from Two Views of the River

In Two Views of the River, Mark Twain shows how, as a riverboat captain, he came to know the Mississippi River intimately. Think about his comment that once he had mastered the river, “I had lost something which could never be restored to me.” Write a letter to Twain in which you respond to this comment and to what he is suggesting about his loss of appreciation for the beauty of the river. Try to offer advice or consolation for his loss and describe the benefits, to him and to his readers, of what he has gained. Cite specific lines from the excerpt to support your opinions.