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Various

"Stories of Mystery"

Let them keep her at home'? If it came, on those two
occasions, only to show me that its warnings were true, and so to
prepare me for the third, why not warn me plainly now? And I, Lord help
me! A mere poor signal-man on this solitary station! Why not go to
somebody with credit to be believed, and power to act?"
When I saw him in this state, I saw that for the poor man's sake, as
well as for the public safety, what I had to do for the time was to
compose his mind. Therefore, setting aside all question of reality or
unreality between us, I represented to him that whoever thoroughly
discharged his duty must do well, and that at least it was his comfort
that he understood his duty, though he did not understand these
confounding Appearances. In this effort I succeeded far better than
in the attempt to reason him out of his conviction. He became calm;
the occupations incidental to his post, as the night advanced, began
to make larger demands on his attention; and I left him at two in the
morning.


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