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told a moral story。 He said：
Little boys and girls； I want to tell you a story which illustrates the
value of perseveranceof sticking to your work； as it were。 It is a
story very proper for a Sunday…school。 When I was a little boy in
Hannibal I used to play a good deal up here on Holliday's Hill； which of
course you all know。 John Briggs and I played up there。 I don't suppose
there are any little boys as good as we were then； but of course that is
not to be expected。 Little boys in those days were 'most always good
little boys； because those were the good old times when everything was
better than it is now； but never mind that。 Well； once upon a time； on
Holliday's Hill； they were blasting out rock； and a man was drilling for
a blast。 He sat there and drilled and drilled and drilled perseveringly
until he had a hole down deep enough for the blast。 Then he put in the
powder and tamped and tamped it down； but maybe he tamped it a little too
hard； for the blast went off and he went up into the air； and we watched
him。 He went up higher and higher and got smaller and smaller。 First he
looked as big as a child； then as big as a dog； then as big as a kitten；
then as big as a bird； and finally he went out of sight。 John Briggs was
with me； and we watched the place where he went out of sight； and by and
by we saw him coming down first as big as a bird； then as big as a
kitten； then as big as a dog； then as big as a child； and then he was a
man again； and landed right in his seat and went to drilling just
persevering； you see； and sticking to his work。 Little boys and girls；
that's the secret of success； just like that poor but honest workman on
Holliday's Hill。 Of course you won't always be appreciated。 He wasn't。
His employer was a hard man； and on Saturday night when he paid him he
docked him fifteen minutes for the time he was up in the airbut never
mind； he had his reward。
He told all this in his solemn； grave way； though the Sunday…school was
in a storm of enjoyment when he finished。 There still remains a doubt in
Hannibal as to its perfect suitability； but there is no doubt as to its
acceptability。
That Sunday afternoon； with John Briggs； he walked over Holliday's Hill
the Cardiff Hill of Tom Sawyer。 It was jest such a Sunday as that one
when they had so nearly demolished the negro driver and had damaged a
cooper…shop。 They calculated that nearly three thousand Sundays had
passed since then； and now here they were once more； two old men with the
hills still fresh and green； the river still sweeping by and rippling in
the sun。 Standing there together and looking across to the low…lying
Illinois shore； and to the green islands where they had played； and to
Lover's Leap on the south； the man who had been Sam Clemens said：
〃John； that is one of the loveliest sights I ever saw。 Down there by the
island is the place we used to swim； and yonder is where a man was
drowned； and there's where the steamboat sank。 Down there on Lover's
Leap is where the Millerites put on their robes one night to go to
heaven。 None of them went that night； but I suppose most of them have
gone now。〃
John Briggs said：
〃Sam； do you remember the day we stole the peaches from old man Price and
one of his bow…legged niggers came after us with the dogs； and how we
made up our minds that we'd catch that nigger and drown him？〃
They came to the place where they had pried out the great rock that had
so nearly brought them to grief。 Sam Clemens said：
〃John； if we had killed that man we'd have had a dead nigger on our hands
without a cent to pay for him。〃
And so they talked on of this thing and that； and by and by they drove
along the river； and Sam Clemens pointed out the place where he swam it
and was taken with a cramp on the return swim； and believed for a while
that his career was about to close。
〃Once； near the shore； I thought I would let down；〃 he said； 〃but was
afraid to； knowing that if the water was deep I was a goner； but finally
my knees struck the sand and I crawled out。 That was the closest call I
ever had。〃
They drove by the place where the haunted house had stood。 They drank
from a well they had always known； and from the bucket as they had always
drunk； talking and always talking； fondling lovingly and lingeringly that
most beautiful of all our possessions； the past。
〃Sam；〃 said John； when they parted； 〃this is probably the last time we
shall meet on this earth。 God bless you。 Perhaps somewhere we shall
renew our friendship。〃
〃John；〃 was the answer； 〃this day has been worth thousands of dollars to
me。 We were like brothers once； and I feel that we are the same now。
Good…by； John。 I'll try to meet yousomewhere。〃
CCXXII
A PROPHET HONORED IN HIS COUNTRY
Clemens left next day for Columbia。 Committees met him at Rensselaer；
Monroe City； Clapper； Stoutsville； Paris； Madison； Moberlyat every
station along the line of his travel。 At each place crowds were gathered
when the train pulled in； to cheer and wave and to present him with
flowers。 Sometimes he spoke a few words； but oftener his eyes were full
of tearshis voice would not come。
There is something essentially dramatic in official recognition by one's
native Statethe return of the lad who has set out unknown to battle
with life； and who； having conquered； is invited back to be crowned。 No
other honor； however great and spectacular； is quite like that； for there
is in it a pathos and a completeness that are elemental and stir emotions
as old as life itself。
It was on the 4th of June； 1902； that Mark Twain received his doctor of
laws degree from the State University at Columbia； Missouri。 James
Wilson； Secretary of Agriculture； and Ethan Allen Hitchcock； Secretary of
the Interior； were among those similarly honored。 Mark Twain was
naturally the chief attraction。 Dressed in his Yale scholastic gown he
led the procession of graduating students； and； as in Hannibal； awarded
them their diplomas。 The regular exercises were made purposely brief in
order that some time might be allowed for the conferring of the degrees。
This ceremony was a peculiarly impressive one。 Gardner Lathrop read a
brief statement introducing 〃America's foremost author and best…loved
citizen； Samuel Langhorne ClemensMark Twain。〃
Clemens rose； stepped out to the center of the stage； and paused。 He
seemed to be in doubt as to whether he should make a speech or simply
express his thanks and retire。 Suddenly； and without a signal； the great
audience rose as one man and stood in silence at his feet。 He bowed； but
he could not speak。 Then that vast assembly began a peculiar chant；
spelling out slowly the word Missouri； with a pause between each letter。
It was dramatic； it was tremendous in its impressiveness。 He had
recovered himself when they finished。 He said he didn't know whether he
was expected to make a speech or not。 They did not leave'him in doubt。
They cheered and demanded a speech； a speech； and he made them oneone
of the speeches he could make best； full of quaint phrasing； happy humor；
gentle and dramatic pathos。 He closed by telling the wa