Thursday, January 30, 2014

And Then There Were None

It was Mark Twain who observed that the promise of a tale to be told is too frequently lost in the telling.
"As the lecturer remarked, this whole region is blanketed with Indian tales and traditions.  But I reminded him that people usually merely mentioned this fact--doing it in a way to make a body's mouth water--and judiciously stopped there.  Why?  Because the impression left was that these tales were full of incident and imagination--a pleasant impression which would be promptly dissipated if the tales were told."*
At this stage of the telling of the history of the Sloan family on the Arkansas, one discovers that indeed the promise has been fulfilled to the extent that it may be done.  For to continue would require the telling of the fortunes of this Jason Sloan, great grandson of Jason Sloan, the progenitor of the line.

Truly, there are tales best left untold.

*Mark Twain, Life on the Mississippi, chapter 59. 

© 2014 David W. Lacy

9 comments:

Sharkbytes said...

Well, that's a cop-out!

Vee said...

Now you send everyone researching.

vanilla said...

Yes, it is, Sharkey; yes, it is.

Vee, nothing to find.

The Cranky said...

Research...it does at least help with cabin fever. A little.

Hope you're staying warm and well!

vanilla said...

Jacquelineand, research gives a body something to do. We've a warm house; we are blessed!

Shelly said...

Ah, research- music to my ears! So I am off to explore the link~

vanilla said...

Shelly, I could assign you a real research project should you really want one!

Secondary Roads said...

May God grant me the grace to know when to shut up. (I have trouble when left on my own.)

vanilla said...

Chuck, perhaps that trouble is a universal human condition- one more reason we need the Lord's help.