Crusoe in New York, and other talesHale, Edward Everett
General
Crusoe in New York, and other tales
Hale, Edward Everett
New York (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Short stories, American; United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
having got that off his hands, on the fourth day he equipped himself
for the journey, and collected presents suitable to his brother's
dignity.
Having completed these preparations, he left the charge of the magazine
with his chief of staff, and set out for his visit to his brother. As
is the custom in the East, the caravan encamped a mile from the city to
make sure that nothing was forgotten. It occurred to the Samarcand
brother, after his evening meal, that it would be well to take with him
an early copy of the New-Year's number in advance to his brother, as
they were not yet delivered to the trade. He mounted his horse,
therefore, and rode back to the city, and to save himself from going to
the office, he stopped near the gates, at the house of one of his chief
contributors--a young lady of great promise, whose reputation had been
manufactured, indeed, by the "King of the Age"--to ask her, for the
"early copy" which had been sent to her because she had some verses in
it.
What did he see as he entered the house but that this false woman was
giving a sealed letter to a negro slave. He seized it, he tore it open,
and found that it was a copy of verses which she had written and
addressed to the "Fountain of Light," which was the rival magazine in
Samarcand. On beholding this, the world became black before his eyes.
He said to himself, "If this happens when I have not departed from the
city, what will not this vile woman do while I am sojourning with my
brother?" He then drew his cimeter and cut off her head, as she fell at
his knees for pardon. He took from her table the early copy of the
"King of the Age," gave orders for departure, and journeyed to the city
of Delhi.
As they approached Delhi, the "Friend of the City," or the editor of
that journal, came out to meet them, and welcomed his brother with the
utmost delight. He then ordered that the city should be decorated for
the occasion. But the mind of his brother was distracted by reflections
upon the conduct of his favorite contributor. Excessive grief took
possession of him, and his countenance became sallow and his frame
emaciated. His brother observed these symptoms of a mind ill at ease,
and asked him the cause. "O my brother," he replied, "I have an inward
wound"; but he explained not to him the cause. His host then proposed a
great press excursion on the Jumna, which he hoped might cheer his
brother's mind. But after all the preparations had been made, he was
destined to suffer disappointment, his brother being so ill that the
party proceeded without him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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