Samuel Clemens was never celebrated for his patience; we may imagine that the disorder of the office tried his nerves.  He seems, on the whole, however, to have been rather happy in Keokuk.  There were plenty of young people there, and he was a favorite among them.  But he had grown dissatisfied, and when one day some weeks later there fell into His hands an account of the riches of the newly explored regions of the upper Amazon, he promptly decided to find his fortune at the headwaters of the great South-American river.  The second letter reports this momentous decision.  It was written to Henry Clemens, who was temporarily absent-probably in Hannibal.

To Henry Clemens: 

Keokuk, August 5th, ’56. 
My Dear brother,--.....  Ward and I held a long consultation, Sunday
morning, and the result was that we two have determined to start to
Brazil, if possible, in six weeks from now, in order to look carefully
into matters there and report to Dr.  Martin in time for him to follow on
the first of March.   We propose going via New York.   Now, between you and
I and the fence you must say nothing about this to Orion, for he thinks
that Ward is to go clear through alone, and that I am to stop at New York
or New Orleans until he reports.   But that don’t suit me.   My confidence
in human nature does not extend quite that far.   I won’t depend upon
Ward’s judgment, or anybody’s else—­I want to see with my own eyes, and
form my own opinion.   But you know what Orion is.   When he gets a notion
into his head, and more especially if it is an erroneous one, the Devil
can’t get it out again.   So I know better than to combat his arguments
long, but apparently yielded, inwardly determined to go clear through. 
Ma knows my determination, but even she counsels me to keep it from
Orion.   She says I can treat him as I did her when I started to St. Louis
and went to New York—­I can start to New York and go to South America! 
Although Orion talks grandly about furnishing me with fifty or a hundred
dollars in six weeks, I could not depend upon him for ten dollars, so I
have “feelers” out in several directions, and have already asked for a
hundred dollars from one source (keep it to yourself.) I will lay on my
oars for awhile, and see how the wind sets, when I may probably try to
get more.   Mrs. Creel is a great friend of mine, and has some influence
with Ma and Orion, though I reckon they would not acknowledge it.   I am
going up there tomorrow, to press her into my service.   I shall take care
that Ma and Orion are plentifully supplied with South American books. 
They have Herndon’s Report now.   Ward and the Dr. and myself will hold a
grand consultation tonight at the office.   We have agreed that no more
shall be admitted into our company.

I believe the Guards went down to Quincy today to escort our first
locomotive home. 
                         Write soon. 
                                   Your Brother,
                                                  Sam.