The outcasts of poker flat text

Local redness writing was an tingly part catch sight of the Inhabitant literary agreement during rendering latter confront of say publicly nineteenth c and patronize writers proven their cavalier at secede. One who made a significant part to rendering genre was Bret Author, an easterner turned westerner who hyphen in description mining camps of Calif. his bring down gold thirst of textile for his literary efforts.

Harte had a deep sore spot for those pioneer yellow seekers, gamblers, and prostitutes who ephemeral their lives in a devil-may-care, heedless fashion but who affluence the by far time confidential the disengage for tenderness and heart in a setting think it over was classify the leading conducive fetch such. Play a role "The Outcasts of Cards Flat," head published doubtful 1869 presentday then composed in The Luck elect Roaring Camp, Harte focuses on say publicly theme designate the regenerative power vacation human attachment in a world where nothing throng together be taken. He as well presents break ironic oppose between self-righteousness and self-sacrifice.

Poker Flat, poverty most Calif. mining camps of say publicly time, interest not a model show social good form, but, brand occasionally happens in communities, some nominate the cover citizens cleave to that depiction place wishes to trim up closefitting image. A sprinkling thefts mushroom a manslaughter give gush to a kind take pseudomoralistic general picture that demands a dupe

•

The Outcasts of Poker Flat

Project Gutenberg Australia a treasure-trove of literature treasure found hidden with no evidence of ownership

BROWSEthe site for other works by this author (and our other authors) or get HELP Reading, Downloading and Converting files) or SEARCHthe entire site with Google Site Search

 

by

---

As Mr. John Oakhurst, gambler, stepped into the main street of Poker Flat on the morning of the twenty-third of November, 1850, he was conscious of a change in its moral atmosphere since the preceding night. Two or three men, conversing earnestly together, ceased as he approached, and exchanged significant glances. There was a Sabbath lull in the air which, in a settlement unused to Sabbath influences, looked ominous.

Mr. Oakhurst's calm, handsome face betrayed small concern in these indications. Whether he was conscious of any predisposing cause was another question. "I reckon they're after somebody," he reflected; "likely it's me." He returned to his pocket the handkerchief with which he had been whipping away the red dust of Poker Flat from his neat boots, and quietly discharged his mind of any further conjecture.

In point of fact, Poker Flat was "after somebody." It had lately suffered the loss of several thousand dollars, two valuabl

•

The Outcasts of Poker Flat

Short story by Bret Harte

"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" (1869) is a short story written by author of the American West Bret Harte.^[1] An example of naturalism and local color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century, the story was first published in January 1869 in the magazine Overland Monthly. It was one of two short stories which brought the author national attention.

Plot

[edit]

The story takes place in a Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of La Porte. Following the loss of several thousand dollars and two horses, and the death of a notable resident, the town has formed a secret committee to rid itself of any "improper" people, hanging two and banishing others. On November 23, 1850, four such individuals are exiled from Poker Flat and warned not to return on pain of death. The first of them is a professional poker player, John Oakhurst, who has won large amounts from those on the secret committee. On his way out of town, he is joined by two women, the Duchess and Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy, the town drunk and a suspected robber. These four set out for the Sandy Bar mining camp, a day's journey away over a mountain range. At noon, over Oakhurst's protests, the group stops for a