Some Reminiscencesby Joseph ConradA Familiar Preface.As a general rule we do not want much encouragement to talk aboutourselves; yet this little book is the result of a friendlysuggestion, and even of a little friendly pressure. I defendedmyself with some spirit; but, with characteristic tenacity, thefriendly voice insisted: "You know, you really must."It was not an argument, but I submitted at once. If one must!. . .You perceive the force of a word. He who wants to persuadeshould put his trust, not in the right argument, but in the right...　

From This World to the Nextby Henry FieldingINTRODUCTIONBOOK ICHAPTER I.The author dies, meets with Mercury, and is by him conducted tothe stage which sets out for the other worldCHAPTER II.In which the author first refutes some idle opinions concerningspirits, and then the passengers relate their several deaths .CHAPTER III.The adventures we met with in the City of DiseasesCHAPTER IV.Discourses on the road, and a description of the palace of DeathCHAPTER V.The travelers proceed on their journey, and meet several spiritswho are coming into the flesh...　

FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE TOADby Hans Christian AndersenTHE well was deep, and therefore the rope had to be a long one; itwas heavy work turning the handle when any one had to raise abucketful of water over the edge of the well. Though the water wasclear, the sun never looked down far enough into the well to mirroritself in the waters; but as far as its beams could reach, greenthings grew forth between the stones in the sides of the well.Down below dwelt a family of the Toad race. They had, in fact,come head-over-heels down the well, in the person of the old...　

1872FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE STORKSby Hans Christian AndersenON the last house in a little village the storks had built a nest,and the mother stork sat in it with her four young ones, who stretchedout their necks and pointed their black beaks, which had not yetturned red like those of the parent birds. A little way off, on theedge of the roof, stood the father stork, quite upright and stiff; notliking to be quite idle, he drew up one leg, and stood on the other,so still that it seemed almost as if he were carved in wood. "Itmust look very grand," thought he, "for my wife to have a sentryguarding her nest. They do not know that I am her husband; they will...　

The Madonna of the Futureby Henry JamesWe had been talking about the masters who had achieved but a singlemasterpiecethe artists and poets who but once in their lives hadknown the divine afflatus and touched the high level of perfection.Our host had been showing us a charming little cabinet picture by apainter whose name we had never heard, and who, after this singlespasmodic bid for fame, had apparently relapsed into obscurity andmediocrity. There was some discussion as to the frequency of thisphenomenon; during which, I observed, H- sat silent, finishing hiscigar with a meditative air, and looking at the picture which was...　

Marquise de Brinvilliersby Alexandre Dumas, PereTowards the end of the year 1665, on a fine autumn evening, there was a considerable crowd assembled on the Pont-Neuf where it makes a turn down to the rue Dauphine. The object of this crowd and the centre of attraction was a closely shut, carriage. A police official was trying to force open the door, and two out of the four sergeants who were with him were holding the horses back and the other two stopping the driver, who paid no attention to their commands, but only endeavoured to urge his horses to a gallop. The struggle had been going on same time, when suddenly one of the doors violentiy pushed open, and a young officer in the uniform 　

Cyrano de BergeracA Play in Five Actsby Edmond RostandTranslated from the French by Gladys Thomas and Mary F. GuillemardThe CharactersCYRANO DE BERGERACCHRISTIAN DE NEUVILLETTECOUNT DE GUICHERAGUENEAULE BRETCARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUXTHE CADETSLIGNIEREDE VALVERTA MARQUISSECOND MARQUISTHIRD MARQUISMONTFLEURYBELLEROSEJODELETCUIGYBRISSAILLETHE DOORKEEPERA LACKEYA SECOND LACKEYA BOREA MUSKETEERANOTHERA SPANISH OFFICERA PORTERA BURGHERHIS SONA PICKPOCKETA SPECTATORA GUARDSMANBERTRAND THE FIFERA MONKTWO MUSICIANSTHE POETSTHE PASTRY COOKSROXANESISTER MARTHALISETHE BUFFET-GIRLMOTHER MARGUERITE...　

The Poor Clareby Elizabeth GaskellCHAPTER I.December 12th, 1747.My life has been strangely bound up with extraordinary incidents, some of which occurred before I had any connection with the principal actors in them, or indeed, before I even knew of their existence. I suppose, most old men are, like me, more given to looking back upon their own career with a kind of fond interest and affectionate remembrance, than to watching the events though these may have far more interest for the multitude immediately passing before their eyes. If this should be the case with the generality of old people, how much more so with me! . . . If I am to enter upon that strange story connected with poor Lucy,　

FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE STORY OF A MOTHERby Hans Christian AndersenA MOTHER sat by her little child; she was very sad, for she fearedit would die. It was quite pale, and its little eyes were closed,and sometimes it drew a heavy deep breath, almost like a sigh; andthen the mother gazed more sadly than ever on the poor littlecreature. Some one knocked at the door, and a poor old man walkedin. He was wrapped in something that looked like a greathorse-cloth; and he required it truly to keep him warm, for it wascold winter; the country everywhere lay covered with snow and ice, and...　

The Moscow Census - From "What to do?"by Count Lyof N. TolstoiTranslated from the Russian by Isabel F. HapgoodTHOUGHTS EVOKED BY THE CENSUS OF MOSCOW. [1884-1885.]And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let himimpart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him dolikewiseLUKE iii. 10. 11.Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rustdoth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth norrust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also....　

The Purcell Papers, Volume 2by Joseph Sheridan Le FanuWith a Memoir byALFRED PERCEVAL GRAVESCONTENTS OF VOL. II.PASSAGE IN THE SECRET HISTORY OF AN IRISH COUNTESSTHE BRIDAL OF CARRIGVARAHSTRANGE EVENT IN THE LIFE OF SCHALKEN THE PAINTERSCRAPS OF HIBERNIAN BALLADSTHE PURCELL PAPERS.PASSAGE IN THESECRET HISTORY OF AN IRISHCOUNTESS.Being a Fifth Extract from the Legacy of the late FrancisPurcell, P.P. of Drumcoolagh.The following paper is written in afemale hand, and was no doubtcommunicated to my much-regretted...　

New Yorkby James Fenimore CooperTHE increase of the towns of Manhattan, as, for the sake ofconvenience, we shall term New York and her adjuncts, in all thatcontributes to the importance of a great commercial mart, rendersthem one of the most remarkable places of the present age. Withinthe distinct recollections of living men, they have grown from acity of the fifth or sixth class to be near the head of all thepurely trading places of the known world. That there aresufficient causes for this unparalleled prosperity, will appearin the analysis of the natural advantages of the port, in itsposition, security, accessories, and scale....