
Hadleyburg has long prided itself on being the model of integrity, a place where honesty is taught from childhood and neighboring towns look on with a mix of envy and admiration. Its reputation is woven into every lesson and civic ritual, making the community fiercely protective of its spotless record. Into this austere world arrives a bitter, vengeful outsider who feels wronged by the town’s indifference and decides to test the very foundation of its virtue.
The stranger’s scheme is simple yet unsettling: he leaves a mysterious sack at the home of a respectable citizen, accompanied by a note promising a fortune in gold if the townspeople will simply claim it. The promise ignites curiosity and suspicion, forcing the residents to confront the allure of sudden wealth against their ingrained principles. As whispers spread through the streets, listeners are drawn into a moral dilemma that asks whether a community’s honor can withstand the temptation of easy riches.
Language
fi
Duration
~1 hours (106K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2016-10-17
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1835–1910
Best known for bringing the Mississippi River, small-town America, and sharp humor vividly to life, this American writer turned everyday speech into unforgettable literature. Under the pen name Mark Twain, Samuel Langhorne Clemens became one of the most famous and most quoted authors of the 19th century.
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