Adventures in Indigence
and Other Essays

ADVENTURES IN
INDIGENCE
AND
OTHER ESSAYS

BY
LAURA SPENCER PORTOR

The Atlantic Monthly Press
Boston

Copyright, 1918, by
The Atlantic Monthly Press, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

CONTENTS

[Adventures in Indigence]
[I.][Musgrove][1]
[II.][The Harp and the Violin][13]
[III.][Major Lobley][25]
[IV.][Mamie Faffelfinger][38]
[V.][The Lure of the "Chiffoneer"][55]
[VI.][Margaret][68]
[VII.][Margharetta][87]
[VIII.][The Powers of the Poor][101]
[IX.][Horatio][114]
[Guests]
[I.][Relations of the Spirit][129]
[II.][Kith and Kin][155]
[The Disappointments and Vicissitudes of Mice][183]
[Birthdays and Other Egotisms][215]

PREFACE

It is doubtful whether the present volume should be looked on as a collection of essays, or might not more aptly be called a book of personal experience. The true essayist offers you fewer doubts and peradventures. He comes with clear philosophies, to which he means to convert you. He is well armed for controversy. He will cite you Scripture, the Decalogue, and the statutes. You will find it difficult to pick a flaw in his argument. Never hope to prove him wrong! He leaves no man reasonable choice but to agree with him. He is a sworn advocate. His essay is his brief. If he be a man of force, his cause is won before the jurymen take their places. Be sure he will prove his point before any just judge. The case, it seems when you come to think upon it later, might almost have gone by default, so little is there any argument left you.