The Letters Of Mark Twain, Complete


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feet. Tell Rice to give it to some poor man.  
But hereafter, when anybody holds up a glittering prospect before you,  
just argue in this wise, viz: That, if all spare change be devoted to  
working the "Monitor" and "Flyaway," 12 months, or 24 at furthest, will  
find all our earthly wishes satisfied, so far as money is concerned--and  
the more "feet" we have, the more anxiety we must bear--therefore, why  
not say "No--d---n your 'prospects,' I wait on a sure thing--and a man  
is less than a man, if he can't wait 2 years for a fortune?" When  
you and I came out here, we did not expect '63 or '64 to find us rich  
men--and if that proposition had been made, we would have accepted it  
gladly. Now, it is made.  
Well, I am willing, now, that "Neary's tunnel," or anybody else's tunnel  
shall succeed. Some of them may beat us a few months, but we shall be  
on hand in the fullness of time, as sure as fate. I would hate to swap  
chances with any member of the "tribe"--in fact, I am so lost to all  
sense and reason as to be capable of refusing to trade "Flyaway" (with  
but 200 feet in the Company of four,) foot for foot for that splendid  
"Lady Washington," with its lists of capitalist proprietors, and its  
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5,000 feet of Priceless ground.  
I wouldn't mind being in some of those Clear Creek claims, if I lived  
in Carson and we could spare the money. But I have struck my tent in  
Esmeralda, and I care for no mines but those which I can superintend  
myself. I am a citizen here now, and I am satisfied--although R. and I  
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Page
76 77 78 79 80

Quick Jump
1 314 629 943 1257