Sketches New and Old


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But he softened when he looked at the accounts and saw that I had  
actually booked the unparalleled number of thirty-three new subscribers,  
and had the vegetables to show for it, cordwood, cabbage, beans, and  
unsalable turnips enough to run the family for two years!  
HOW THE AUTHOR WAS SOLD IN NEWARK--[Written about 1869.]  
It is seldom pleasant to tell on oneself, but some times it is a sort of  
relief to a man to make a confession. I wish to unburden my mind now,  
and yet I almost believe that I am moved to do it more because I long to  
bring censure upon another man than because I desire to pour balm upon my  
wounded heart. (I don't know what balm is, but I believe it is the  
correct expression to use in this connection--never having seen any  
balm.) You may remember that I lectured in Newark lately for the young  
gentlemen of the-----Society? I did at any rate. During the afternoon  
of that day I was talking with one of the young gentlemen just referred  
to, and he said he had an uncle who, from some cause or other, seemed to  
have grown permanently bereft of all emotion. And with tears in his  
eyes, this young man said, "Oh, if I could only see him laugh once more!  
Oh, if I could only see him weep!" I was touched. I could never  
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107 108 109 110 111

Quick Jump
1 101 201 302 402