After London

After Long Years

The Project Gutenberg EBook of After Long Years and Other Stories
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Title: After Long Years and Other Stories
Author: Translated from the German by Sophie A. Miller and Agnes M. Dunne
Release Date: May, 2005 [EBook #8111] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on June 15, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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[Illustration: "The Count then opened the door and overcome with emotion he fell at the feet of the Countess."--From _"Royal Palace to Lowly Hut"_]

SUNSHINE AND SHADOW SERIES
AFTER LONG YEARS
AND
OTHER STORIES
TRANSLATIONS FROM THE GERMAN BY
SOPHIE A. MILLER
AND
AGNES M. DUNNE

NOTE
These ethical stories have been translated from the German with the view of instilling into the minds of youthful readers such truths as will help materially toward building a character that will withstand the trials and temptations of life.
It is conceded by educators that ethics presented in the lecture form fails of its purpose; therefore the writers have presented this subject in the form most appealing to children--the story.

CONTENTS
I. AFTER LONG YEARS
Chapter
I.
The Journey
II. Apprenticeship
III. Alfred Banford
IV. The Stranger
II. THE CAPTIVE
Chapter
I.
Home-Coming
II. The Slave
III. In the Turkish Family
IV. The Lion
V. The Offer
VI. The Plans
VII. Restored to Freedom
III. THE ARTIST'S MASTERPIECE
Chapter
I.
The Gift
II. Under the Emperor's Bush
III. No Prophet in His Own Country
IV. The Condition
V. The Fulfilment
IV. THE VINEYARD ON THE HILLSIDE
Chapter
I.
Missing
II. The Faithful Dog
III. The Fond Foster-Parents
IV. The Errand
V. The Old Man
VI. The Legacy
VII. The Journey
V. THE DAMAGED PICTURE
Chapter
I.
The Artist
II. The Picture
III. The Discovery
VI. MEMORIES AWAKENED
Chapter
I.
The Change of Circumstances
II. The Revelation
VII. THE INHERITANCE
Chapter
I.
Mr. Acton and his Son
II. The Uninvited Guest
III. The Flowering Plant
IV. The Two Families
V. The Feast
VIII. HOW IT HAPPENED
Chapter
I.
The Wooded Island
II. Far From Home
III. The Smoke
IX. FROM ROYAL PALACE TO LOWLY HUT
Chapter
I.
The Suburbs
II. The Retreat
III. The Prison
IV. The Purchase
V. Reunited
X. THE UGLY TRINKET
Chapter
I.
The Opened Door
II. The Test
III. Reverses

AFTER LONG YEARS
CHAPTERS.
I. THE JOURNEY.
II. APPRENTICESHIP.
III. ALFRED BANFORD.
IV. THE STRANGER.
[Illustration: "He halted, offered his assistance to the two half-frozen men, helped them into the sleigh and hurried on with them."]

AFTER LONG YEARS
CHAPTER I
THE JOURNEY
The Duchess of Banford and her two children were driving toward their villa, when, owing to the roughness of the road, the front wheel of their coach was suddenly broken. Considerably frightened, mother and children quickly alighted. The approaching darkness, coupled with the loneliness of the place, added to the difficulty; for the prospect of spending the night in the woods was particularly distressing.
Just then a stable-boy chanced along and seeing the predicament, said: "Oh, that wheel can be easily mended. Not far from here there lives a wheelwright, and I am sure he can repair it in a very short time." The boy then looked about him, and seeing a long pole, said: "We can use this to support the wagon as it drags along. The road is rugged, and it will take us about an hour to get there."
"Is there no shorter route?" inquired the Duchess.
"This is the only wagon road; but if you wish, I will lead you along a shorter path across the fields which will cut the distance in half."
The Duchess thanked him, and asked: "Do you think that we may take this pole? It seems to me as though some wood-cutter had left it here to prop a tree."
"Oh, yes," he answered, "it belongs to the wheelwright to whom I am taking you. All the wood around here belongs to him, and he will be glad to have this pole so handy." So saying, he hurried to get the pole and helped the coachman fasten it in place. The horses then drew the carriage slowly over the rocky road, while the coachman walked alongside.
The family, however, followed the footpath, which led between tall elms and blooming shrubbery along the edge of a babbling brook.
The silence was broken now and then by the