The Lucky Piece: A Tale of the North WoodsPaine, Albert Bigelow
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The Lucky Piece: A Tale of the North Woods
Paine, Albert Bigelow
Adirondack Mountains (N.Y.) -- Fiction; Love stories
It is my wish that such of my belongings as you care to preserve
should be yours. They are of little value, but perhaps the field
glass and the books may in future years recall the story in which
they have been a part. In a little chest you will find some other
trifles--a picture or two, some papers that were once valuable to
those living in the world of men, some old letters. All that is
there, all that is mine and all the affection that lingers in my
heart, are yours. Yet I must not forget the little girl who was
once your sister. If it chance that you meet her again, and if when
she knows my story she will care for any memento of this lonely
life, you may place some trifle in her hands.
It was my story that I had chiefly meant to set down for you, for
it is nearer to your own than you suppose. But now, only a few days
since, out of my heart I gave it to those who were here and who,
perhaps, ere this, have given you my message to come. A young man
and a woman they were, and their happiness together led me to speak
of old days and of a happiness that was mine. The girl's face
stirred me strangely, and I spoke to her fully, as I have long
wished, yet feared, to speak to you. You will show her this letter,
and she will repeat to you all the tale which I no longer have
strength to write. Then you will understand why I have been drawn
to you so strangely; why I have called you "my dear boy"; why I
would that I might call you "son."
There is no more--only, when you shall find me here asleep, make me
a bed in the corner of my garden, where the hollyhocks come each
year, and the squirrels frisk overhead, and the birds sing. Lay me
not too deeply away from it all, and cover me only with boughs and
the cool, gratifying earth which shall soothe away the fever. And
bring no stone to mark the place, but only breathe a little word of
prayer and leave me in the comfortable dark.
Neither Robin nor Frank spoke for a time after the reading of the
letter. Then faithfully and with a few words they carried out the
hermit's wishes. Tenderly and gently they bore him to the narrow
resting-place which they prepared for him, and when the task was
finished they stood above the spot for a little space with bowed heads.
After this they returned to the cabin and gathered up such articles of
Robin's inheritance as they would be able to carry down the
mountain--the books and field glass, which had been so much to him; the
gun above the mantel, a trout rod and a package of articles from the
little chest which they had brought to the door and opened. At the top
of the package was a small, cheap ferrotype picture, such as young
people are wont to have made at the traveling photographer's. It was of
a sweet-faced, merry-lipped girl, and Robin scanned it long and
thoughtfully.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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