FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25  
26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   >>   >|  
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Urban Sketches, by Bret Harte This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Urban Sketches Author: Bret Harte Release Date: May 21, 2006 [EBook #2598] Language: English Character set encoding: ASCII *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK URBAN SKETCHES *** Produced by Donald Lainson URBAN SKETCHES by Bret Harte CONTENTS A VENERABLE IMPOSTOR FROM A BALCONY MELONS SURPRISING ADVENTURES OF MASTER CHARLES SUMMERTON SIDEWALKINGS A BOY'S DOG CHARITABLE REMINISCENCES "SEEING THE STEAMER OFF" NEIGHBORHOODS I HAVE MOVED FROM MY SUBURBAN RESIDENCE ON A VULGAR LITTLE BOY WAITING FOR THE SHIP URBAN SKETCHES A VENERABLE IMPOSTOR. As I glance across my table, I am somewhat distracted by the spectacle of a venerable head whose crown occasionally appears beyond, at about its level. The apparition of a very small hand--whose fingers are bunchy and have the appearance of being slightly webbed--which is frequently lifted above the table in a vain and impotent attempt to reach the inkstand, always affects me as a novelty at each recurrence of the phenomenon. Yet both the venerable head and bunchy fingers belong to an individual with whom I am familiar, and to whom, for certain reasons hereafter described, I choose to apply the epithet written above this article. His advent in the family was attended with peculiar circumstances. He was received with some concern--the number of retainers having been increased by one in honor of his arrival. He appeared to be weary,--his pretence was that he had come from a long journey,--so that for days, weeks, and even months, he did not leave his bed except when he was carried. But it was remarkable that his appetite was invariably regular and healthy, and that his meals, which he required should be brought to him, were seldom rejected. During this time he had little conversation with the family, his knowledge of our vernacular being limited, but occasionally spoke to himself in his own language,--a foreign tongue. The difficulties attending this eccentricity were obviated by the young woman who had from the first taken him under her protection,--being, like the
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25  
26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

SKETCHES

 

family

 

venerable

 

occasionally

 
IMPOSTOR
 

VENERABLE

 

bunchy

 

fingers

 

Gutenberg

 

Project


Sketches

 

recurrence

 

phenomenon

 
concern
 
retainers
 
number
 

appeared

 

increased

 

arrival

 

choose


reasons

 

advent

 

epithet

 
written
 

article

 

attended

 
peculiar
 
received
 

belong

 
individual

circumstances
 

familiar

 
language
 

limited

 
vernacular
 

conversation

 

knowledge

 
foreign
 

tongue

 

protection


attending

 
difficulties
 

eccentricity

 

obviated

 
During
 

rejected

 

months

 

journey

 
novelty
 

required