Mark Twain reflects on how his perspective of the Mississippi River changed over time. As a child, he admired the river's beauty but grew to see its dangers as he learned about its ability to kill, boil and endanger lives. While the red hue of the river once brightened his day, he became accustomed to it and the river's marvels ceased to amaze him as an adult. He realized that gaining experience diminished his childhood sense of wonder.