The Lottery

The Lottery is a short story written by Maria Edgeworth, first published in 1808. The story is set in a small village in Ireland and follows the tradition of an annual lottery that takes place in the village. The lottery is a game of chance where every household in the village is required to draw a slip of paper from a hat. The person who draws the marked slip of paper is declared the winner of the lottery and receives a prize.The story revolves around the characters in the village and their reactions to the lottery. Some of the villagers are excited about the prospect of winning the prize, while others are apprehensive and fearful of the consequences of winning. The main character, Miss Nangle, is a wealthy woman who is determined to win the lottery at any cost.As the lottery progresses, tensions rise and emotions run high. The villagers become increasingly competitive and desperate to win, leading to unexpected and tragic consequences.The Lottery is a thought-provoking story that explores the themes of tradition, greed, and human nature. Edgeworth's writing style is engaging and vivid, painting a vivid picture of life in a small Irish village. The story has been widely acclaimed for its social commentary and remains a classic of English literature.But all that Mrs. Dolly said was lost upon Ellen, who declared that she would never be so mean as to encroach upon such a generous friend; and Maurice protested that nothing that man, woman, or devil, could say, should persuade him to live in idleness another year. He sent George the next morning to Mr. Belton with a letter, requesting that he would procure employment for him, and stating what he thought himself fit for. Amongst other things, he mentioned that he could keep accounts. That he could write a good hand was evident, from his letter. Mr. Belton, at this time, wanted a clerk in his manufactory; and, upon Maurice's repeating his promise never more to frequent the gaming-table, Mr. Belton, after a trial, engaged him as his clerk.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.