Don't you know, Mr. Wiseacre, that my case does
not fall within the province of philosophy? Had I been curtailed of
all my members, racked by the gout and gravel, deprived of liberty,
robbed of an only child, or visited with the death of a dear friend
like you, philosophy might have contributed to my consolation; but
will philosophy pay my debts, or free me from the burden of obligation
to a set of fellows whom I despise?--speak-pronounce-demonstrate,
or may Heaven close your mouth for ever!"
"These are the comfortable fruits of your misanthropy," answered
the youth; "your laudable scheme of detaching yourself from the
bonds of society, and of moving in a superior sphere of your own.
Had you not been so peculiarly sage, and intent upon laughing at
mankind, you could never have been disconcerted by such a pitiful
inconvenience; any friend would have accommodated you with the sum
in question. But now the world may retort the laugh; for you stand
upon such an agreeable footing with your acquaintance, that nothing
could please them better than an account of your having given
disappointment the slip, by the help of a noose properly applied.
Pages:
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237