Digital heart book

There never was a better man, nor a
handsomer, nor (in my view) a more unhappy--unhappy in
his business, in his pleasures, in his place of
residence, and (I am sorry to say it) in his son. He
had begun life as a land-surveyor, soon became
interested in real estate, branched off into many other
speculations, and had the name of one of the smartest
men in the State of Muskegon. "Dodd has a big head,"
people used to say; but I was never so sure of his
capacity. His luck, at least, was beyond doubt for
long; his assiduity, always. He fought in that daily
battle of money-grubbing, with a kind of sad-eyed
loyalty like a martyr's; rose early, ate fast, came
home dispirited and over-weary, even from success;
grudged himself all pleasure, if his nature was capable
of taking any, which I sometimes wondered; and laid
out, upon some deal in wheat or corner in aluminium,
the essence of which was little better than highway
robbery, treasures of conscientiousness and self-
denial.
Unluckily, I never cared a cent for anything but art,
and never shall.


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