MARK TWAIN

Clod's sake don\ stir~-I will pray—I will pray the Virgin
to do a mirade and save UN; she will hear me, oh, my God
she surely will." And Miaitfhtway he began to pray. The
Kn^lishmen stood quaking with fright, and wholly with-
out faith in the man's piaycr. But all at once the furious
snarling of the do^s ceased—at three steps distant—and
there was dead silence. After a moment my friend, who
could no longer enduie the awful suspense, turned—and
there was the miracle, sure enough: the gentleman dog
had mourned the lady dog and both had forgotten their
solemn duty in the ecstasy of a higher interest!

The strangers were saved, and they retired from that
place with thankful heaits. The guide was in a frenzy of
pious gratitude ami exultation, and praised and glorified
the Virgin without stint; and finally wound up with "But
you—you are Protestants; she would not have done it
for you; she did it for me—only me—praised be she for
evermore! and I will hang a picture of it in the church
and it shall be another proof that her loving care is still
with her children who humbly believe and adore."

By the time the dogs got unattached the men were five
rniies from there,

Sunday, May 22, 1892. Tried to make the Johnsons,
Browns, Sarah Orne Jcwett, Mrs. James T. Field, and
Mrs. Washington, understand (with Clara's help) the old
pur/Je of Whiimore taking me around the loop in his
buggy. Of course they all laughed and laughed, at my
stupidity at first, but it was a puzsdc before they got done
with it.

It was a problem that from time to time
pur/Jed him all his life. The driveway in Hart-
ford led past the house to a loop. Driving in one
day with F. G. Whitmore, Clemens said: "Whit-
more, go around to the left when we reach the
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