Mark Twain's Way

The Eev. J. Hyatt Smith, says the Kansas City Times, relates the following story: When I was living with my brother in Buffalo, Mark Twain occupied a cottage across the street. We didn't see very much of him, but one morning as we were enjoying our cigars 011 the veranda after breakfnst we saw Mark come to his door, in bis dressing gown and slippers, and look over at us. He stood at his door and smoked for a minute as if makmg up his rnind about something and at last opened his gate and came lounging across the street. There was an unoccupied rocking chair on the veranda, and wheu my brother offered it to him he dropped into it with a sigh of relief. He smoked for a few moments and said: "Nice morning." "Yes, very pleasant." "Shouldn't wonder if we bad rain by and by." "Well, we coiüd stand a little." "This is a nice house you have here." "Yes, we rather like it." "IIow's your tsuaily?" "Quite well- aud yours?" "Oh, we're all cornfortable." There was anotherimpressivesilence, and finally Mark Twain crossed nis legs, blewa pufE of smoke into the air and in his lasy drawl remarked; "I suppose you are a bit surprised to see me here so early. Fact isl haven't been so neighborly perhaps as I ought to be. We must mend that state of things. But this morning I carne over because I thought you might be interested in knowiug that your roof is on fire. It struck me that it would be a good idea if" But at the mention of fire the wholefamily dusted up stairs, trailing language all the way up. When we had put the fire out and returned to the veranda, Mark wasn't there.