| | 241 | Author: | Higginson, Thomas Wentworth, 1823-1911 | Add | | | Title: | Malbone: an Oldport romance  | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | AS one wanders along this southwestern promontory of the Isle of Peace, and looks
down upon the green translucent water which forever bathes the marble slopes of the
Pirates' Cave, it is natural to think of the ten wrecks with which the past winter
has strewn this shore. Though almost all trace of their presence is already gone, yet
their mere memory lends to these cliffs a human interest. Where a stranded vessel
lies, thither all steps converge, so long as one plank remains upon another. There
centres the emotion. All else is but the setting, and the eye sweeps with
indifference the line of unpeopled rocks. They are barren, till the imagination has
tenanted them with possibilities of danger and dismay. The ocean provides the scenery
and properties of a perpetual tragedy, but the interest arrives with the performers.
Till then the shores remain vacant, like the
great conventional arm-chairs of the French drama, that wait for Rachel to come and
die. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 245 | Author: | Page, Thomas Nelson | Add | | | Title: | Marse Chan; A Tale of Old Virginia | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | ONE afternoon, in the autumn of 1872, I was riding leisurely down the sandy road that
winds along the top of the water-shed between two of the smaller rivers of eastern
Virginia. The road I was travelling, following "the ridge" for miles, had just struck
me as most significant of the character of the race whose only avenue of
communication with the outside world it had formerly been. Their once splendid
mansions, now fast falling to decay, appeared to view from time to time, set back far
from the road, in proud seclusion, among groves of oak and hickory, now scarlet and
gold with the early frost. Distance was nothing to this people; time was of no
consequence to them. They desired but a level path in life, and that they had, though
the way was longer, and the outer world strode by them as they dreamed. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 246 | Author: | Prime, William C. | Add | | | Title: | Tent Life in the Holy Land | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | To see the sun go down beyond the Sepulchre and rise over the mountain of the Ascension, to
bare my forehead to the cold dews of Gethsemane, and lave my dim eyes in the
waters of Siloam, to sleep in the company of the infinite host above the oaks of
Mamre, and to lie in the starlight of Bethlehem and catch, however faintly, some
notes of the voices of the angels, to wash off the dust of life in the Jordan,
to cool my hot lips at the well of Samaria, to hear the murmur of Gennesareth,
giving me blessed sleep — was not all this worth dreaming of
— worth living for — was it not worth dying for? | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 247 | Author: | Shillaber, Benjamin Penhallow | Add | | | Title: | Life and Sayings of Mrs. Partington and others of the family | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | NOW, Isaac," said Mrs. Partington, as she came into the room with a
basket snugly covered over, "take our Tabby, and drop her somewhere, and see
that she don't come back again, for I am sick and tired of driving her out of
the butter. She is the thievinest creatur! But don't hurt her, Isaac; only take
care that she don't come back." | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 248 | Author: | Stewart, Calvin | Add | | | Title: | Uncle Josh Weathersby's "Punkin Centre Stories" | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | THE author was born in Virginia, on a little patch of land, so poor we had to
fertilize it to make brick. Our family, while having cast their fortunes with
the South, was not a family ruined by the war; we did not have anything when the
war commenced, and so we held our own. I secured a common school education, and
at the age of twelve I left home, or rather home left me—things just
petered out. I was slush cook on an Ohio River Packet; check clerk in a stave
and heading camp in the knobs of Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia; I helped lay
the track of the M. K. & T. R. R., and was chambermaid in a livery
stable. Made my first appearance on the stage at the National Theatre in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and have since then chopped cord wood, worked in a coal mine,
made cross ties (and walked them), worked on a farm, taught a district school
(made love to the big girls), run a threshing machine, cut bands,
fed the machine and ran the engine. Have been a freight and passenger brakeman,
fired and ran a locomotive; also a freight train conductor and check clerk in a
freight house; worked on the section; have been a shot gun messenger for the
Wells, Fargo Company. Have been with a circus, minstrels, farce comedy,
burlesque and dramatic productions; have been with good shows, bad shows,
medicine shows, and worse, and some shows where we had landlords singing in the
chorus. Have played variety houses and vaudeville houses; have slept in a box
car one night, and a swell hotel the next; have been a traveling salesman (could
spin as many yarns as any of them). For the past four years have made the Uncle
Josh stories for the talking machine. The Lord only knows what next! | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 249 | Author: | Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 | Add | | | Title: | The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | I found Simon Wheeler dozing comfortably by the bar-room stove of
the old, dilapidated tavern in the ancient mining camp of Boomerang,
and I noticed that he was fat and bald-headed, and had an expression
of winning gentleness and simplicity upon his tranquil countenance.
