Certainly, to Mark Twain Orion Clemens was a trial. The letters of the

latter show that scarcely one of them but contains the outline of some

rainbow-chasing scheme, full of wild optimism, and the certainty that

somewhere just ahead lies the pot of gold. Only, now and then, there is

a letter of abject humiliation and complete surrender, when some golden

vision, some iridescent soap-bubble, had vanished at his touch. Such

depression did not last; by sunrise he was ready with a new dream, new

enthusiasm, and with a new letter inviting his "brother Sam's" interest

and investment. Yet, his fear of incurring his brother's displeasure

was pitiful, regardless of the fact that he constantly employed the very

means to insure that result. At one time Clemens made him sign a sworn

agreement that he would not suggest any plan or scheme of investment

for the period of twelve months. Orion must have kept this agreement. He

would have gone to the stake before he would have violated an oath,

but the stake would have probably been no greater punishment than his

sufferings that year.

On the whole, Samuel Clemens was surprisingly patient and considerate

with Orion, and there was never a time that he was not willing to help.

Yet there were bound to be moments of exasperation; and once, when

his mother, or sister, had written, suggesting that he encourage his

brother's efforts, he felt moved to write at considerable freedom.

****

340

The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete