SARSAR The very name of the place was sinister Who does not
remember De Quincey's "Sarsar wind of desolation," and the chill
shudder that quivered through the soul as the harsh adjective came
blowing like a discord into the music of that incomparable writing?
Not a misgiving, however, crossed my heart when, shortly before
Christmas, my father asked me if I thought myself possessed of the
qualifications necessary for collecting a bad debt. "The business
of collecting, father," said I, with what malicious friends called
my "prize-poem manner," "is odious in some of its features to a man
of spirit; but it may bring into play some of the finest faculties
of the human mind." "And body," added my father, in a quiet sort of
way. "If courage is needed," said I, laughing, "I am the son of my
State-the State that does not know how to surrender As for tact,
civility, address, urbanity, and downright stubbornness, these
desirable qualities are surely mine by right of inheritance."
"Well, well," said my father, meditatively, "it is a pretty rough
place, Sarsar is. The debt is one thousand dollars; and if you get
this sum, or any part of it, I don't mind saying it is yours for a
Christmas-box." For many reasons these were delightful words.
First, while I fully intended that my life should teem with good
things, at present it was as bare and empty as a sun-dried skull.
My father, with the best intentions in the world, was so
indifferent to the doctrines of Malthus as to become the parent of
a perfect brood of young ones, each of whom had to stand on his own
legs as soon as they were strong enough. I was at the beginning of
my career, and made shift to get on; but such a sugar-plum as a
thousand dollars had never dropped into my mouth. As befitted my
slim purse, I was madly, unutterably in love-in love with Angie
Bell, the prettiest girl, I would swear, among a million picked
beauties. With the thousand dollars fairly mine, I should be able
to offer her those delicate attentions man delights to lavish on
the woman he adores-buggy drives and bonbons, new music, books, and
bouquets. Thus I should weave myself, as it were, into her life,
keep her little heart in a perpetual simmer of kindly feeling, and
dispose her to look tenderly on my encroaching passion, nor resist
when its tide should sweep her from her moorings into my arms.
Unless-reflected I-it might be better to trust to winning her
solely on my merits, and, the betrothal an accomplished fact, spend
all the sum in the purchase of a troth gift in some degree worthy
of her inspiring beauty.
General
Imprint: |
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
September 2012 |
First published: |
September 2012 |
Authors: |
Sherwood Bonner
|
Dimensions: |
229 x 152 x 11mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback - Trade
|
Pages: |
206 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-4792-7875-6 |
Categories: |
Books >
Fiction >
Genre fiction >
Historical fiction
Promotions
|
LSN: |
1-4792-7875-0 |
Barcode: |
9781479278756 |
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