Of course Howells promptly replied that he would read the story,
adding: "You've no idea what I may ask you to do for me, some day.
I'm sorry that you can't do it for the Atlantic, but I
succumb. Perhaps you will do Boy No. 2 for us." Clemens,
conscience-stricken, meantime, hastily put the MS. out of reach
of temptation.

*****

To W. D. Howells, in Boston:

July 13, 1875

MY DEAR HOWELLS,--Just as soon as you consented I realized all the
atrocity of my request, and straightway blushed and weakened. I
telegraphed my theatrical agent to come here and carry off the MS and
copy it.

But I will gladly send it to you if you will do as follows: dramatize
it, if you perceive that you can, and take, for your remuneration, half
of the first $6000 which I receive for its representation on the stage.
You could alter the plot entirely, if you chose. I could help in the
work, most cheerfully, after you had arranged the plot. I have my eye
upon two young girls who can play "Tom" and "Huck." I believe a good
deal of a drama can be made of it. Come--can't you tackle this in the
odd hours of your vacation? or later, if you prefer?

I do wish you could come down once more before your holiday. I'd give
anything!

Yrs ever,
MARK.

Howells wrote that he had no time for the dramatization and
urged Clemens to undertake it himself. He was ready to read
the story, whenever it should arrive. Clemens did not
hurry, however, The publication of Tom Sawyer could wait.
He already had a book in press--the volume of Sketches New
and Old, which he had prepared for Bliss several years
before.

Sketches was issued that autumn, and Howells gave it a good
notice--possibly better than it deserved.

Considered among Mark Twain's books to-day, the collection
of sketches does not seem especially important. With the
exception of the frog story and the "True Story" most of
those included--might be spared. Clemens himself confessed
to Howells that He wished, when it was too late, that he had
destroyed a number of them. The book, however, was
distinguished in a special way: it contains Mark Twain's
first utterance in print on the subject of copyright, a
matter in which he never again lost interest. The absurdity