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episode in the life of some former occupants of The Pinesthe tale of a
double illness in the household； where a righteous deception was carried
on during several weeks for the benefit of a life that was about to slip
away。 Out of this grew the story； 〃Was it Heaven？ or Hell？〃 a
heartbreaking history which probes the very depths of the human soul。
Next to 〃Hadleyburg；〃 it is Mark Twain's greatest fictional sermon。
Clemens that summer wrote； or rather finished； his most pretentious poem。
One day at Riverdale； when Mrs。 Clemens had been with him on the lawn；
they had remembered together the time when their family of little folks
had filled their lives so full； conjuring up dream…like glimpses of them
in the years of play and short frocks and hair…plaits down their backs。
It was pathetic； heart…wringing fancying； and later in the day Clemens
conceived and began the poem which now he brought to conclusion。 It was
built on the idea of a mother who imagines her dead child still living；
and describes to any listener the pictures of her fancy。 It is an
impressive piece of work； but the author； for some reason； did not offer
it for publication。 ＇This poem was completed on the anniversary of
Susy's death and is of considerable length。 Some selections from it will
be found under Appendix U； at the end of this work。＇
Mrs。 Clemens； whose health earlier in the year had been delicate； became
very seriously ill at York Harbor。 Howells writes：
At first she had been about the house； and there was one gentle afternoon
when she made tea for us in the parlor； but that was the last time I
spoke with her。 After that it was really a question of how soonest and
easiest she could be got back to Riverdale。
She had seemed to be in fairly good health and spirits for several weeks
after the arrival at York。 Then； early in August； there came a great
celebration of some municipal anniversary； and for two or three days
there were processions； mass…meetings； and so on by day； with fireworks
at night。 Mrs。 Clemens； always young in spirit； was greatly interested。
She went about more than her strength warranted； seeing and hearing and
enjoying all that was going on。 She was finally persuaded to forego the
remaining ceremonies and rest quietly on the pleasant veranda at home；
but she had overtaxed herself and a collapse was inevitable。 Howells and
two friends called one afternoon； and a friend of the Queen of Rumania； a
Madame Hartwig； who had brought from that gracious sovereign a letter
which closed in this simple and modest fashion：
I beg your pardon for being a bore to one I so deeply love and
admire； to whom I owe days and days of forgetfulness of self and
troubles； and the intensest of all joys…hero…worship！ People don't
always realize what a happiness that is！ God bless you for every
beautiful thought you poured into my tired heart； and for every
smile on a weary way。 CARMEN SYLVA。
This was the occasion mentioned by Howells when Mrs。 Clemens made tea for
them in the parlor for the last time。 Her social life may be said to
have ended that afternoon。 Next morning the break came。 Clemens； in his
notebook for that day； writes：
Tuesday； August 12； 1902。 At 7 A。M。 Livy taken violently ill。
Telephoned and Dr。 Lambert was here in 1/2 hour。 She could not breathe…
was likely to stifle。 Also she had severe palpitation。 She believed she
was dying。 I also believed it。
Nurses were summoned； and Mrs。 Crane and others came from Elmira。 Clara
Clemens took charge of the household and matters generally； and the
patient was secluded and guarded from every disturbing influence。
Clemens slipped about with warnings of silence。 A visitor found notices
in Mark Twain's writing pinned to the trees near Mrs。 Clemens's window
warning the birds not to sing too loudly。
The patient rallied； but she remained very much debilitated。 On
September 3d the note…book says：
Always Mr。 Rogers keeps his yacht Kanawha in commission & ready to
fly here and take us to Riverdale on telegraphic notice。
But Mrs。 Clemens was unable to return by sea。 When it was decided at
last； in October； that she could be removed to Riverdale； Clemens and
Howells went to Boston and engaged an invalid car to make the journey
from York Harbor to Riverdale without change。 Howells tells us that
Clemens gave his strictest personal attention to the arrangement of these
details； and that they absorbed him。
There was no particular of the business which he did not scrutinize
and master 。 。 。 。 With the inertness that grows upon an aging
man he had been used to delegate more and more things； but of that
thing I perceived that he would not delegate the least detail。
They made the journey on the 16th； in nine and a half hours。 With the
exception of the natural weariness due to such a trip； the invalid was
apparently no worse on their arrival。 The stout English butler carried
her to her room。 It would be many months before she would leave it
again。 In one of his memoranda Clemens wrote：
Our dear prisoner is where she is through overwork…day & night
devotion to the children & me。 We did not know how to value it。 We
know now。
And in a notation； on a letter praising him for what he had done for the
world's enjoyment； and for his splendid triumph over debt； he said：
Livy never gets her share of these applauses； but it is because the
people do not know。 Yet she is entitled to the lion's share。
He wrote Twichell at the end of October：
Livy drags along drearily。 It must be hard times for that turbulent
spirit。 It will be a long time before she is on her feet again。 It
is a most pathetic case。 I wish I could transfer it to myself。
Between ripping & raging & smoking & reading I could get a good deal
of holiday out of it。 Clara runs the house smoothly & capitally。
Heavy as was the cloud of illness； he could not help pestering Twichell a
little about a recent mishapa sprained shoulder：
I should like to know how & where it happened。 In the pulpit； as
like as not； otherwise you would not be taking so much pains to
conceal it。 This is not a malicious suggestion； & not a personally
invented one： you told me yourself once that you threw artificial
power & impressiveness in your sermons where needed by 〃banging the
Bible〃（your own words）。 You have reached a time of life when it
is not wise to take these risks。 You would better jump around。 We
all have to change our methods as the infirmities of age creep upon
us。 Jumping around will be impressive now； whereas before you were
gray it would have excited remark。
Mrs。 Clemens seemed to improve as the weeks passed； and they had great
hopes of her complete recovery。 Clemens took up some worka new Huck
Finn story； inspired by his trip to Hannibal。 It was to have two parts
Huck and Tom in youth； and then their return in old age。 He did some
chapters quite in the old vein； and wrote to Howells of his plan。
Howells answered：