THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SHADOW. 39 



" I now hastened to quit the place, which 1 had no desire to visit 

 again ; and as I retired from the park 1 hegan filHng my pockets 

 with gold. I got on to the road and walked towards the town, on 

 approaching which I heard a voice crying after me, * Sir, listen ! 

 listen !' 



" I turned and looked behind me, when an old woman came run- 

 ning up, and, addressing me, said, * Sir, you have lost your shadow !' 

 * Mercy, good mother,' said I, and, throwing a piece of gold towards 

 her, I pursued my course. Having proceeded a little further, I 

 heard the sentinel say to his comrade, " Where has this gentleman 

 left his shadow ?' I hastened on, but had proceeded only a little 

 distance before a crowd of women, who were in consultation 

 at the comer of a street I was passing, cried out, ' Holy Mary ! 

 that poor man has lost his shadow ! ' My annoyances increased ; 

 and I resolved to avoid the side upon which the sun shone. At length I 

 arrived in a street in which it was impossible to avoid the sun's rays, 

 and unhappily for me, just at this moment a number of children 

 who were returning frdin school came up ; a wicked little fellow, 

 observing that I had no shadow, communicated it to his comrades, 

 who set up a tremendous shout. I tried to nm from them, when 

 they set at me with their whole force, pelted and hooted me, and left 

 me rolling in the street, covered with dirt and filth. Some humane 

 persons came up to the place where I lay, and, raising me up, con- 

 veyed me to a carriage. I was now alone, and I wept bitterly. 

 Having arrived at the inn, I threw down a piece of gold, which, the 

 servant took up and immediately conducted me into the best room 

 in the house. Being once more left alone, I began to turn over in 

 my mind the events of the last few hours. In my hand was the 

 purse— the price of my miseiy ; and with a rage that grew upon me, 

 I began to throw out its contents of gold. Thus did I throw on the 

 floor gold — gold — always gold, imtil it formed a large heap. The 

 brightness of the mettle spread out before me dazzled my eyesight, 

 and I began to comfort myself. At length I laid myself down upon 

 this bed of gold, and slept." 



( To be concluded an our next.) 



