26o 



MARK TWAIN'S SKETCHES. 



behind, and brushing the two wings forward ovei" his ears with nice exactness. In 

 the meantime the lather was drying on my face, and apparently eating into my 

 vitals. 



Now he began to shave, digging his fingers into my countenance to stretch the 

 skin and bundling and tumbling my head this way and that as convenience in 

 shaving demanded. As long as he was on the tough sides of my face I did not 

 suffer; but when he began to rake, and rip, and tug at my chin, the tears came. 

 He now made a handle of my nose, to assist him in shaving the corners of my 



upper lip, and it 

 circumstantial evi- 

 covered that a part 

 shop was to clean 

 lamps. I had often 

 indolent way 

 bers did that, or 

 boss. 



I was amusing my- 

 •where he would be 

 me this time, but 

 •me, and sliced me 

 chin before I had 

 up. He immedi- 

 hrs razor — he might 

 fore. I do not like 



was by this bit of 

 dence that I dis- 

 of his duties in the 

 the kerosene 

 wondered in an 

 whether the bar- 

 whether it was the 

 About this time 

 self trying to guess 

 most likely to cut 

 h e got ahead o f 

 on the end of the 

 got my mind made 

 ately sharpened 

 have done it* be- 

 a close shave, and 

 eo over me a 



would not let him 



second time. I tried to get him to put up his razor, dreading that he would make 

 for the side of my chin, my pet tender spot, a place which a razor cannot touch 

 twice without making trouble; but he said he only wanted to just smooth off one 

 little roughness, and in the same moment he slipped his razor along the forbidden 

 ground, and the dreaded pimple-signs of a close shave rose, up smarting and 

 answered to the call. Now he soaked his towel in bay rum, and' slapped it all over 

 my face nastily; slapped it over as if a human being ever yet washed his face in 



