In 1847, Twain's father was elected clerk of the Surrogate Court. The family was happy, because this would raise them out of poverty. However, on his way home from being sworn in, Mr. Clemens was caught in a storm of rain and sleet. He contracted pleurisy and died.
Orion stayed in St. Louis for two more years, because he was earning wages as a journeyman and could send money home to support Mrs. Clemens and Twain's younger brother, Henry. As for Twain, he was removed from school as soon as his father died and became a printer's apprentice at Hannibal's newspaper, The Courier. In that capacity, he earned room, board, and.....
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