The Man that corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain (adapted excerpt)
At eleven Edward arrived, and while his wife was saying "I am so glad you've come!" he was saying, "I am so tired-tired clear out: it is
dreadful to be poor, and have to make these dismal journeys at my time of life. Always at the grind, grind, grind, on a salary, and he sitting at
home in his slippers, rich and comfortable."
"I am so sorry for you, Edward, you know that; but be comforted; we have our livelihood; we have our good name="
"Yes, Mary, and that is everything. Don't mind my talk-it's just a moment's irritation and doesn't mean anything. Kiss me—there, it's all gone
now, and I am not complaining any more. What have you been getting? What's in the sack?"
Then his wife told him the great secret. It dazed him for a moment; then he said: "It weighs a hundred and sixty pounds?
Why, Mary. it's forty thousand dollars—think of it-a whole fortune! Not ten men in this village are worth that much. Give me the paper." He
skimmed through it and said: "Isn't it an adventure! Why, it's a romance; it's like the impossible things one reads about in books, and never
sees in life." He was well stirred up now, cheerful, even gleeful. He tapped his old wife on the cheek, and said humorously, "Why, we're rich,
Mary, rich; all we've got to do is to bury the money and burn the papers. If the gambler ever comes to inquire, we'll merely look coldly upon
him and say: "What is this nonsense you are talking? We have never heard of you and your sack of gold before;" and then he would look
foolish, and"