The Oak Shade, or, Records of a Village Literary Association

American literature -- 19th century

Here you may behold a poor victim of misfortune, and a melancholy
illustration of how much human nature is capable of enduring. From his
boyhood he has been forced to encounter the terrors of adversity, and
submit to the agonies of poverty and want. The thumps and cuffs, he
declares, originally intended for equal distribution amongst several
scores, through some sad mistake, have daily been heaped upon his
single head, nor could he dodge the most trifling bump. Unable to
counteract his evil fate, he eventually sought refuge against it by
adopting the life of the soldier. Thus flying into the face of his
destiny, with the odds all against him, he only aggravated it the more,
adding to his miseries and increasing his privations. He has figured
upon many a field of carnage, but fortune has ever refused to send some
stray ball to end his career. Abbas, the Persian king, to prevent the
indignities of his misfortunes from falling upon his wives, commanded
their heads to be cut off in case he lost the battle--certainly an
infallible preventative. Not being disposed to apply so rigorous a
remedy to obtain relief, that unhappy creature has continued to submit
to the fatalities he could not avoid, and perhaps there are few evils
in nature which he has not felt. Though he has won the reputation of
a brave soldier, it is the only thing he has ever gained from his
countrymen, save their ingratitude. He has been to the wars, and
returned to beg his bread. He has stood a faithful sentinel over his
country’s honor in times of danger, and in its peace and prosperity
he has hungered and thirsted, and no one pitied him. He has grappled
with the foe, and been victorious: he has fought against his fate, and
it conquered him; yet he is the same old patriot still. It is said
that the enjoyments of life always counterbalance its ills, but he can
present a tear for every pleasurable emotion he has ever experienced,
and a pang for every impulse of joy that has ever lighted up his soul.
There is, reflected Peter, a hardness of heart in the world which
sometimes seems directed against a single individual, making his
existence a fearful burthen and rendering even his hopes a terror to
himself.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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The Oak Shade, or, Records of a Village Literary Association

American literature -- 19th century

Here you may behold a poor victim of misfortune, and a melancholy
illustration of how much human nature is capable of enduring. From his
boyhood he has been forced to encounter the terrors of adversity, and
submit to the agonies of poverty and want. The thumps and cuffs, he
declares, originally intended for equal distribution amongst several
scores, through some sad mistake, have daily been heaped upon his
single head, nor could he dodge the most trifling bump. Unable to
counteract his evil fate, he eventually sought refuge against it by
adopting the life of the soldier. Thus flying into the face of his
destiny, with the odds all against him, he only aggravated it the more,
adding to his miseries and increasing his privations. He has figured
upon many a field of carnage, but fortune has ever refused to send some
stray ball to end his career. Abbas, the Persian king, to prevent the
indignities of his misfortunes from falling upon his wives, commanded
their heads to be cut off in case he lost the battle--certainly an
infallible preventative. Not being disposed to apply so rigorous a
remedy to obtain relief, that unhappy creature has continued to submit
to the fatalities he could not avoid, and perhaps there are few evils
in nature which he has not felt. Though he has won the reputation of
a brave soldier, it is the only thing he has ever gained from his
countrymen, save their ingratitude. He has been to the wars, and
returned to beg his bread. He has stood a faithful sentinel over his
country’s honor in times of danger, and in its peace and prosperity
he has hungered and thirsted, and no one pitied him. He has grappled
with the foe, and been victorious: he has fought against his fate, and
it conquered him; yet he is the same old patriot still. It is said
that the enjoyments of life always counterbalance its ills, but he can
present a tear for every pleasurable emotion he has ever experienced,
and a pang for every impulse of joy that has ever lighted up his soul.
There is, reflected Peter, a hardness of heart in the world which
sometimes seems directed against a single individual, making his
existence a fearful burthen and rendering even his hopes a terror to
himself.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Oak Shade, or, Records of a Village Literary Association

The Oak Shade, or, Records of a Village Literary Association

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