The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'TooleMaxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
General
The Fortunes of Hector O'Halloran, and His Man, Mark Antony O'Toole
Maxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
It chanced that a week before this sad anniversary, an English botanist
passed a country-house, where I was for the time residing, and, stopping
with me as a guest, he observed the gloom and depression of my manner.
Having delicately inquired the cause, and made himself master of all the
circumstances connected with the appalling visitation which I expected
in another week, he asked permission to remain. This was granted,--and,
directing his attention to the peculiar symptoms of my disease, he at
once pronounced it curable. This bold assertion startled my household,
who, for ten years, had witnessed the annual return of my insanity, and
always accompanied, as it was, with unabated violence. But he
seemed confident; and I felt a secret assurance that, through the
instrumentality of this man’s skill, Heaven’s mercy was about to
be extended to me, and that blest gift, reason, would be eventually
restored. I placed myself, and all upon my establishment, during the
approaching period of my mental aberration, under the absolute direction
of the stranger.
I was not deceived; and the result proved that I had calculated soundly
on the ability and experience of my unknown visitor. Dreading that it
might increase my excitement, the Chilleno doctors had inhibited the
visits of my child. The Englishman adopted a different course: Isidora
was sent for from the convent, and she ministered to a mind diseased
and the soft influence of filial love, like the melody of David’s harp,
effected a gentle cure, and soothed into tranquillity a spirit for so
many years perturbed.
By the stranger’s advice, I determined to quit the country, and return
to my native land. I disposed of my estates, transmitted my fortune
safely to England; and, with a dearer treasure far, my gentle Isidora,
sailed for the island-home of freedom, and landed on my native shores,
after having been a wanderer and alien for one-and-twenty years.
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