The American Mechanic and Working-Man (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: XI. The Mechanic's Four Temptations In Hard Times. Of the city of Trenton there was a plumber, of quiet life and good habits, and his name was Simon Stark. We met in the market on a fine morning, and talked over the distresses of the times; for I sometimes go to the seats of justice and legislation, and always take pains to survey the public gatherings. I perceived that Simon was in trouble. He was out of employment, out of money, and out of heart. So sad was his visage, that I thought of him all day, and then dreamed of him at night; and my dream was this. I saw Simon sitting under the light of the new moon, at his back door, which looks into a small garden. The scent of roses and Bermuda grape vines filled the air. He clasped his hands and looked upward. Occasionally, the voice of his wife, hushing to sleep a half-famished child, caused him to groan. Simon was pondering onthe probable sale of his little place, and the beggary of his family. A heavy cloud passed over. A thin silvery haze veiled the surrounding shrubbery. An unaccustomed whispering sound was heard, and Si mon rubbed his eyes and looked up wistfully. From amidst the vapour, a figure dimly seen emerged into the space before the porch, as if about to speak. It resembled a haggard old man. He seated himself near Simon, who shuddered a little, for the visiter was lank and wretched in appearance, and his hollow eye shot out the glare of a viper. Hatred and anguish were blended into one penetrating expression. He trembled as he spoke, and I could now and then eatch a word, which seemed to be injurious to the character of various persons. Simon was much moved, and ever and anon clenched his fist, smote his thigh, and muttered, " True, true! all men are liars?all men are oppressors?all men are my enemies !..".