Hazard of New Fortunes, a — Volume 1 by William Dean Howells
page 105 of 115 (91%)
page 105 of 115 (91%)
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The old man turned very grave, and said, almost coldly, "What gountry hass a poor man got, Mr. Marge?" "Well, you ought to have a share in the one you helped to save for us rich men, Lindau," March returned, still humoring the joke. The old man smiled sadly, but made no answer as he sat down again. "Seems to be a little soured," said Fulkerson, as they went down the steps. He was one of those Americans whose habitual conception of life is unalloyed prosperity. When any experience or observation of his went counter to it he suffered--something like physical pain. He eagerly shrugged away the impression left upon his buoyancy by Lindau, and added to March's continued silence, "What did I tell you about meeting every man in New York that you ever knew before?" "I never expected to meat Lindau in the world again," said March, more to himself than to Fulkerson. "I had an impression that he had been killed in the war. I almost wish he had been." "Oh, hello, now!" cried Fulkerson. March laughed, but went on soberly: "He was a man predestined to adversity, though. When I first knew him out in Indianapolis he was starving along with a sick wife and a sick newspaper. It was before the Germans had come over to the Republicans generally, but Lindau was fighting the anti-slavery battle just as naturally at Indianapolis in 1858 as he fought behind the barricades at Berlin in 1848. And yet he was always such a gentle soul! And so generous! He taught me German for the |
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