Richard F. Burton - "The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, Volume 5"

John Ruskin - "Val d'Arno"

Charles Bennett - "The Frog Who Would A Wooing Go"

H. De Vere Stacpoole - "The Beach of Dreams"

Editorial
This paper argues that discourses of love in Ghanaian market literature for youth offer a view into complex negotiations of agency and empowerment. Drawing on Deborah Durham's notion of youth as "social `shifters'" and Francis Nyamnjoh's conception of the "interconnectedness" of agency, I take Ghanaian market literature as one specific case of how African literature for youth foregrounds questions of continuity and change as African societies enter into increasingly complex global relations. In this literature for youth, received notions of love, often constructed out of impressions from American pop and hip hop music, carry new notions of agency that compete with existing "domesticated" forms. Authors like Ike Tandoh and Evelyn Tay employ discourses of love to offer youth alternative avenues for empowerment in a context of socio-economic disenfranchizement. In a creative process of "straddling", this writing both reveals and reproduces the contradictions that obtain in youth configurations of agency.

After Long Years and Other Stories

T >> Translated from the German by Sophie A. Miller and Agnes M. Dunne >> After Long Years and Other Stories




The rich relatives were not pleased with this bequest, nor did they wish
Amy to take any of the rings, pearls or jewels. Amy had never been
covetous; and when she was told to select, she said: "It is not at all
necessary for me to have a valuable remembrance. The smallest piece will
suffice. Knowing that it comes from such a good woman, it will have
great value in my eyes. It is more than enough that she has bequeathed
to me such a large sum of money which I have not earned. Therefore, I
choose the old, tarnished, clumsy locket which she held in her hand and
wet with her tears as she bade me good-bye. This will be the most
precious treasure for me, and I know her blessing will go with it."

One of the onlookers laughed and said to Amy: "What a silly girl. Why
didn't you take the diamond ring? That ugly old locket, what good is
that! How ridiculous for you to choose such a worthless thing!"

But Amy was more than satisfied and perfectly contented; while the rich
relatives quarreled over the distribution of the other trinkets and had
more disappointment out of it than pleasure.

The relative to whom the castle had been bequeathed gave orders to Amy
to find a new home. This she had in a measure expected, of course, but
she did not know just where to go. At last the old gardener and his
good, kind wife offered to share their home with her. She thanked them
heartily and gladly accepted.

Amy now invested her money in a business house in the city, and although
her income was not large, still she had enough for her simple wants.

One year went by in quietude and peace, in the simple surroundings of
the old gardener's home. But as the new occupants of the castle no
longer wished the services of a man as old as he was, he received orders
to leave. This meant to give up his life-long work and the home which
had become so dear to him.

"Be comforted," said Amy, "for I will collect my money and buy a little
house near the city. Then I will take in some sewing, and we can all
three still live together contentedly." They soon found a house which
suited them exactly.

As Amy had not been able to get her money from the merchant, they were
obliged, for the time being, to borrow it from another man, to whom she
promised payment when her money fell due.

The house was bought and renovated to suit them. It was small and
simple, but ample for their wants. Amy kept the home bright and
comfortable; flowers graced the windows, and the old people basked in
the sunshine of her smiles and helpfulness.

Although they could see the castle in the distance, where they had spent
so many years of their lives, and from which they had all three been so
rudely cast, they never longed to return; for their little home was
filled with happiness and contentment. As joy and sorrow, however, must
change places with each other now and then here upon earth, so this
little household was called upon to meet an unwelcome friend, "Trouble."




CHAPTER III

REVERSES


One morning, after almost a year's sojourn in the little home, the news
was brought that the large business house in the city where Amy had
invested her money had failed, and that the whole amount was lost to
her. The time was almost due to pay the debt on the house. Where would
the money come from, now that they could no longer give security?

Sad, troubled days had dawned for them.

On the eve of the day when the payment on the house was due, Amy went up
to the attic, where she could be alone and cry out her grief, and pray.

In her anxiety and nervousness, she clutched the old, ugly locket that
hung from a chain--the little reminder of the time of her joys, her
sorrows, her patience, her trust and her gratitude, while she lived with
her good foster-mother.

In one moment of intense feeling, she pressed the locket tightly in an
agony of grief. Lo! as she unfolded her hand in utter helplessness, the
locket fell apart. Into her lap rolled one little stone after another.
When she took them up to look at them, she discovered that each stone
was a diamond, seemingly of great worth.

She raised her thankful eyes to heaven and poured out her grateful
heart. She paused, then gathering her treasure in her hands, she
hastened with joyous steps to acquaint her two companions of her
wonderful discovery.

The good, old people were overcome with joy, and thanked God, again and
again. Then the old man said: "With the money that these jewels will
bring you, you can pay for the house and still have enough left to keep
you comfortably."

Early the next morning, Amy hurried to the clergyman, her very best
friend, to show him the jewels and tell him how accidentally she had
found them.

"May I," said she, "keep these costly jewels or must I return them to
Mrs. Linden's heirs? I think they are the most valuable of all the
trinkets that she left."

"No," said he, "the jewels belong to you. Mrs. Linden intended them for
you, I am sure, when she gave you the right to choose first, and take
the best. When you selected the least attractive trinket, you
unknowingly chose a treasure which to you was only valuable because worn
by the one whom you hold dearest. God sent you this secret treasure; and
it is worth many thousand dollars, at least. Take it, sell it, and enjoy
the benefits which you derive therefrom. But always keep the locket, as
a memento of Mrs. Linden and her great benevolence."

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