"The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories," published in 1906, is a collection of thirty comic short stories by the American humorist and writer Mark Twain. The stories contained the most successful plays he created throughout his career, from "Advice to Young Girls" in 1865 to the titular tale in 1904.

Welcome to the intriguing world of Mark Twain's "The 30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories", where wit intertwines with satire, offering readers a delightful glimpse into the complexities of human nature and society. Prepare to embark on a journey through a collection of short stories that showcase Twain's unparalleled storytelling prowess and keen observations of the human condition. Within these pages, you'll encounter a diverse array of characters, each with their own quirks and motivations, navigating the challenges and absurdities of life in 19th-century America. From the humorous misadventures of the bumbling protagonist in "The $30,000 Bequest" to the poignant reflections on race and identity in "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg," Twain's stories captivate readers with their wit, charm, and incisive social commentary. Themes of greed, deception, and the pursuit of wealth echo throughout the collection, inviting readers to reflect on the timeless moral dilemmas that continue to resonate in contemporary society. Through his vivid characterizations and sharp dialogue, Twain offers readers a window into the complexities of human nature, challenging conventional wisdom and exposing the follies of the human condition. Twain's stories are imbued with a distinctive blend of humor and poignancy, evoking laughter and introspection in equal measure. Whether he's skewering the pretensions of the upper class or highlighting the absurdities of small-town life, Twain's wit shines through, leaving readers both entertained and enlightened. Critically acclaimed for his wit, insight, and storytelling prowess, Mark Twain remains one of America's most beloved authors, and "The 30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories" showcases some of his finest work. With its timeless themes, engaging characters, and masterful storytelling, this collection is sure to delight readers of all ages and backgrounds. So don't miss your chance to experience the magic of Mark Twain. Let "The 30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories" whisk you away on a journey of laughter, introspection, and unforgettable entertainment. Grab your copy now and discover why Twain's enduring tales continue to captivate readers around the world.

Originally published: Berkeley, Calif; London: University of California Press, 1969.

The family consisted of four persons: Margaret Lester, widow, aged thirty six; Helen Lester, her daughter, aged sixteen; Mrs. LesterÕs maiden aunts, Hannah and Hester Gray, twins, aged sixty-seven. Waking and sleeping, the three women spent their days and night in adoring the young girl; in watching the movements of her sweet spirit in the mirror of her face; in refreshing their souls with the vision of her bloom and beauty; in listening to the music of her voice; in gratefully recognizing how rich and fair for them was the world with this presence in it; in shuddering to think how desolate it would be with this light gone out of it. By natureÑand insideÑthe aged aunts were utterly dear and lovable and good, but in the matter of morals and conduct their training had been so uncompromisingly strict that it had made them exteriorly austere, not to say stern. Their influence was effective in the house; so effective that the mother and the daughter conformed to its moral and religious requirements cheerfully, contentedly, happily, unquestionably. To do this was become second nature to them. And so in this peaceful heaven there were no clashings, no irritations, no fault-finding, no heart-burnings. In it a lie had no place. In it a lie was unthinkable. In it speech was restricted to absolute truth, iron-bound truth, implacable and uncompromising truth, let the resulting consequences be what they might. At last, one day, under stress of circumstances, the darling of the house sullied her lips with a lieÑand confessed it, with tears and self-upbraidings. There are not any words that can paint the consternation of the aunts. It was as if the sky had crumpled up and collapsed and the earth had tumbled to ruin with a crash. They sat side by side, white and stern, gazing speechless upon the culprit, who was on her knees before them with her face buried first in one lap and then the other, moaning and sobbing, and appealing for sympathy and forgiveness and getting no response, humbly kissing the hand of the one, then of the other, only to see it withdrawn as suffering defilement by those soiled lips.

For deft plotting, riotous inventiveness, unforgettable characters, and language that brilliantly captures the lively rhythms of American speech, no American writer comes close to Mark Twain. This sparkling anthology covers the entire span of Twain’s inimitable yarn-spinning, from his early broad comedy to the biting satire of his later years. Every one of his sixty stories is here: ranging from the frontier humor of “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” to the bitter vision of humankind in “The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg,” to the delightful hilarity of “Is He Living or Is He Dead?” Surging with Twain’s ebullient wit and penetrating insight into the follies of human nature, this volume is a vibrant summation of the career of–in the words of H. L. Mencken–“the father of our national literature.”