Types of Prose Narratives: A Text-Book for the Story WriterFansler, Harriott Ely
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Types of Prose Narratives: A Text-Book for the Story Writer
Fansler, Harriott Ely
English prose literature; Storytelling
And so, at last, I was really admitted, invited into the little
interior--that little interior which had piqued my curiosity for so
long a time. Yes, I was admitted at last, and now had a chance to look
about, and to study the general appearance of the occupant as he moved
over for me to sit beside him on the roomy, luxurious seat. What a
curious personality! He was a tall, raw-boned man of strong character.
His soft, gray beard and hair made a marked contrast to the dark
surroundings. Now I understood the shadow which I had seen thrown on
the window for a few seconds. He wore a tam-o'-shanter cap, and beneath
it, to protect his eyes from the lamp-light, a large visor, or shade,
which threw his entire face into deep shadow, giving him the look of
a painting by an old master. He had on a loose coat of some rough
material.
Surely the interior of no conveyance could be more interesting than
this. In the front, just back of the driver, were two square windows
with sliding wooden shutters, and between the two was a little square
mirror. Above these was a rod, from which hung a dark-green cloth
curtain which could be drawn at will. Underneath was a chest, or
cabinet, of shallow drawers filling the entire width of the carriage,
with small brass rings by which to pull them out. On top of this
cabinet stood several clear glass jars half filled with pure water.
There were two or three oil-lamps with large shades hung in brackets
with sockets like steamer-lamps, only one of which was lighted.
Underneath the seat was a locker. On the floor of the conveyance, along
its four sides, were oblong bars of iron, and in the center was a warm
fur rug. One side only of the carriage opened. On the side opposite the
door was a rack reaching from the window to the floor, in which stood
six or eight light but strongly made frames, over which was stretched
the thinnest parchment-like paper. The top of the vehicle was tufted
and padded. The prevailing color was dark green. In shape it was
somewhat longer and broader than the usual carriage. There was a small
revolving circular ventilator in front, over the mirror, which could be
opened or closed at will, and which could also be used by the occupant
for conversing with the driver.
The man arose, and, opening the ventilator, told the coachman to
drive on. Meanwhile I enjoyed the wonderful effect of the little
interior--its rich gloom, the strong light from the shaded lamp which
was thrown over the floor, the bright electric light gleaming through
the falling snow into the window on my left.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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