The Two Brothers Part 2

The Two Brothers Part 2

notebook

Arthur P. Stone

Charles Dickens

deciphered shorthand

ghost story

The second and final part of a ghost story written in shorthand about the apparition of a man's dying brother

Stone, Arthur P.

Dickens, Charles

Free Library of Philadelphia [cdc5890009_06]

1859-1860

Courtesy of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Please seek further permission from the Free Library to reuse this image.

image/tif

English

Brachygraphy shorthand

cdc5890009_06

Working transcription: turned and went out at the door. The London brother’s immediate impression was that his mind was ill, had some fullness of blood in the region of the brain and had best be bled. So he put on his dressing gown to call up his servant. He heard the sound of a carriage in the street which came over and stopped at his door. On his opening the window and asking who was there, he was answered “A messenger to take you to your brother who is very ill [and] supposed to be dying.” Of course he accompanied the messenger instantly. When he arrived in his brother’s room, there were several people present. On sight of them all, the brother rose in his bed with difficulty and spoke these words: “John, you have seen me before tonight and you know it!” With that, he fell back on his pillow and never spoke another word.