Ella Lincoln; Or, Western Prairie Life (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIX. "They see not the frightful dreams that crowd a bad man's pillow." "What can I pay thee for this noble usage But grateful praise, so heaven itself is paid. One thing must not be forgotten, --that call upon Allen's cousin, to whom J. owed but little good will, and much of my misery and poverty. He had avoided me altogether of late, going his own way, buying "town lots," wearing fine broadcloth, and a beaver so smooth that many a hapless fly slipped thereon, perilling life and limb. He walked very tall, that Jabez Banks, Esq., always stretching himself "the long way of the cloth," as I have heard housekeepers say, when, after shrinking, their cotton factory looked wofully short. He was a little man, with a little learning, a little head, (but wonderfully long, ) and a heart less than a grain of mustard seed, --who scrupled not to use any of the tricks of trade "during the week," and could read a sermon and pray according to rule, if the minister was not at church on Sunday. I walked into his office and found him alone. He partly rose, as if to ask me to be seated, then leaned back again, saying nothing. A weakness stole over me for a moment; I almost fainted, when I recollected that I was there to provoke still farther, one who had not scrupled to rob me of money, and then misrepresent me to the world. 20 (233) That weakness yielded to a stony will, and, after leaning for a few moments against a desk, I said: --"Mr. Banks, I am about to leave the State, for some months, or years, --One, only, knows how long; and I could not, in duty to myself and you, omit to come and speak to you a few parting, words." I then reminded him of all the past, of act after act of his of hypocrisy and roguery, and concluded my speech by calling him ungentlemanly, and a ...