On top of this I was accused of employing toothless and incompetent old relatives to prepare the food for the foundling hospital when I was warden.

I was wavering--wavering.
And at last, as a due and fitting climax to the shameless persecution that party rancor had inflicted upon me, nine little toddling children, of all shades of color and degrees of raggedness, were taught to rush onto the platform at a public meeting, and clasp me around the legs and call me PA! I gave it up.

I hauled down my colors and surrendered.

I was not equal to the requirements of a Gubernatorial campaign in the state of New York, and so I sent in my withdrawal from the candidacy, and in bitterness of spirit signed it, "Truly yours, once a decent man, but now "MARK TWAIN, I.P., M.T., B.S., D.T., F.C., and L.E." A MYSTERIOUS VISIT The first notice that was taken of me when I "settled down" recently was by a gentleman who said he was an assessor, and connected with the U.S.
Internal Revenue Department.

I said I had never heard of his branch of business before, but I was very glad to see him all the same.