The £1,000,000 bank-note, and other new storiesTwain, Mark
General
The £1,000,000 bank-note, and other new stories
Twain, Mark
American essays -- 19th century; American fiction -- 19th century; Humorous stories, American
Soon after the excitement of this tragical scene was over, and the
enlisted feeling for Amelia had grown more buoyant with Elfonzo and
Ambulinia, he determined to visit his retired home, and make the
necessary improvements to enjoy a better day; consequently he conveyed
the following lines to Ambulinia:
Go tell the world that hope is glowing,
Go bid the rocks their silence break,
Go tell the stars that love is glowing,
Then bid the hero his lover take.
In the region where scarcely the foot of man hath ever trod, where the
woodman hath not found his way, lies a blooming grove, seen only by the
sun when he mounts his lofty throne, visited only by the light of the
stars, to whom are entrusted the guardianship of earth, before the sun
sinks to rest in his rosy bed. High cliffs of rock surround the romantic
place, and in the small cavity of the rocky wall grows the daffodil
clear and pure; and as the wind blows along the enchanting little
mountain which surrounds the lonely spot, it nourishes the flowers with
the dewdrops of heaven. Here is the seat of Elfonzo; Darkness claims but
little victory over this dominion, and in vain does she spread out her
gloomy wings. Here the waters flow perpetually, and the trees lash their
tops together to bid the welcome visitor a happy muse. Elfonzo, during
his short stay in the country, had fully persuaded himself that it was
his duty to bring this solemn matter to an issue. A duty that he
individually owed, as a gentleman, to the parents of Ambulinia, a duty
in itself involving not only his own happiness and his own standing in
society, but one that called aloud the act of the parties to make it
perfect and complete. How he should communicate his intentions to get a
favourable reply, he was at a loss to know; he knew not whether to
address Squire Valeer in prose or in poetry, in a jocular or an
argumentative manner, or whether he should use moral suasion, legal
injunction, or seize and take by reprisal; if it was to do the latter,
he would have no difficulty in deciding in his own mind, but his
gentlemanly honour was at stake; so he concluded to address the
following letter to the father and mother of Ambulinia, as his address
in person he knew would only aggravate the old gentleman, and perhaps
his lady.
‘Cumming, Ga., January 22, 1844.
‘MR. AND MRS. VALEER,—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account