A Horrible Tale
A Horrible Tale is a poem written by Arthur Conan Doyle published in his handwritten magazine The Feldkirchian Gazette (Vol. I, october 1875).
A Horrible Tale
All in the midst of the busy crowd
I saw an old man stand.
He heeded not the bustle loud,
a spade was in his hand.
Though his hair was white & his form was bowed
Yet he dug through the earth & sand.
I looked upon his face so pale,
For pale as death was he.
I said "Alas, what fearful tale,
"what horror here may be.
"The hidden secret I'll unveil
"I'll solve the mystery."
Perhaps, thought I, he buries here
Some victim he has slain.
Perhaps a treasure's hidden near
Which he expects to gain.
Twice I approached the aged seer
And twice drew back again.
At last I boldly stepped beside.
I saw the old man frown.
"Why diggest thou so, old man, I cried,
"For the heart of a noble town."
And the mournful voice of the digger replied
"I'm a laying a gas pipe down"
AD
