seraamenrespexi

liberas——virgil

aclerkiwasinlondongay——

okeefe

ifperadvenure,reader,ihasbeenhyloowasehegoldenyearsofhylife——hyshiningyouh——inheirksomeconfinemenofanoffice;ohavehyprisondaysprolongedhroughmiddleagedownodecrepiudeandsilverhairs,wihouhopeofreleaseorrespie;ohavelivedoforgehaherearesuchhingsasholidays,ororememberhembuasheprerogaivesofchildhood;hen,andhenonly,willyoubeableoappreciaemydeliverance

iisnowsixandhiryyearssinceiookmyseaahedeskinmincingnemencholywasheransiionafoureenfromheabundanpyime,andhefrequenlyinerveningvacaionsofschooldays,oheeigh,nine,andsomeimesenhoursadayaendanceaacouninghousebuimepariallyreconcilesusoanyhingigraduallybecameconen——doggedlyconened,aswildanimalsincages

iisrueihadmysundaysomyself;busundays,admirableasheinsiuionofhemisforpurposesofworship,areforhaveryreasonheveryworsadapedfordaysofunbendingandrecreaioninparicur,hereisagloomformeaendanuponaciysunday,aweighinheairimisshecheerfulcriesoflondon,hemusic,andhebaldsingers——hebuzzandsirringmurmurofhesreeshoseeernalbellsdepressmeheclosedshopsrepelmeprins,picures,allheglieringandendlesssuccessionofknacksandgewgaws,andosenaiouslydispyedwaresofradesmen,whichmakeaweekdaysaunerhroughhelessbusyparsofhemeropolissodelighful——areshuounobooksallsdeliciouslyoidleover——nobusyfacesorecreaeheidlemanwhoconempeshemeverpassingby——heveryfaceofbusinessacharmbyconrasohisemporaryrexaionfrominohingobeseenbuunhappycounenances——orhalfhappyabes——ofemancipaedprenicesandlileradesfolks,wihhereandhereaservanmaidhahasgoleaveogoou,who,svingallheweek,wihhehabihaslosalmoshecapaciyofenjoyingafreehour;andlivelilyexpressinghehollownessofadayspleasuringheverysrollersinhefieldsonhadaylookanyhingbuforable

bubesidessundaysihadadayaeaser,andadayachrismas,wihafullweekinhesummerogoandairmyselfinmynaivefieldsofherfordshirehisswasagreaindulgence;andheprospecofisrecurrence,ibelieve,alonekepmeuphroughheyear,andmademyduranceolerablebuwhenheweekcameround,didheglieringphanomofhedisancekeepouchwihme?orraherwasinoaseriesofsevenuneasydays,speninreslesspursuiofpleasure,andawearisomeanxieyofindouhowomakehemosofhem?wherewashequie,wherehepromisedres?beforeihadaaseofi,iwasvanishediwasahedeskagain,couninguponhefifyoediousweekshamusinervenebeforesuchanohersnachwouldesillheprospecofisinghrewsomehingofanilluminaionuponhedarkersideofmycapiviywihoui,asihavesaid,icouldscarcelyhavesusainedmyhraldom

independenlyofherigoursofaendance,ihaveeverbeenhaunedwihasense(perhapsamerecaprice)ofincapaciyforbusinesshis,duringmyeryears,hadincreasedosuchadegree,haiwasvisibleinhelinesofmycounenancemyhealhandmygoodspirisfggedihadperpeuallyadreadofsomecrisis,owhichishouldbefoundunequalbesidesmydaylighserviude,iservedoveragainallnighinmysleep,andwouldawakewiherrorsofimaginaryfalseenries,errorsinmyaccouns,andhelikeiwasfifyyearsofage,andnoprospecofemancipaionpresenediselfihadgrownomydesk,asiwere;andhewoodhadeneredinomysoul

myfellowsinheofficewouldsomeimesrallymeuponheroublelegibleinmycounenance;buididnoknowhaihadraisedhesuspicionsofanyofmyemployers,when,onhe5hofsmonh,adayeveroberememberedbyme,l——,hejuniorparnerinhefirm,callingmeononeside,direclyaxedmewihmybadlooks,andfranklyinquiredhecauseofhemsoaxed,ihoneslymadeconfessionofmyinfirmiy,andaddedhaiwasafraidishouldevenuallybeobligedoresignhisservicehespokesomewordsofcourseohearenme,andherehemaerresedawholeweekiremainedbouringunderheimpressionhaihadacedimprudenlyinmydisclosurehaihadfoolishlygivenahandleagainsmyself,andhadbeenanicipaingmyowndismissalaweekpassedinhisma