He roused up and gave me good-day. I told him a friend of mine had
commissioned me to make some inquiries about a cherished companion
of his boyhood named Leonidas W. Smiley — Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley
— a young minister of the Gospel, who he had heard was at one time
a resident of this village of Boomerang. I added that if Mr. Wheeler
could tell me any thing about this Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, I would
feel under many obligations to him. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 250 | Author: | Washington, Booker T. | Add | | | Title: | Negro Progress in Virginia | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | | Description: | THE members of the colored race who live outside of Virginia are
beginning to grow somewhat jealous of the progress which our race is
making in this commonwealth. The Negro race in Virginia is going
forward, in my opinion, in all the fundamental and substantial things of
life, faster than the Negro himself realizes and faster than his white
neighbor realizes. I say this notwithstanding there are many existing
weaknesses and much still to be accomplished. This progress which
Virginia Negroes are now experiencing is owing to two causes. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 252 | Author: | Fay
Theodore S.
(Theodore Sedgwick)
1807-1898 | Add | | | Title: | Hoboken | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Description: | “Where are Frank and Harry?” asked Mr. Lennox, as
the family assembled at breakfast. “I haven't done anything wrong that I know of; but while
I labour under the imputation I will not accept assistance,
except it is offered because they think me incapable of a
dishonourable action. I seize this occasion to apologize for
my rudeness to Mr. Lennox, once my noble friend and benefactor;
you and all your family have my thanks and best
wishes. I respectfully thank you for your interest in me;
but don't fear, I shall get along somehow, and don't intend
to knock under yet. “Glendenning,” said White, when they were alone,
“you are in an extremely awkward position, and so am
I. I bore your message last evening to Lieutenant
Breckenbridge. He declined receiving it on the plea
that you are not a gentleman.” “Your last, most gratifying favour reached us in due
course of mail. Need I say how the spirit which inspired it
delighted me, and how much we are all charmed with the
friendship which has risen from such a strange cause? We
have left Rose Hill at last. Harry has gone to Europe, and
Mr. Lennox's business requires his presence in New-York.
We all thought and talked of you yesterday, and drank
health and happiness to you, at Mr. Lennox's suggestion, in
Champagne. I added water to mine, but it did not diminish
the ardour of my wishes for your continued prosperity,
or of my prayers that you will receive strength from above
to follow to the end the noble path of reformation you have
adopted. You will have long since learned that all the reasonings
and inferences which seem to militate against the
truth of religion are erroneous, and, though they may tend
to excite doubts, are not sufficient to create unbelief. “Circumstances not necessary to be explained render me
apprehensive that the affair which took place between you
and myself has not been quite properly arranged. The
meeting must be renewed. When acquainted with my
opinion, I feel certain you will require no other inducement
to afford me the satisfaction I have not yet received, and to
name a friend who will immediately make the necessary arrangements. “Circumstances have obliged me to put off the dinner
to-day; I shall not, therefore, have the pleasure of seeing
you. “Come home and share our sorrows. Come home and
lessen our unhappiness—” “Your beloved mother will have informed you of the fine
doings we have had here, or, at least, of some of them. But
don't mind; we'll manage matters yet, only now I must depend
a little more on you. As I have no doubt these
agreeable epistles will bring you home double quick time, I
shall not enter into any particulars, especially as my doctor
pretends that I must yet be careful of my eyes. Keep up
your spirits, and let us see you here when you can conveniently
manage it. We are beginning to feel your absence,
really. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 253 | Author: | Flint
Timothy
1780-1840 | Add | | | Title: | The life and adventures of Arthur Clenning, in two volumes | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Description: | Here would be the place to transcribe some of
the incidents of that period, well known by the
cant but significant name, “honey-moon.” Theocritus
must lend his pastoral pencil, and St. Pierre
his unrivalled powers of singing the rural life of
love in the shades of such a retirement, to do ordinary
justice to the history of their enjoyments. In
days of enjoyment like theirs, the youthful imagination
peoples all that surrounds them, with beings
who sympathize with them in their felicity. It is
true, though they were in the midst of a nature no
less pleasant than formerly, they saw it not with
the same eyes; for they were more intently occupied
with each other. The want of the society of
others of their kind was hardly perceived by them,
who possessed in each other
Whatever fancy forms of good and fair,
Or lavish hearts could wish.
