He asked about their home, their children, and was in every way the kindly, gentle-hearted man that his pictured face has shown him.  Then he gave them his final blessing and the audience closed.

We each again kissed the seal on his ring.  As Annie was about to kiss it he suddenly withdrew his hand and said, “And will you, a little Protestant, kiss the Pope’s ring?” As he said this, his face was all smiles, and mischief was clearly delineated upon it.  He immediately put back his hand and she kissed the ring.  We now withdrew, backing out and making three genuflexions as before.  Just as we reached the door he called to Dr. O’Reilly, “Now don’t praise me too much; tell the truth, tell the truth.”

CLX

A GREAT PUBLISHER AT HOME

Men are likely to be spoiled by prosperity, to be made arrogant, even harsh.  Success made Samuel Clemens merely elate, more kindly, more humanly generous.  Every day almost he wrote to Webster, suggesting some new book or venture, but always considerately, always deferring to suggestions from other points of view.  Once, when it seemed to him that matters were not going as well as usual, a visit from Webster showed him that it was because of his own continued absence from the business that he did not understand.  Whereupon he wrote: 

Dear Charley,—­Good—­it’s all good news.  Everything is on the pleasantest possible basis now, and is going to stay so.  I blame myself in not looking in on you oftener in the past—­that would have prevented all trouble.  I mean to stand to my duty better now.

At another time, realizing the press of responsibility, and that Webster was not entirely well, he sent a warning from Mrs. Clemens against overwork.  He added: 

    Your letter shows that you need such a warning.  So I warn you
    myself to look after that.  Overwork killed Mr. Langdon and it can
    kill you.

Clemens found his own cares greatly multiplied.  His connection with the firm was widely known, and many authors sent him their manuscripts or wrote him personal letters concerning them.  Furthermore, he was beset by all the cranks and beggars in Christendom.  His affairs became so numerous at length that he employed a business agent, F. G. Whitmore, to relieve him of a part of his burden.  Whitmore lived close by, and was a good billiard-player.  Almost anything from the morning mail served as an excuse to send for Whitmore.

Clemens was fond of affairs when they were going well; he liked the game of business, especially when it was pretentious and showily prosperous.  It is probable that he was never more satisfied with his share of fortune than just at this time.  Certainly his home life was never happier.  Katie Leary, for thirty years in the family service, has set down some impressions of that pleasant period.