The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete


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and bowl me down from long range as being the destroyer of it.  
If the enterprise has failed because of my individual stipulation, here  
you have my proper and reasonable reasons for making that stipulation.  
If it has failed because of the joint stipulation, put the blame there,  
and let us share it collectively.  
I think our plan was a good one. I do not doubt that Mr. Burton still  
approves of it, too. I believe the objections come from other quarters,  
and not from him. Mr. Twichell used the following words in last Sunday's  
sermon, (if I remember correctly):  
"My hearers, the prophet Deuteronomy says this wise thing: 'Though ye  
plan a goodly house for the poor, and plan it with wisdom, and do take  
off your coats and set to to build it, with high courage, yet shall the  
croaker presently come, and lift up his voice, (having his coat on,) and  
say, Verily this plan is not well planned--and he will go his way; and  
the obstructionist will come, and lift up his voice, (having his coat  
on,) and say, Behold, this is but a sick plan--and he will go his way;  
and the man that knows it all will come, and lift up his voice, (having  
his coat on,) and say, Lo, call they this a plan? then will he go his  
way; and the places which knew him once shall know him no more forever,  
because he was not, for God took him. Now therefore I say unto you,  
Verily that house will not be budded. And I say this also: He that  
waiteth for all men to be satisfied with his plan, let him seek eternal  
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