The Mysterious Stranger Manuscripts (Literature) (68 page)

When little Satan first came he was dreadfully profane, but goodnatured, and would goodnaturedly thrash raftsmen, bullies, etc
without letting it be seen that it was by miracle-and at jugglery
shows he would go on the stage and not only make an omelet in a hat,
but go on and make ice cream in it out of pounded glass, and mincepies out of sand and sawdust, and so on. But after conversion he bore
brutal mistreatment without resentment, he tried to win the raftsmen
to Christ, he talked goody-goody sappy Sunday school talk to them
and was in all ways an unattractive person and suitable to a heaven of
the (Petersburg) average breed of X".

In the early days he takes Tom and I-luck down to stay over Sunday
in hell-gatekeeper doesn't recognise him in disguise and asks for
tickets-then is going to turn them out (it is raining) when LS
privately tells who he is and is obsequiously received.

They see papa Satan on his throne under the vast crimson dome
flaming with reflections from the ApleasureA Lake and they see the
limitless red halls, palatial, full of sufferers swimming ashore but can't
climb out-marble border too slippery. They help one or two out but
the police interfere. They wipe the tears of the unbaptised babies
roasting on the red hot floors-one is Tom's little niece that he so
grieved to lose-still, as she deserves this punishment he is able to
bear it (like Baxter looking over the balusters of heaven.)

Group A

These notes, in pencil, on a single sheet of mourning stationery, were
probably written after Mark Twain laid aside the "Chronicle" manuscript in October 1898, but before he began composition of "Schoolhouse Hill" in November.

A-I

Loafer slips hand in his pocket to steal money-is grabbed by a
harmless snake.

Animals are always infesting him.

He enters wounded tiger's cage & heals & pacifies it.

Being urged (it is a trick) he takes bare-back rider's place, & beats
him & the jugglers out of sight

A-2

Pocket-potato for rheumatism

10,000 religions-& you not mad

You-intellectual!

If you had the sanity of the rats & other animals you would need no
king

It is only madmen who need masters & looking after.

Group B

These notes, on an uncut sheet of Joynson Superfine paper, in black ink,
probably preceded the composition of "Schoolhouse Hill."

B-1

1

B-2

2

Group C

As were most of the working notes for "Schoolhouse Hill," this sheet
was written on the same paper and in the same ink as the manuscript. It
was interleaved between MS pp. 18 and 19 at 181.9-10 in the text, and
evidently was written as those pages were composed.

C-1

In school he must do all those books-(200) 30-in average of
(3) 5 minutes each-300 p. each-1 p. per second. Does the 30 books
in 2V hours.

Group D

This group consists of sixteen half-sheets of Joynson Superfine paper,
in faint black ink, with later additions and corrections in pencil which
have been rendered in boldface type. There is a break in the notes
between D-5 and D-6. Forty-four appears in the notes as "404" or "94"
through D-5, which is on the verso of a draft-letter to Henry Rogers
dated 17 November 1898. D-1 through D-5 were probably written before the composition of "Schoolhouse Hill" and D-6 through D-16 after
the first chapters were composed.

D-1

I

He is courteous to whores & niggers.

(Has been a week Ta monthJ, T2 day4 in Paris & knows French,
A Spanish Italian German Latin & Greek. &c A)

Learns English in 2 days.

He is 15. Pretty mature, though.

Smiles "our property" when he sees Injun Joe & Jimmy Finn.

Cheery & goodnatured, with an immortal's contempt for evanescent mortals, & can no more be angry with such, or insulted by them
than by the tumble-bug to which he compares them.

Wonders at their interest in life-not worth the trouble; & at their
childish ambitions to be circus clowns or kings or constables or
Congressmen.

And they have to work so hard with clumsy hands & minds &
their almost nonexistent memories, to acquire & keep knowledge or
an accomplishment of any kind-whereas

D-2

2

The cat & dog & mice X

he masters the principles of an art or a science in a few hours, then
in a few more he is perfect in it-piano, flute, skating, shooting,
A swimming, diving, n astronomy, mathematics, drawing, painting,
boxing, the bow (gauging the wind & distance by feet & inches).

Reads a book once & can never forget a detail of it, nor on what
page & (p) line any detail is.

Recites in school. Takes all prizes.

X Always doing miracles-sometimes unconsciously. Does Indian
jugglery-makes flowers & fruits spring up; makes clay birds &
animals & gives them life.

X Gives life to a child's dough chickens & cats.

People who try to strike him (schoolmarm) & roughs-can't.
Bricks, sticks & bullets don't (bar) get to him.

D-3

3

He is made of air X

X Walks through fire. Saves child-building falls in, he walks out.
Spins top.

Smells of brimstone at first.

X food.

Appears & vanishes n through bolted doors, n like nothing.

On Lovers' Leap has a witches Sabbath & Tom & Huck see myriad
devils &c

When he comes he knows nothing about men-has seen them in
hell only. Never been from home before. Has run away this time.

By & by falls in love with Annie Fleming the Pres. pastor's (girl)
child.

Can't understand prayer; "if you want a thing, have it."

He doesn't feel fire or pain, & can't comprehend how papa's prisoners or any one else can. Thinks it is all imagination.

Says men are moved by one impulse-selfishness-tries to prove
it. This talk is with Rev. Fleming.

X Finds papa in books & Bible

D-4

4

He is Admirable Crichton-by & by all but Tom & Huck jealous
& hostile. Conspire against him-he doesn't care.

Finally gets religion & stops doing miracles-allows himself to be
struck, abused & insulted-turns the other cheek.

Prays for papa. All has gone well till then. He is turned out of the
church for this.

X Is always transporting Tom & I to the ends of the earth in a
jiffy-to fetch things needed to get them out of difficulties.

Animals are (afraid) fond of him (& slink away when he comes.)
They all follow him. He can talk with them.

X

No one knows where he eats & sleeps but H & T-it is in Paris.
Papa has his chief agency there.

X

D-5

5

A Slaughterhouse Point A

(Arrives at school. Calls himself 404-gives no other name.
A Dresses well. A) (Pocket full of money)

X Always has a half dollar & $5 & no more-but it never fails; pays
his way; wants no change. Says his people are rich.

X Turns himself into birds, animals, fleas, &c. (A Sometimes electric
blue flames play about him n)

Takes to T & H at once, & they to him. Want to cross river, go
fishing; no boat; wants them to fly over; can't understand why they
can't; very well, he will fetch a boat,-disappears suddenly & comes
rowing back from over river.

Has no fear of crosses & holy names-says papa hasnt. Says his
papa has not been cheated by monks &c-a lot of Middle-Age lies.
A T & H go to hell on a visit. A He doesn't know [in margin]

Papa doesn't buy souls-can get plenty for nothing.

He is No. (404) 94 Prince of the vintage of a certain centurydoesn't know which one-no curiosity-hasn't inquired.

X

Soon picks up all languages.

D-6

6

44 joins the Cadets

Often wishes he was in hell.

Tells his secret in confidence to everybody in town-with an awful
threat-so each thinks he alone possesses it-& each tries to get
an advantage out of it.

Bessie Strong tries to convert him.

A (Barnum) wants to exhibit him

Ile must perform for a ch charity. Would it be right to use such
money.

D-7

7

Why has he come to the world?