The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2Poe, Edgar Allan
General
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 2
Poe, Edgar Allan
American fiction -- 19th century; Fantasy fiction; Horror tales, American; Short stories
The main building was about twenty-four feet long and sixteen
broad—certainly not more. Its total height, from the ground to
the apex of the roof, could not have exceeded eighteen feet. To
the west end of this structure was attached one about a third
smaller in all its proportions:—the line of its front standing
back about two yards from that of the larger house, and the line
of its roof, of course, being considerably depressed below that
of the roof adjoining. At right angles to these buildings, and
from the rear of the main one—not exactly in the middle—extended
a third compartment, very small—being, in general, one-third less
than the western wing. The roofs of the two larger were very
steep—sweeping down from the ridge-beam with a long concave
curve, and extending at least four feet beyond the walls in
front, so as to form the roofs of two piazzas. These latter
roofs, of course, needed no support; but as they had the air of
needing it, slight and perfectly plain pillars were inserted at
the corners alone. The roof of the northern wing was merely an
extension of a portion of the main roof. Between the chief
building and western wing arose a very tall and rather slender
square chimney of hard Dutch bricks, alternately black and red:—a
slight cornice of projecting bricks at the top. Over the gables
the roofs also projected very much:—in the main building about
four feet to the east and two to the west. The principal door was
not exactly in the main division, being a little to the
east—while the two windows were to the west. These latter did not
extend to the floor, but were much longer and narrower than
usual—they had single shutters like doors—the panes were of
lozenge form, but quite large. The door itself had its upper half
of glass, also in lozenge panes—a movable shutter secured it at
night. The door to the west wing was in its gable, and quite
simple—a single window looked out to the south. There was no
external door to the north wing, and it also had only one window
to the east.
The blank wall of the eastern gable was relieved by stairs (with
a balustrade) running diagonally across it—the ascent being from
the south. Under cover of the widely projecting eave these steps
gave access to a door leading to the garret, or rather loft—for
it was lighted only by a single window to the north, and seemed
to have been intended as a store-room.
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