Peter Rugg: The Missing ManF.P. Rice, 1882 - 64 pages |
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appeared auctioneer began black horse bridge Charlestown child city of Boston Concord Connecticut Connecticut River Croft dame Rugg dark Dart and Lightning distant thunder door stone ears earth enchantment England erer escheated ferry boat five hundred miles fore feet gave gentlemen half Hanover Street Hardy Hartford heard heels hill horse and carriage horse and chair horse approached inquired Jenny Rugg John Spring JONATHAN DUNWELL King Street large black ox late Lightfoot Menotomy Middle Street miles from Boston name is Dunwell neighbors Newburyport night passed perceive my mistake Peter Rugg spend Pray question the toll-gatherer race horse reach home to-night reach Polley's reins Rhode Island riders river road seemed seen Peter Rugg spot stood storm story strange stranger street as King tell thing thunder cloud toll gate town is Boston trot turnpike gate twenty Virginia wet and weary widen Ann Street WILLIAM AUSTIN York
Popular passages
Page 18 - that is the stone before the door that I used to sit on to eat my bread and milk." "But," said the stranger, "it seems to be on the wrong side of the street. Indeed, everything here seems to be misplaced. The streets are all changed, the people are all changed, the town seems changed, and what is strangest of all, Catharine Rugg has deserted her husband and child. Pray," said the stranger, "has John Foy come home from sea?
Page 64 - There is nothing strange here but yourself, Mr. Rugg. Time, which destroys and renews all things, has dilapidated your house, and placed us here. You have suffered many years under an illusion. The tempest which you profanely defied at Menotomy has at length subsided; but you will never see home, for your house and wife and neighbors have all disappeared.
Page 8 - comes the storm-breeder; he always leaves a Scotch mist behind him. By many a wet jacket do I remember him. I suppose the poor fellow suffers much himself — much more than is known to the world.
Page 11 - I stopped," said the gentleman, "supposing the lightning had struck him; but the horse only seemed to loom up and increase his speed; and as well as I could judge, he travelled just as fast as the thunder-cloud.
Page 27 - Rugg was missing, a horse and wheel carriage, with a noise equal to a troop, would at midnight, in utter contempt of the rates of toll, pass over the bridge. This occurred so frequently, that the toll-gatherer resolved to attempt a discovery. Soon after, at the usual time, apparently the same horse and carriage approached the bridge from Charlestown Square.
Page 28 - ... nothing except the noise of the stool skipping across the bridge. The toll-gatherer on the next day asserted that the stool went directly through the body of the horse, and he persisted in that belief ever after. Whether Rugg, or whoever the person was, ever passed the bridge again, the toll-gatherer would never tell ; and when questioned, seemed anxious to waive the subject. And thus Peter Rugg and his child, horse, and carriage, remain a mystery to this day.
Page 15 - it is all turn back! Boston shifts with the wind, and plays all around the compass. One man tells me it is to the east, another to the west; and the guide-posts too, they all point the wrong way.' " 'But will you not stop and rest?' said I. 'You seem wet and weary.' " 'Yes,' said he, 'it has been foul weather since I left home.
Page 15 - He then gave the reins to his horse, which he restrained with difficulty, and disappeared in a moment. A few days afterward I met the man a little this side of Claremont, winding around the hills in Unity, at the rate, I believe, of twelve miles an hour.
Page 37 - More than you imagine, or I can tell you; but stop a moment, sir, I may need your assistance. I know that cloud, I have seen it several times before, and can testify to its identity. You will soon see a man and black horse under it...
Page 17 - No, sir; this is Hartford, and the river the Connecticut." He wrung his hands and looked incredulous. "Have the rivers, too, changed their courses as the cities have changed places? But see, the clouds are gathering in the south, and we shall have a rainy night. Ah, that fatal oath!" He would tarry no longer. His impatient horse leaped off, his hind flanks rising like wings — he seemed to devour all before him and to scorn all behind. I had now, as I thought, discovered a clew to the history of...