A Family Sketch and Other Private Writings by Mark Twain; Livy Clemens; Susy Clemens

Author:Mark Twain; Livy Clemens; Susy Clemens [Clemens, Mark Twain; Livy Clemens; Susy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography
ISBN: 9780520280731
Goodreads: 22141316
Publisher: University of California Press
Published: 2014-11-06T22:00:00+00:00

“What is it in the little piece of paper you got in yo’ hand, papa—what do it say?”

I said, impressively, and meaning to impress her,—

“It tells about an old, old friend of mine, Jean—friend away back yonder years and years and years ago, when I was young—very dear friend, and now he is dead, Jean.”

She uttered an ejaculation and I a response.

Then she looked earnestly up from down there, and said,—

“Is he gone up in heaven, papa?”

“Yes,” I said, “he is gone up in heaven.”

A reflective pause—then she said,—

“Was he down on the earth, papa—down here?”

“Yes, he was down here on the earth, where we are.”

She lowered her face, now grown very grave, and reflected again, two or three moments. Then she lifted it quickly to mine, and inquired with a burning interest,—

“And did along comed a blackbird and nipped off his nose?”

The solemnity of the occasion was gone to the devil in a moment—as far as I was concerned; though Jean was not aware that she had done anything toward that result. She was asking simply and solely for information, and was not intending to be lightsome or frivolous.

*

May, ’84

A heavy wagon went by, outside—we all questioned what the noise might be. Jean said, “I hear it thunder, and that’s Elisa.” (German nurse.)

*

Mention was made of a certain young lady, at breakfast; and Susie remarked that she was very pretty. Her mother said no, she had a good face, a face which answered to her exceptionally fine character, but she would hardly call it a pretty face. Susie said—

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