登陆注册
38560000000282

第282章

HAMILTON, BERMUDA.

April 6, 1910.

DEAR MR.LARK,--I have told Paine that I want the money derived from the sale of the farm, which I had given, but not conveyed, to my daughter Jean, to be used to erect a building for the Mark Twain Library of Redding, the building to be called the Jean L.Clemens Memorial Building.

I wish to place the money $6,000.00 in the hands of three trustees,--Paine and two others: H.A.Lounsbury and William E.Hazen, all of Redding, these trustees to form a building Committee to decide on the size and plan of the building needed and to arrange for and supervise the work in such a manner that the fund shall amply provide for the building complete, with necessary furnishings, leaving, if possible, a balance remaining, sufficient for such repairs and additional furnishings as may be required for two years from the time of completion.

Will you please draw a document covering these requirements and have it ready by the time I reach New York (April 14th).

Very sincerely, S.L.CLEMENS.

We sailed on the 12th of April, reaching New York on the 14th, as he had planned.A day or two later, Mr.and Mrs.Gabrilowitsch, summoned from Italy by cable, arrived.He suffered very little after reaching Stormfield, and his mind was comparatively clear up to the last day.On the afternoon of April 21st he sank into a state of coma, and just at sunset he died.Three days later, at Elmira, New York, he was laid beside Mrs.Clemens and those others who had preceded him.

THE LAST DAY AT STORMFIELD

By BLISS CARMAN.

At Redding, Connecticut, The April sunrise pours Over the hardwood ridges Softening and greening now In the first magic of Spring.

The wild cherry-trees are in bloom, The bloodroot is white underfoot, The serene early light flows on, Touching with glory the world, And flooding the large upper room Where a sick man sleeps.

Slowly he opens his eyes, After long weariness, smiles, And stretches arms overhead, While those about him take heart.

With his awakening strength, (Morning and spring in the air, The strong clean scents of earth, The call of the golden shaft, Ringing across the hills)He takes up his heartening book, Opens the volume and reads, A page of old rugged Carlyle, The dour philosopher Who looked askance upon life, Lurid, ironical, grim, Yet sound at the core.

But weariness returns;

He lays the book aside With his glasses upon the bed, And gladly sleeps.Sleep, Blessed abundant sleep, Is all that he needs.

And when the close of day Reddens upon the hills And washes the room with rose, In the twilight hush The Summoner comes to him Ever so gently, unseen, Touches him on the shoulder;And with the departing sun Our great funning friend is gone.

How he has made us laugh!

A whole generation of men Smiled in the joy of his wit.

But who knows whether he was not Like those deep jesters of old Who dwelt at the courts of Kings, Arthur's, Pendragon's, Lear's, Plying the wise fool's trade, Making men merry at will, Hiding their deeper thoughts Under a motley array,--Keen-eyed, serious men, Watching the sorry world, The gaudy pageant of life, With pity and wisdom and love?

Fearless, extravagant, wild, His caustic merciless mirth Was leveled at pompous shams.

Doubt not behind that mask There dwelt the soul of a man, Resolute, sorrowing, sage, As sure a champion of good As ever rode forth to fray.

Haply--who knows?--somewhere In Avalon, Isle of Dreams, In vast contentment at last, With every grief done away, While Chaucer and Shakespeare wait, And Moliere hangs on his words, And Cervantes not far off Listens and smiles apart, With that incomparable drawl He is jesting with Dagonet now.

End

同类推荐
  • 汉武故事

    汉武故事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 华严宗章疏并因明录

    华严宗章疏并因明录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 妙法莲华经广量天地品

    妙法莲华经广量天地品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 西汉会要

    西汉会要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Aspern Papers

    The Aspern Papers

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 夜夜尊容

    夜夜尊容

    他,为写一篇论文,闯入一个早已消亡的古国。在追寻古国文明之际,奇妙地卷入异界纷争,被一双大手紧紧抓住。想要回家,却要复活古国才行。
  • 苦恋公式(单恋公寓之终回)

    苦恋公式(单恋公寓之终回)

    [花雨授权]我在等待,等待你带着微风来,吹紫我满树情爱;等待你带着阳光来,笑说我爱你如昔;等待你带着深秋来,告诉我爱情没有冬季。问一声冷不冷,我的双手为你加温;问一声思不思念,我在等待你的思念。
  • 王妃又又又去除妖了

