AT WORK ON "ROUGHING IT"
ation. Presently Mark Twain could stand it no longer. He threw down his pen, exclaiming:
"I knew it! I knew it! I've been writing nothing but rot. You have sat there all this time reading without a smile but I am not wholly to blame. I have been trying to write a funny book with dead people and sickness everywhere. Oh, Joe, I wish I could die myself!"
"Mark," said Goodman, "I was reading critically, not for amusement, and so far as I have read, and can judge, this is one of the best things you have ever written. I have found it perfectly absorbing. You are doing a great book!"
That was enough. Clemens knew that Goodman never spoke idly of such matters. The author of Roughing It was a changed man—full of enthusiasm, eager to go on. He offered to pay Goodman a salary to stay and furnish inspiration. Goodman declined the salary, but remained for several weeks, and during long walks which the two friends took over the hills gave advice, recalled good material, and was a great help and comfort. In May, Clemens wrote to Bliss that he had twelve hundred manuscript pages of the new book written and was turning out from thirty to sixty-five per day. He was in high spirits. The family health had improved once more prospects were bright. He even allowed Redpath to persuade him to lecture again during the coming season. Selling his share of the Express at a loss had left Mark Twain considerably in debt, and lecture profits would furnish the quickest means of payment.
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