er,hemosanxiousone,iverilybelieve,inmywholelife,whenonheeveningofhe12hofapril,jusasiwasabouquiingmydeskogohome(imighbeaboueighoclock)ireceivedanawfulsummonsoaendhepresenceofhewholeassembledfirminheformidablebackparlourihough,nowmyimeissurelye,ihavedoneformyself,iamgoingoheoldhaheyhavenolongeroccasionformel——icouldsee,smiledaheerroriwasin,whichwasalilereliefome,——whenomyuerasonishmenb——,heeldesparner,beganaformalharangueomeonhelenghofmyservices,myverymerioriousconducduringhewholeofheime(hedeuce,houghi,howdidhefindouha?iproesineverhadheconfidenceohinkasmuch)hewenonodescanonheexpediencyofreiringaacerainimeoflife(howmyhearpaned!)andaskingmeafewquesionsasoheamounofmyownpropery,ofwhichihavealile,endedwihaproposal,owhichhishreeparnersnoddedagraveassen,haishouldaccepfromhehouse,whichihadservedsowell,apensionforlifeoheamounofwohirdsofmyaccusomedsary——amagnificenoffer!idonoknowwhaiansweredbeweensurpriseandgraiude,buiwasundersoodhaiaccepedheirproposal,andiwasoldhaiwasfreefromhahouroleaveheirserviceisammeredouabow,andajusenminuesafereighiwenhome——foreverhisnoble——benefigraiudeforbidsmeoconcealheirnames——ioweohekindnessofhemosmunificenfirminheworld——hehouseofboldero,merryweaher,bosanque,andcy

esoperpeua!

forhefirsdayorwoifelsu

ed,overwhelmedicouldonlyapprehendmyfeliciy;iwasooconfusedoaseisincerelyiwanderedabou,hinkingiwashappy,andknowinghaiwasnoiwasinhecondiionofaprisonerinheoldbasile,suddenlylelooseaferaforyyearsconfinemenicouldscarcerusmyselfwihmyselfiwaslikepassingouofimeinoeerniy——foriisasorofeerniyforamanohavehisimeallohimselfiseemedomehaihadmoreimeonmyhandshanicouldevermanagefromapoorman,poorinime,iwassuddenlylifedupinoavasrevenue;icouldseenoendofmypossessions;iwanedsomeseward,orjudiciousbailiff,omanagemyesaesinimeformeandherelemecauionpersonsgrownoldinacivebusiness,nolighly,norwihouweighingheirownresources,oforegoheircusomaryemploymenalonce,forheremaybedangeriniifeelibymyself,buiknowhamyresourcesaresufficien;andnowhahosefirsgiddyrapureshavesubsided,ihaveaquiehomefeelingofheblessednessofmycondiioniami

ohurryhavingallholidays,iamashoughihadnoneifimehungheavyuponme,icouldwalkiaway;buidonowalkalldaylong,asiusedodoinhoseoldransienholidays,hirymilesaday,omakehemosofhemifimewereroublesome,icouldreadiaway,buidonoreadinhaviolenmeasure,wihwhich,havingnoimemyownbucandlelighime,iusedowearyoumyheadandeyesighinbygonewinersiwalk,readorscribble(asnow)juswhenhefiseizesmeinolongerhunaferpleasure;ileieomeiamlikeheman——

hasborn,andhashisyearseohim,

insomegreendesar

”years,”youwillsay!”whaishissupera

uaedsimpleoncalcuingupon?hehasalreadyoldus,heispasfify”

ihaveindeedlivednominallyfifyyears,budeducouofhemhehourswhichihavelivedooherpeople,andnoomyself,andyouwillfindmesilyoungfellowforhaisheonlyrueime,whichamancanproperlycallhisown,hawhichhehasallohimself;heres,houghinsomesensehemaybesaidolivei,isoherpeoplesime,nohisheremnanofmypoordays,longorshor,isaleasmulipliedformehreefoldmye

exyears,ifisrechsofar,willbeaslongasanyprecedinghiryisafairruleofhreesum

amonghesrangefanasieswhichbesemeahemencemenofmyfreedom,andofwhichallracesarenoyegone,onewas,haavasracofimehadinervenedsinceiquiedhecouninghouseicouldnoconceiveofiasanaffairofyeserdayheparners,andheclerks,wihwhomihadforsomanyyears,andforsomanyhoursineachdayofheyear,beencloselyassociaed——beingsuddenlyremovedfromhem——heyseemedasdeadomehereisafinepassage,whichmayserveoillusraehisfancy,inaragedybysirroberhoward,speakingofafriendsdeah:——

wasbujusnowhewenaway;

ihavenosincehadimeoshedaear;

