part 1: 1835-1866

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Paine Albert Bigelow. Mark Twain: A Biography. Volume I, Part 1: 1835-1866

AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT

PREFATORY NOTE

MARK TWAIN

A BIOGRAPHY I. ANCESTORS

II. THE FORTUNES OF JOHN AND JANE CLEMENS

III. A HUMBLE BIRTHPLACE

IV. BEGINNING A LONG JOURNEY

V. THE WAY OF FORTUNE

VI. A NEW HOME

VII. THE LITTLE TOWN OF HANNIBAL

VIII. THE FARM

IX. SCHOOL-DAYS

X. EARLY VICISSITUDE AND SORROW

XI. DAYS OF EDUCATION

XII. TOM SAWYER'S BAND

XIII. THE GENTLER SIDE

XIV. THE PASSING OF JOHN CLEMENS

XV. A YOUNG BEN FRANKLIN

XVI. THE TURNING-POINT

XVII. THE HANNIBAL "JOURNAL"

XVIII. THE BEGINNING OF A LITERARY LIFE

XIX. IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF FRANKLIN

XX. KEOKUK DAYS

XXI. SCOTCHMAN NAMED MACFARLANE

XXII. THE OLD CALL OF THE RIVER

XXIII. THE SUPREME SCIENCE

XXIV. THE RIVER CURRICULUM

XXV. LOVE-MAKING AND ADVENTURE

XXVI. THE TRAGEDY OF THE "PENNSYLVANIA"

XXVII. THE PILOT

XXVIII. PILOTING AND PROPHECY

XXIX. THE END OF PILOTING

XXX. THE SOLDIER

XXXI. OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

XXXII. THE PIONEER

XXXIII. THE PROSPECTOR

XXXIV. TERRITORIAL CHARACTERISTICS

XXXV. THE MINER

XXXVI. LAST MINING DAYS

XXXVII. THE NEW ESTATE

XXXVIII. ONE OF THE "STAFF"

XXXIX. PHILOSOPHY AND POETRY

XL "MARK TWAIN"

XLI. THE CREAM OF COMSTOCK HUMOR

XLII REPORTORIAL DAYS

XLIII. ARTEMUS WARD

XLIV. GOVERNOR OF THE "THIRD HOUSE"

XLV. A COMSTOCK DUEL

XLVI. GETTING SETTLED IN SAN FRANCISCO

XLVII. BOHEMIAN DAYS

XLVIII. THE REFUGE OF THE HILLS

XLIX. THE JUMPING FROG

L. BACK TO THE TUMULT

LI. THE CORNER-STONE

LII. A COMMISSION TO THE SANDWICH ISLANDS

LIII. ANSON BURLINGAME AND THE "HORNET" DISASTER

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Certain happenings as recorded in this work will be found to differ materially from the same incidents and episodes as set down in the writings of Mr. Clemens himself. Mark Twain's spirit was built of the very fabric of truth, so far as moral intent was concerned, but in his earlier autobiographical writings—and most of his earlier writings were autobiographical—he made no real pretense to accuracy of time, place, or circumstance—seeking, as he said, "only to tell a good story"—while in later years an ever-vivid imagination and a capricious memory made history difficult, even when, as in his so-called "Autobiography," his effort was in the direction of fact.

"When I was younger I could remember anything, whether it happened or not," he once said, quaintly, "but I am getting old, and soon I shall remember only the latter."

.....

One had blown across and lay just in front of him. It was an inspiration. He picked it up and, solemnly entering the school-room, meekly handed it to Miss Herr.

Perhaps Miss Horr's sense of humor prompted forgiveness, but discipline must be maintained.

.....