table which had nothing on it but a mackerel and a pot
of mustard. He asked the landlord if this was all. The 15
landlord said:

"_All!_ Why, thunder and lightning, I should think
there was mackerel enough there for six."

"But I don't like mackerel."

"Oh--then help yourself to the mustard." 20

--_Roughing It._

1. How much of this selection is given over to a
description of actual travel inside a stagecoach?
To what is the remainder devoted?

2. Re-read only the description of the night's
traveling and decide which parts of it are most
humorous. Why are they funny?

3. Describe the driver. Make a sketch of him.

4. How much of the central paragraph, page 257, is
serious description? What parts of it are humorous?
Test your answer by reading the paragraph with the
humor omitted.

5. Much of Twain's humor depends on an occasional
single sentence or a startling word. Prove or
disprove this statement.

6. Report fully on Samuel L. Clemens's life. If
possible, read his _Huckleberry Finn_ and _Tom
Sawyer_.

THE CHAMELEON

BY JAMES MERRICK

Two travelers of conceited cast,
As o'er Arabia's wilds they passed,
And on their way, in friendly chat,
Now talked of this and then of that,
Discoursed awhile 'mongst other matter 5
Of the chameleon's form and nature.

"A stranger animal," cries one,
"Sure never lived beneath the sun;
A lizard's body, lean and long;
A fish's head; a serpent's tongue; 10
Its foot with triple claw disjoined;
And what a length of tail behind!
How slow its pace! And then its hue!--
Who ever saw so fine a blue?"

"Hold, there!" the other quick replies; 15
"'Tis _green_--I saw it with these eyes,
As late with open mouth it lay,
And warmed it in the sunny ray;
Stretched at its ease, the beast I viewed,
And saw it eat the air for food." 20

"I've seen it, sir, as well as you,
And must again affirm it blue.
At leisure I the beast surveyed,
Extended in the cooling shade."