The poor birds fluttered, shook their wings, and
sung, and croaked with the joy of welcome, when
they came forth, as formerly. But their fair mistress,
though she saw them fed, as formerly, had
almost forgotten to caress them. The lessons of
Rescue came to a dead pause for a while, though
she showed great shrewdness and penetration, using
her eyes and senses to the utmost advantage. She
often surprised them with proofs of her native
sagacity, and self-taught proficiency. She saw
the two happy beings, with whom she lived, at first,
it may be, with some natural sensations of envy.
But she never failed to evince, that from the first,
she had felt all the ties and obligations of gratitude.
Daily conversant with two beings, as amiable as
they were happy, she soon added the ties of daily
intercourse and affection to her first obligations.
She appeared to love them with the earnest and
simple affection of a child. Their will was a law,
and their thoughts the measure of what was right.
She saw them obliging, kind, and affectionate, in
every word, look, and action; and this view will
more readily inspire homage in the bosom of a
person in a condition like hers, than to see the
parties possessing and exercising the power of life
and death. Each day brought to each of the
three a new succession of pleasures. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 254 | Author: | Foster
Hannah Webster
1759-1840 | Add | | | Title: | The boarding school, or, Lessons of a preceptress to her pupils ; consisting of information, instruction, and advice, calculated to improve the manners, and form the character of young ladies ; to which is added, a collection of letters, written by the pupils, to their instructor, their friends, and each other | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 255 | Author: | Hale
Sarah Josepha Buell
1788-1879 | Add | | | Title: | Sketches of American character | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Description: | Travellers, who have made the tour of
Europe, always dwell with peculiar delight on
the sunny skies of Italy; and a host of domestic
writers, never, perhaps, in the whole course
of their existence, beyond that seeming boundary
where their eyes first beheld the horizon
apparently closing around them, join their
voices in the chorus of the sunny skies of
Italy! | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 258 | Author: | Hall
Baynard Rush
1798-1863 | Add | | | Title: | The new purchase, or, Seven and a half years in the far West | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Description: | “A knowledge of your character, derived from mutual
friends, from the opinion of all your acquaintances, and also
from a somewhat intimate personal acquaintance, induces
me to believe that such a lady would fill the vacancy in my
domestic establishment most perfectly and delightfully:—
although I am not vain enough to suppose Miss Smythe
will necessarily feel herself flattered by such a preference
on the part of the writer. As, however, Miss S. on better
acquaintance, might become interested in him—more so at
least than he fears she is at present—he very respectfully,
yet most carnestly, craves permission to pay his addresses
in person. “In a playful conversation on a subject so common when
unmarried persons meet, your daughter, Miss Brown, in a
jesting manner, remarked, that she always referred gentlemen
to her father—as his choice would always be hers.
What was jest with her, with me would have become very
solemn earnest, had I had then to offer any thing beyond
my hand and my heart, to induce such a girl to leave such
a home. Happily, circumstances are now favourably altered;
and willingly now would I ask that father for his
daughter could I flatter myself the daughter could be induced
to gladden and adorn a hearth, which, however
warm in one sense, must be yet cold and cheerless without
the love of a bosom friend. And such a friend would Miss
Brown prove:—and, dear sir, if you think such a match
suitable for your lovely daughter, I sincerely entreat the
communication of your favourable opinion to her in my behalf—hoping
that the daughter's choice then may be as the
father's. “The other morning I went out a hunting with father's
duck-gun what he brung out from Kentucky; but as I
had no luck, I allowed I might as well put off for home;
and so I turn about and goes towards home. As I come to
the edge of our clearin, what should I see away off on the
top of a dead walnut, but a black crow! And so I makes
up my mind to try and hit him. The critter was more nor
three hundred yards from me; but I insinuates myself along
as near as two hundred yards to the feller; when he begins
a showing signs of flittin: and so I trees where I was in a
minute. Well, I determines to try him there, although
'twas near as good as desperut to try a black crow that
distance with a shot-gun; although father's duck-gun's
the most powerful shot-gun in the Purchis. Howsomdever,
I wanted the load out; and I thought I might as
well fire that a way as any other—and so up I draws the
piece very careful, and begins a takin aim, thinking all the
while I shouldn't hit him: still I tuk the most exactest aim,
as if I should; when just then he hops about two foot
nearer my way, as if to get a look round my tree, where he
smelt powder—and then, thinking all the time, as I said, I
shouldn't hit him, as the distance was so most powerful
fur, I blazed away!—and sure enough, as I'm alive—I
didn't hit him!” * * * * * * and the inclosed
from my daughter, to whom was handed your late communication,
contains, I presume, the most satisfactory answer,
* * * * and * * * “I honour you for honesty, as I am satisfied you assign
true reasons for not taking one to share your home; although
the reasons themselves can never seem satisfactory where
one was willing to share another's heart. For, like most
girls in their days of romance, that one cared to find only a
heart when she married. As my own home is sufficiently
comfortable, there can be no inducement to wish another,
however comfortable, in the New Purchase; and where its
owner seems to think `altered circumstances' are important
in winning a woman's love. But to show that kindness is
estimated that would spare my delicacy, by leading my dear
father to think all our conversation had been sportive, I do
hereby most cordially—(here John looked! oh! I tell you
what!)—invite you to our Christmas festivities, when the
writer changes her name from Mary Brown to Mary Burleigh.” | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 259 | Author: | Hall
Baynard Rush
1798-1863 | Add | | | Title: | Something for every body | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Description: | Dear Charles,—You insist that I am an incorrigible
skeptic, and seem inclined to deliver me over to the secular
arm. “What!” say you, “shall we disbelieve the evidence
of the senses, and the testimony of reputable citizens?”
