The Death of Jean

The death of Mark Twain's daughter, Jean Clemens, occurred early in the morning of December 24, 1909. A few hours later, Twain was writing steadily. "I am setting it down," he said, "everything. It is a relief to me to write it. It furnishes me an excuse for thinking." Four hours later he said, "I have finished it... some day - at the proper time - it can end my autobiography. It is the final chapter." Four months later -almost to the day - (April 21st) he was with Jean.