The Path of Duty, and Other StoriesCaswell, Harriet S. (Harriet Sophia)
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The Path of Duty, and Other Stories
Caswell, Harriet S. (Harriet Sophia)
Country life -- Fiction; Family -- Fiction; Friendship -- Fiction; Pastoral fiction; Short stories
He was, of course, not aware of his sister's marriage, and he listened
with sorrow to the story of her bereavement and other misfortunes. "You
must now place a double value upon our family ring," said he, as he
replaced the lost treasure upon his sister's hand; "for it is this
diamond ring which has restored to each other the brother and sister who
otherwise might never have met again on earth. And now, both you and
your daughter must prepare for a voyage to dear old England. You need
have no anxiety for the future; I have enough for us all and you shall
want no more." Before leaving the City, accompanied by her brother, Mrs.
Harris visited the grave of her husband; and the generous brother
attended to the erection of a suitable tombstone, as the widow had
before been unable to meet the expenses of it. Passing through the Upper
Province they reached Montreal, whence they sailed for England. After a
prosperous voyage they found themselves amid the familiar scenes of
their childhood, where they still live in the enjoyment of as much
happiness as usually falls to the lot of mortals.
THE UNFORTUNATE MAN.
On a sultry afternoon in midsummer I was walking on a lonely
unfrequented road in the Township of S. My mind was busily occupied, and
I paid little attention to surrounding objects till a hollow, unnatural
voice addressed me, saying: "Look up my friend, and behold the
unfortunate man." I raised my eyes suddenly, and, verily, the appearance
of the being before me justified his self-bestowed appellation--the
unfortunate man. I will do my best to describe him, although I am
satisfied that my description will fall far short of the reality. He was
uncommonly tall, and one thing which added much to the oddity of his
appearance was the inequality of length in his legs, one being shorter
by several inches than the other, and, to make up for the deficiency, he
wore on the short leg a boot with a very high heel. He seemed to be past
middle age, his complexion was sallow and unhealthy, he was squint-eyed,
and his hair, which had once been of a reddish hue, was then a grizzly
gray. Taken all together he was a strange looking object, and I soon
perceived that his mind wandered. At first I felt inclined to hurry
onward as quickly as possible, but, as he seemed harmless and inclined
to talk to me, I lingered for a few moments to listen to him. "I do not
wonder," said he, "that you look upon me with pity, for it is a sad
thing for one to be crazy." Surprised to find him so sensible of his own
situation I said: "As you seem so well aware that you are crazy, perhaps
you can inform me what caused you to become so." "Oh yes," replied he,
"I can soon tell you that: first my father died, then my mother, and
soon after my only sister hung herself to the limb of a tree with a
skein of worsted yarn; and last, and worst of all, my wife, Dorcas Jane,
drowned herself in Otter Creek." Wondering if there was any truth in
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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