    王妃又又又去除妖了

    遭人暗算,身怀绝技的除妖师穿越了!穿越之后,她本想安稳度日,周围却围绕着狂妄的战神王爷,不屑一顾的侍卫,虚伪带笑的第一公子,清冷淡漠的绝世神医。但这些人都有一个共同点,就是想她死。最初,凤焰掐着她的脖子,冷冷威胁,“安分一点,便让你多活几日。”之后,凤焰提刀架在她的脖颈,笑的邪魅,“王妃夜半出门与何人私会?”最后,凤焰动了真情,难以自拔,将她用力的拥入怀里,“从前我想杀了你,但现在哪怕是我粉身碎骨,也绝不让你受伤。”百水水微笑:滚开,别打扰我除妖。——(双C,1V1,美男多,有很多可爱的小动物)除妖王妃X狂妄战神王爷
  • 这个女人究竟是谁

    这个女人究竟是谁

    千家受冤,全家被贬,后被赶尽杀绝,杀人灭口,只是这杀人的与栽赃的并非一人,千府大小姐隐姓埋名,女扮男装,扮作太医,只为查明真相。只是这千梦似乎不简单,武功高强,而且好似还有另一个身份……在查找真相的同时,同样也在寻找生死未卜的哥哥,千梦。明明武功高强,在摄政王府却又不能表现出来,憋着难受,每日女扮男装,还怕被别人发现,提心吊胆。狗血剧情再次来袭?千梦与摄政王青梅竹马?露水情缘能否修成正果?“你会武功?而且还是个女的?”“……”“你竟然还是#####?”“嗯。”真实身份暴露,隐藏身份也终被揭开,身份暴露,气场全开。大杀四方。他是她生命中的意外。
  • X字

    X字

    周亚平是我们这个时代少有的伟大诗人之一。他的诗歌从上世纪八十年代开始,一直到今天,依然引领着我们时代最为“另类”的写作。作为曾经第三代的主将、中国语言诗派的创始人,他的诗歌性感,迷离,突然而又趣味万千。一句话,在周亚平那里,写诗是一种“开天辟地”、开端启新的语言能力,这样的能力正是我们这个吃喝拉撒睡的神经衰弱的世界所匮乏的,也是它所需要的。
  • 周末读点社会心理学

    周末读点社会心理学

    这是一本有关社会心理学的通俗读物,把现实生活中发生的故事与严肃规范的学术论述结合起来,如丟自行车与所有物自我,超女现象与同辈群体效应、剩男剩女与三分之一效应等,通过对社会现象、文娱热点、时事政治等的解读,将社会心理学的知识生活化、故事化、趣味化,使读者在轻松阅读的过程中了解有关社会心理学的著名理论,从而更好地指导自己的日常生活行为。
  • 女主霸倾天下

    女主霸倾天下

    当她穿越成她,步步为营,以一种崭新的姿态傲立于天地之间,剑指苍穹,睥睨一笑,天下为动,她创巅峰国度,只能让世人仰望惊叹,她真实的神秘身份更是让整个天下俯首膜拜,俘获无数俊男美女的心,从此她成为百姓心中的神,天下的希望和主宰,写下了盛世不朽的传奇。本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。
  • 嚣张三公主vs霸道三殿下

    嚣张三公主vs霸道三殿下

    她,冷若冰霜,她,蛮横暴躁,她,可爱俏皮。他,千年冰山,他,花花公子,他,温柔如水,当冰山遇见冰山,暴躁遇见花心,可爱遇见温柔,究竟会擦出怎样的火花?华丽归来的公主们会与霸道王子们展开怎样的“战役”敬请期待《嚣张三公主vs霸道三殿下》
  • 宋春归

    宋春归

    周南,一个普通职业者,无所谓宋粉,只是比较喜欢北宋那个繁华风流的、“有一切理由把世界上的其他地方仅仅看作蛮夷之邦”朝代,却在一次旅行中被穿越到了即将灭亡的辽国。耶律家大公主偏偏文静如处子,宋徽宗的小公主却桀骜如小马驹……经历种种曲折困苦后,终于扭转乾坤,在靖康耻的黑暗前夜,让北宋走向了另一条路,创造了一个更辉煌的巅峰盛世。
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!