Чорний кіт

           Themoodinessofmyusualtemperincreasedtohatredofallthingsandofallmankind; while,fromthesudden,frequent,andungovernableoutburstsofafurytowhichInowblindlyabandonedmyself,myuncomplainingwife,alas!wasthemostusualandthemostpatientofsufferers. 

           Onedaysheaccompaniedme,uponsomehouseholderrand,intothecellaroftheoldbuildingwhichourpovertycompelledustoinhabit. Thecatfollowedmedownthesteepstairs,and,nearlythrowingmeheadlong,exasperatedmetomadness. Upliftinganaxe,andforgetting,inmywrath,thechildishdreadwhichhadhithertostayedmyhand,Iaimedablowattheanimalwhich,ofcourse,wouldhaveprovedinstantlyfatalhaditdescendedasIwished. Butthisblowwasarrestedbythehandofmywife. Goaded,bytheinterference,intoaragemorethandemoniacal,Iwithdrewmyarmfromhergraspandburiedtheaxeinherbrain. Shefelldeaduponthespot,withoutagroan. 

           Thishideousmurderaccomplished,Isetmyselfforthwith,andwithentiredeliberation,tothetaskofconcealingthebody. IknewthatIcouldnotremoveitfromthehouse,eitherbydayorbynight,withouttheriskofbeingobservedbytheneighbors. Manyprojectsenteredmymind. AtoneperiodIthoughtofcuttingthecorpseintominutefragments,anddestroyingthembyfire. Atanother,Iresolvedtodigagraveforitinthefloorofthecellar.