<영어로 읽는 고전 _ 나다니엘 호손의 히긴보섬 살인사건>
“MR. HIGGINBOTHAM’S CATASTROPHE”는 Nathaniel Hawthorne의 또 다른 단편 소설로, 1835년 그의 컬렉션 "Twice-Told Tales"에도 출판되었다.
이 이야기는 담배 행상인 도미니쿠스 파이크가 히긴보섬 노인의 살인 사건에 대한 소문을 듣고 퍼뜨리는 내용이다.
도미니쿠스는 여행 중에 만난 낯선 사람들로부터 히긴보섬 노인이 살해되었다는 이야기를 듣고 난후 그는 이 소식을 여러 마을에 퍼뜨리며 자신이 주인공이 된다.
하지만 이는 사실이 아니었고, 오히려 살인범으로 지목된 아일랜드인과 흑인이 히긴보섬 노인을 살해하려 했으나 실패한 것으로 밝혀진다. 소문이 사실이 아님이 알려지자 도미니쿠스는 곤경에 처하지만, 히긴보섬의 조카딸의 변호로 위기를 모면한다.
결국 히긴보섬 노인은 자연사하고, 도미니쿠스는 히긴보섬의 조카딸과 결혼하여 그의 재산을 물려받는다. 나중에 도미니쿠스는 고향으로 돌아가 큰 담배 제조사를 차린다.
이 작품은 근거 없는 소문이 어떻게 퍼지고 증폭되는지를 풍자적으로 묘사하고 있다. 또한 우연한 계기로 욕심 없이 선의를 베푼 도미니쿠스가 결국 행운을 얻게 되는 해피엔딩 구조를 띠고 있다.


“Mr. HIGGINBOTHAM’S CATASTROPHE” is another short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, also published in his collection “Twice-Told Tales” in 1835.
The story is about tobacco peddler Dominicus Pike, who spreads rumors about the murder of old man Higginbotham.
After Dominic hears from strangers he meets during his travels that Old Man Higginbotham has been murdered, he spreads the news to several villages and becomes the main character.
However, this was not true, and it turned out that the Irish and black people who were designated as the murderers tried to kill old man Higginbotham but failed. When it becomes known that the rumor is not true, Dominicus is in trouble, but is saved by the defense of Higginbotham's niece.
In the end, old man Higginbotham dies of natural causes, and Dominic marries Higginbotham's niece and inherits his fortune. Later, Dominicus returns to his hometown and sets up a large cigarette manufacturer.
This work satirically depicts how unfounded rumors spread and amplify. In addition, it has a happy ending structure in which Dominicus, who gives good intentions without greed by chance, ends up getting lucky.

Summary
A young fellow, a tobacco-pedler by trade, was on his way from Morristown, where he had dealt largely with the deacon of the Shaker settlement, to the village of Parker’s Falls, on Salmon River. He had a neat little cart painted green, with a box of cigars depicted on each side-panel, and an Indian chief holding a pipe and a golden tobacco-stalk on the rear. The pedler drove a smart little mare and was a young man of excellent character, keen at a bargain, but none the worse liked by the Yankees, who, as I have heard them say, would rather be shaved with a sharp razor than a dull one. Especially was he beloved by the pretty girls along the Connecticut,……….

Contents
MR. HIGGINBOTHAM’S CATASTROPHE