The Tell Tale Heart
Truel-nervous-very,verydreafully nervous i had been and am; but why will you say that i am mad? The disease had sharpened not destroyed-not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. i heard all things in heaven and in the earth. i heard many things in hell. How, then, why am i mad? Harken! and observe how healthily-how calmly i can tell you the whole story.

It is impossible to say how 1st the idea entered my brain; but, 1nce conceived, it haunted me day & night. object there was none. passion there was none. i loved the old man. he had never wronged me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees--very gradually-i made up my mind 2 take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye 4 ever.