Summary
In "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg," a seemingly incorruptible town becomes the target of a stranger's revenge. The tale unfolds with a mysterious sack of gold coins that tests the morality of Hadleyburg's residents. As secrets and greed unravel their facade, a lesson emerges about the true nature of honesty and integrity.
The Initial Setup
The story opens with a depiction of Hadleyburg, a town famed for its unwavering honesty and integrity, where every citizen is shielded from temptation from birth to death. It boasts a proud motto: "Lead us not into temptation." This facade of virtue is shattered when an "offended stranger," harboring a year-long grudge against the town for an unspecified slight, devises a plan to exact revenge on the entire community.
The Arrival of Temptation
The stranger enacts his scheme by delivering a sack supposedly filled with $40,000 in gold coins to Mary and Edward Richards. Alone at home, Mary finds a note attached to the sack. It tells the tale of a former gambler, morally and financially bankrupt, whose fortunes reversed in Hadleyburg due to a resident’s generosity of twenty dollars and some wise advice. The gambler, now wealthy, wishes to repay his benefactor, identifiable only by recalling the exact words spoken to him, which are sealed in an envelope inside the sack. The note urges the Richards to find this person, either privately or publicly, and all claims must be sent to Reverend Burgess, the designated verifier of the advice.
A Town's Secrets Unveiled
Mary, worried about potential theft, explains the situation to Edward upon his return. Jokingly, Edward suggests burning the letters and keeping the money, but then decides to publicly announce the sack's existence, anticipating that it will bring further prestige to Hadleyburg. They speculate that the mysterious benefactor is likely the late Barclay Goodson. In their discussion, Edward inadvertently reveals Hadleyburg's darker side, including his complicity in tarnishing Reverend Burgess's reputation, a secret kept to avoid personal scandal. Though Mary is upset, she ultimately stands by Edward, torn between the allure of the money and guilt over such thoughts. They decide to halt the advertisement, but it goes to press before they can act, leading to further discord between them and Mr. Cox, who also tried to stop the notice.
Reactions and Revelations
The following day, as news of the golden sack circulates, Hadleyburg basks in newfound glory, even suggesting that "Hadleyburg" become synonymous with "incorruptible." However, the mood shifts as townsfolk grow curious about the envelope's contents. Amidst this, Mary discovers a letter from Howard L. Stephenson, an associate of Goodson, which reveals the advice and names Goodson as the speaker. Stephenson, unsure of all details, appeals to Edward's honesty to confirm his faint memory, revealing the advice as: "YOU ARE FAR FROM BEING A BAD MAN: GO, AND REFORM.’’
Confusion and Dubious Claims
Mary is elated, while Edward struggles to recall his good deed, eventually "remembering" saving Goodson from marrying Nancy Hewitt, who had "a spoonful of Negro blood in her veins." Inspired by this vague recollection, he assembles a story around the event. Meanwhile, it turns out that eighteen other couples received letters identical to the one Edward got, each claiming a unique connection to Goodson. Each couple constructs their own flawed narrative of service to Goodson, and they all submit their claims to a baffled Reverend Burgess.
The Dramatic Unveiling
The town hall fills with citizens and curious onlookers eager to discover the rightful owner of the gold. Burgess leads the proceedings, praising the town's purported integrity as each claimant rehearses their acceptance speech. Deacon Billson's claim is...
(This entire section contains 978 words.)
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read first, but Lawyer Wilson accuses him of copying. This sparks a debate, further fueled by the revelation that Billson's phrase differs slightly from Wilson's. Upon examining the sack, Burgess finds two envelopes, reading a note that exposes the claimants' greed and the town's hypocrisy: "Go, and reform—or, mark my words—some day, for your sins, you will die and go to hell or Hadleyburg—TRY AND MAKE IT THE FORMER.’’
Public Shaming and Unresolved Guilt
As Burgess reads additional claims, the audience revels in the disgrace of their once-exemplary citizens. Edward attempts to confess his guilt but is interrupted, leaving him and Mary awaiting their turn for public condemnation. Surprisingly, Burgess reads only eighteen names, omitting Edward and Mary's from the list, yet they are crushed by the realization of their hypocrisy.
The Final Twist
Opening the second envelope, the stranger's full plot is revealed along with a suggestion to use the gold for a "Committee on Propagation and Preservation of the Hadleyburg Reputation." However, the sack contains mere imitation coins. In a twist of irony, the town auctions the fake coins, netting $1,282 for Edward, whom they now ironically see as the "one clean man left." An eccentric bidder, resembling "an amateur detective gotten up as an impossible English earl," secures the sack, only to be outbid by Dr. Clay Harkness for $40,000. The crowd jubilantly sings praises as the transaction concludes.
The Aftermath and Reflection
Once paid by Harkness, the stranger writes a series of checks, keeping one for himself and giving others to Edward, praising his "honesty." Later, an agonized Edward receives a letter from Burgess, thanking him for advice long ago to flee town, a move that saved Burgess from scandal. Overcome with guilt, Edward burns the checks. As time wears on, the Richardses' health declines as paranoia grips them, fearing Burgess harbors secret contempt. With his end near, Edward confides in Burgess before dying, unaware of committing yet another wrong against him.
A New Chapter for Hadleyburg
In the town's subsequent election, Harkness exploits the counterfeit coins as a campaign tool, toppling incumbent Pinkerton whose name appears on the coins. Victorious, Harkness's first act is to rename the town and amend the motto, aiming to restore Hadleyburg as "an honest town once more."