At first he seemed not to notice
them, but suddenly he cried out: "Cease your laughter until you know
what you are laughing at. Let me talk to my master while you listen."
He pulled a bottle from his pocket, held it up, and looking at it with
deep hatred flashing from his reddened eyes, he said:
"I was once your master; now I am your slave. In my strength you
deceived me; in my weakness you mock me. You have burned my brain,
blistered my body, blasted my hopes, bitten my soul and broken my will.
You have taken my money, destroyed my home, stolen my good name, and
robbed me of every friend I ever had. You killed my mother, slew my
father, sent me out into the world a worthless vagabond, until I find
myself a son without parents, a man without friends, a wanderer without
a home, a human being without sympathy, and a pauper without bread.
Deceiver, mocker, robber, murderer--I hate you! Oh, for one hour of my
old-time strength, that I might slay you! Oh, for one friend and some
power to free me from this slavery!"
The laugh had ceased and the boys stood gazing on him with awe.
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