Life on the Mississippi
Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain is a public-domain fiction work, free to read online in full. One of Project Gutenberg's most-downloaded titles. It is catalogued under Authors, American, 19th century, Biography. A full text excerpt is included below, with EPUB and Kindle editions.
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Read the opening of Life on the Mississippi
CHAPTER I. The Mississippi is Well worth Reading about.--It is Remarkable.--Instead of Widening towards its Mouth, it grows Narrower.--It Empties four hundred and six million Tons of Mud.--It was First Seen in 1542.--It is Older than some Pages in European History.--De Soto has the Pull.--Older than the Atlantic Coast.--Some Half-breeds chip in.--La Salle Thinks he will Take a Hand.
CHAPTER II. La Salle again Appears, and so does a Cat-fish.--Buffaloes also.--Some Indian Paintings are Seen on the Rocks.--“The Father of Waters “does not Flow into the Pacific.--More History and Indians. --Some Curious Performances--not Early English.--Natchez, or the Site of it, is Approached.
CHAPTER III. A little History.--Early Commerce.--Coal Fleets and Timber Rafts.--We start on a Voyage.--I seek Information.--Some Music.--The Trouble begins.--Tall Talk.--The Child of Calamity.--Ground and lofty Tumbling.--The Wash-up.--Business and Statistics.--Mysterious Band.--Thunder and Lightning.--The Captain speaks.--Allbright weeps.--The Mystery settled.--Chaff.--I am Discovered.--Some Art-work proposed.--I give an Account of Myself.--Released.
CHAPTER VI. Besieging the Pilot.--Taken along.--Spoiling a Nap.--Fishing for a Plantation.--“Points” on the River.--A Gorgeous Pilot-house.
CHAPTER VII. River Inspectors.--Cottonwoods and Plum Point.--Hat-Island Crossing.--Touch and Go.--It is a Go.--A Lightning Pilot
CHAPTER VIII. A Heavy-loaded Big Gun.--Sharp Sights in Darkness.--Abandoned to his Fate.--Scraping the Banks.--Learn him or Kill him.