I have paid much attention to reading, and hope to
be able to give pleasure to the large numbers who will doubtless
honor the occasion with their presence. I have selected three
poems,--Poe's Raven, the Battle of Ivry, by Macaulay, and Marco
Bozarris, by Halleck. I shall be much pleased if my humble efforts
add _eclat_ to the occasion.
"Yours, very respectfully,
"FITZGERALD FLETCHER."
"There," said Fletcher, reading his letter through with satisfaction.
"I think that will do. It is high-toned and dignified, and shows
that I am highly cultured and refined. I will copy it off, and mail
it."
Fletcher saw his letter deposited in the post-office, and returned to
his room.
"I ought to practise reading these poems, so as to do it up
handsomely," he said. "I suppose I shall get a good notice in the
'Gazette.' If I do, I will buy a dozen papers, and send to my
friends. They will see that I am a person of consequence in
Centreville, even if I didn't get elected to any office in the high
and mighty Clionian Society."
I am sorry that I cannot reproduce the withering sarcasm which
Fletcher put into his tone in the last sentence.
When Demosthenes was practising oratory, he sought the sea-shore; but
Fitzgerald repaired instead to a piece of woods about half a mile
distant. It was rather an unfortunate selection, as will appear.
Pages:
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160