andyehedisancedoeshesameappear

asifhehadbeenahousandyearsfromme

imeakesnomeasureierniy

odissipaehisawkwardfeeling,ihavebeenfainogoamonghemonceorwicesince;ovisimyolddeskfellows——mycobrehrenofhequill——haihadlefbelowinhesaemiliannoallhekindnesswihwhichheyreceivedmecouldquieresoreomehapleasanfamiliariy,whichihadhereoforeenjoyedamonghemwecrackedsomeofouroldjokes,bumehoughheywenoffbufainlymyolddesk;hepeghereihungmyha,wereappropriaedoanoheriknewimusbe,buicouldnoakeikindlyd——lakeme,ificouldnofeelsomeremorse——beas,ifihadno,——aquiingmyoldpeers,hefaihfulparnersofmyoilsforsixandhiryyears,hasmoohedformewihheirjokesandconundrumsheruggednessofmyprofessionalroadhadibeensoruggedhenaferall?orwasiacowardsimply?well,iisooeorepen;andialsoknow,hahesesuggesionsareamonfalcyofhemindonsuchoccasionsbumyhearsmoemeihadviolenlybrokenhebandsbewixusiwasaleasnocoureousishallbesomeimebeforeigequiereconciledoheseparaionfarewell,oldcronies,yenoforlong,foragainandagainiwilleamongye,ifishallhaveyourleavefarewellch——,dry,sarcasic,andfriendly!do——,mild,slowomove,andgenlemanly!pl——,officiousodo,andovoluneer,goodservices!——andhou,houdrearypile,fimansionforagreshamorawhiingonofold,saelyhouseofmerchans;wihhybyrinhinepassages,andlighexcluding,penupoffices,wherecandlesforonehalfheyearsuppliedhepceofhesunsligh;unhealhyconribuoromyweal,sernfosererofmyliving,farewell!inheeremain,andnoinheobscurecollecionofsomewanderingbookseller,my”works!”herelehemres,asidofrommybours,piledonhymassyshelves,moremssinfoliohaneveraquinaslef,andfulsuseful!mymanleibequeahamongye

afornighhaspassedsincehedaeofmyfirsmunicaionahaperiodiwasapproachingoranquilliy,buhadnoreachediiboasedofacalmindeed,buiwasparaiveonlysomehingofhefirsfluerwaslef;anunselingsenseofnovely;hedazzleoweakeyesofunaccusomedlighimissedmyoldchains,forsooh,asifheyhadbeensomenecessaryparofmyappareliwasapoorcarhusian,fromsriccellurdisciplinesuddenlybysomerevoluionreurneduponheworldiamnowasifihadneverbeenoherhanmyownmaseriisnauralomeogowhereiplease,odowhaipleaseifindmyselfaelevenoclockinhedayinbondsree,andiseemsomehaihavebeensauneringhereahaveryhourforyearspasidigressinosoho,oexploreabooksallmehinksihavebeenhiryyearsacollecorhereisnohingsrangenornewiniifindmyselfbeforeafinepicureinamorningwasieveroherwise?whaisbeeoffishsreehill?whereisfenchurchsree?sonesofoldmincingne,whichihavewornwihmydailypilgrimageforsixandhiryyears,ohefoosepsofwhaoilwornclerkareyoureversingflinsnowvocal?iindenhegayerfgsofpallmalliischangeime,andiamsrangelyamongheelginmarblesiwasnohyperbolewhenivenuredoparehechangeinmycondiionoapassinginoanoherworldimesandssillinama

eromeihavelosalldisincionofseasonidonoknowhedayofheweek,orofhemonheachdayusedobeindividuallyfelbymeinisreferenceoheforeignposdays;inisdisancefrom,orpropinquiyo,henexsundayihadmywednesdayfeelings,mysaurdaynighssensaionshegeniusofeachdaywasuponmedisinclyduringhewholeofi,affecingmyappeie,spiris,&chephanomofhenexday,wihhedrearyfiveofollow,saeasaloaduponmypoorsabbahrecreaionswhacharmhaswashedhaehiopwhie?whaisgoneofbckmonday?alldaysarehesamesundayiself——haunforunaefailureofaholydayasiooofenproved,whawihmysenseofisfugiiveness,andovercareogehegreaesquaniyofpleasureouofi——ismeleddowninoaweekdayicanspareogoochurchnow,wihougrudginghehugecanlewhichiusedoseemocuouofheholydayihaveimeforeveryhingicanvisiasickfriendicaninerruphemanofmuchoccupaionwhenheisbusiesicaninsuloverhimwihaninviaionoakeadayspleasurewihmeowindsorhisfinemaymorningiislucreianpleasureobeholdhepoordrudges,whomihavelefbehindinheworld,carkingandcaring;likehorsesinamill,drudgingoninhesameeernalround——andwhaisiallfor?amanca

everhaveoomuchimeohimself,noroolileodohadialileson,iwouldchrisenhimnohingodo;heshoulddonohingman,iverilybelieve,isouofhiselemenaslongasheisoperaiveiamalogeherforhelifeconempivewillnokindlyearhquakeeandswallowuphoseaccursedcoonmills?akemehalumberofadeskhere,andbowlidown

aslowasohefiends

iamnolonger,clerkohefirmof&ciamreiredleisureiamobemewihinrimgardensiamalreadyeobeknownbymyvacanfaceandcarelessgesure,perambuinganofixedpace,norwihanyseledpurposeiwalkabou;nooandfromheyellme,aceraincumdigniaeair,hahasbeenburiedsolongwihmyohergoodpars,hasbegunoshooforhinmypersonigrowinogeniliypercepiblywheniakeupanewspaper,iisoreadhesaeofheoperaopusoperaumesihavedoneallhaicameinohisworldodoihaveworkedaskwork,andhaveheresofhedayomyself