Mark Twain is considered by many the father of American fiction, and his novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is the genesis work that spawned this designation. Twain also wrote a considerable number of short stories, and in March 2009, Strand magazine (www.strandmag.com) published "The Undertaker's Tale" for the very first time.

Finding an unpublished short story by Twain (born Samuel Clemens in 1835) is akin to finding gold in your backyard.

Strand was granted first serial rights by Robert Miller, the publisher of HarperStudio, who will, in turn, be publishing "The Undertaker's Tale" in a new book edited by Robert Hirst titled "Who is Mark Twain?"

This previously unknown 3,000-word story is classic Twain, offering readers a satirical look at the funeral business. The down-on-his-luck protagonist is taken in by an undertaker's family, whose outlook on life turns sensibility on its head when the family runs into a streak of bad luck - people stop dying in their town. The story is replete with Twain's wry, dark humor, in this case focused on the lesser of two evils - the greedy money lender or the grim reaper.

"The Undertaker's Tale" provides robust early 19th- century characters challenged by fate and hardly tempered by morality. It is a glimpse into the mind of a brilliant Midwestern social commentator. We all benefit by having this story see the light of day.

Anthony Rainone is a freelance writer currently working on a novel. His latest short story will be published in the spring 2009 issue of Spinetingler magazine.