“What,” you triumphantly ask, “can be more satisfactory
than experiments, such as the citizens of Somewhersburg
have lately witnessed?—men, and even young women (!) rendered
incapable of speaking! and a very mercurial dancing
master arrested at the mere will of the mesmerist, and
made to stand as if petrified, in the act of cutting a pigeon-wing!” | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 260 | Author: | Hall
James
1793-1868 | Add | | | Title: | The Harpe's head | | | | Published: | 1997 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | University of Virginia Library, Early American Fiction, 1789-1875 | UVA-LIB-EarlyAmFict1789-1875 | | | | Description: | At the close of a pleasant day, in the spring of the year
17—, a solitary horseman might have been seen slowly
winding his way along a narrow road, in that part of
Virginia which is now called the Valley. It was nearly
forty years ago, and the district lying between the Blue
Ridge and the Allegheny mountains was but thinly populated,
while the country lying to the west, embracing an
immense Alpine region, was a savage wilderness, which
extended to the new and distant settlements of Kentucky.
Our traveller's route led along the foot of the mountains,
sometimes crossing the spurs, or lateral ridges, which
push out their huge promontories from the great chain;
and at others winding through deep ravines, or skirting
along broad valleys. The Ancient Dominion was never
celebrated for the goodness of its highways, and the one
whose mazes he was now endeavoring to unravel, was
among the worst, being a mere path, worn by the feet
of horses, and marked by faint traces of wheels, which
showed that the experiment of driving a carriage over
its uneven surface had been successfully tried, but not
generally practised. The country was fertile, though
wild and broken. The season was that in which the
foliage is most luxuriant and splendid to the eye, the
leaves being fully expanded, while the rich blossoms
decked the scene with a variety of brilliant hues; and
our traveller, as he passed ridge after ridge, paused in
delight on their elevated summits, to gaze at the beautiful
glens that lay between them, and the gorgeous vegetation
that climbed even to the tops of the steepest acclivities.
The day, however, which had been unusually sultry for
the season, was drawing to a close, and both horse and
rider began to feel the effects of hunger and fatigue; the
former, though strong and spirited, drooped his head,
and the latter became wearied with these lonesome
though picturesque scenes. During the whole day he
had not seen the dwelling of a human being; the clattering
of his horse's hoofs upon the rock, the singing of
the birds, so numerous in this region, the roaring of the
mountain stream, or the crash of timber occasioned by
the fall of some great tree, were the only sounds that
had met his ear. He was glad, therefore, to find his
path descending, at last, into a broad valley, interspersed
with farms. He seemed to have surmounted the last
hill, and before him was a rich continuous forest, resembling,
as he overlooked it from the high ground, a solid
plane of verdure. The transition from rocky steeps and
precipices, to the smooth soil and sloping surface of the
valley, was refreshing; and not less so were the coolness
and fragrance of the air, and the deep and varied hues
of the forest, occasioned by the rank luxuriance of its
vegetation. “My father was a native of England, who came to
Virginia when he was quite a young man. He was of
a good family, and well educated; if my mother be
considered a competent witness in such a case, he was
even more,—highly accomplished, and remarkably interesting
in person and manners. He brought letters of
introduction, and was well received; and as soon as it
was understood that his extreme indigence was such as
to render it necessary that he should embark in some
employment, to earn a support, he was readily received
as private tutor in the family of a gentleman, residing
not far from Mr. Heyward, the father of the late Major
Heyward, whose melancholy death I have described to
you. Mr. Heyward also employed him to give lessons
in drawing, and the French language, to his only
daughter, then a girl of about sixteen. A mutual
attachment ensued between my father and this young
lady, which was carefully concealed, because the Heywards,
though generous and hospitable, were proud and
aspiring. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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