3d 



THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SHADOW. 



Hbre is a lamentable history '.—the history of a man who had 

 the misery to sell his shadow ! Reader, do not smile ; you may not, 

 perhaps, imagine that a shadow can be anything but a shadow, and 

 that it matters not much to trace an outline on the road as we walk 

 in the sun. Very well ; there are people in the world at the present 

 day, perhaps, so ill advised, that they do not hesitate to deny the 

 utility of the shadow, and imagine it signifies nothing in the con- 

 formation of their nature, and are ready to believe they should lose 

 nothing by getting rid of it. Alas! this is a great error, as the 

 history of Peter Schlemiht will shew. Our limits will not allow us to 

 go into his remarkable adventures at length, we therefore confine our- 

 selves to the most striking facts, which our hero shall relate for himself. 



" I arrived after a very dangerous voyage at the port of •»***. 

 After some delay I landed, and, taking my luggage on my shoulder, 

 advanced through the crowd to the first hotel that attracted my 

 eye. I requested to be shewn into a chamber ; and a servant whom 

 I addressed conducted me unto a gaiTet. I immediately inquired 

 for the residence of Mr. Thomas Johns. ' Out of the North-gate,' 

 he replied ; ' the first house in the country to the right— a large new 

 building, with red and white marble, and a great number of colon- 

 nades in the front.' 



" As it was yet early in the day, I opened my portmanteau and 

 took out my best surtout, pantaloons, and waistcoat, with my lettei*s of 

 introduction, and directed my steps towards the house of the man on 

 whom I reposed my modest hopes. After having traversed a long 

 street, I saw the colonnades of red marble, sunounded by trees ; and 

 having wiped the dust from my feet with my handlcerchief, and 

 arranged my cravat, I pulled the bell and commended myself to 

 providence. The door opened ; but before I was allowed to proceed 

 further, I wa^ obliged to submit to sundry interrogations as to my 

 business, &c. At last the porter, having satisfied himself on these 

 points, announced me, and I had the honour of being introduced to 

 Mr. Johns, who was walking in the park with a party of friends. He 

 received me as the rich generally receive those who are likely to 

 require their assistance, and turned himself to the side where I was 



