The major themes of this story from Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) are loneliness, love, loss, madness and friendship. A prospector wandering the desolate Californian goldfields after the mines had all closed is surprised to come across a beautifully maintained cabin. When asked inside by the owner, he marvels at the comfort and quality of its furnishings and obvious signs of a woman’s touch. The man tells him that his wife is away visiting family but will return in three days. The prospector accepts the man’s invitation to stay and meet her, but later wishes he hadn’t.
Original Text / PDF / Audio (3,010 words)