Was Life on The Mississippi this good?

In Mark Twain's story, Life on The Mississippi, Twain talks about his and other boys ambitions to become a steamboat pilot. This story is actually a memior, which is a story told about previous memories in ones life, about how he worked as an apprentice and then eventually becomes a steamboat pilot. Twain states within the story, that becoming a steamboat pilot was every young boys dream, and that was the job of the time. Twain was still under his name Samuel Clemens, while under the apprenticeship of Horace Grixby. Eventually Twain becomes a steamboat pilot himself. He talks about how much fun he had and how it was everything he had wanted. When the American Civil War broke out, his time a pilot was brought to a halt because Union troops were using the steamboats to transport equipment up and down the Mississippi. Twain's pen name, comes from the word "Tawin", which is used as a word to let pilots know the water is safe for them to bring their boats through. Twain's last ride was from New Orleans to Saint Louis. After the war was over, Twain did infact return for more rides as a pilot. I like this story alot, because it shows the motivation to want to become something you love to do. It reminds me of my time as trying to become a volunteer firefighter while in high school. The thrill and excitment, and the knowledge that i could save someones life in a burning building was motivation enough for me to stick with it till the end. After i graduated, i went off to college to face my new endevor of joing the United States Military. While in college, i still return to my home town to volunteer.
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