The Diary of a Man of Fiftyby Henry JamesFlorence, April 5th, 1874.They told me I should find Italy greatlychanged; and in seven-and-twenty years there is room for changes.But to me everything is so perfectly the same that I seem to beliving my youth over again; all the forgotten impressions of thatenchanting time come back to me. At the moment they were powerfulenough; but they afterwards faded away. What in the world became ofthem? Whatever becomes of such things, in the long intervals ofconsciousness? Where do they hide themselves away? in what unvisitedcupboards and crannies of our being do they preserve themselves?...　

The Pursuit of the House-Boatby John Kendrick BangsCHAPTER I: THE ASSOCIATED SHADES TAKE ACTIONThe House-boat of the Associated Shades, formerly located upon the River Styx, as the reader may possibly remember, had been torn from its moorings and navigated out into unknown seas by that vengeful pirate Captain Kidd, aided and abetted by some of the most ruffianly inhabitants of Hades. Like a thief in the night had they come, and for no better reason than that the Captain had been unanimously voted a shade too shady to associate with self-respecting spirits had they made off with the happy floating club-house of their betters; and worst of all, with them, by force of circumstances over whic　

A YELLOW DOGI never knew why in the Western States of America a yellow dogshould be proverbially considered the acme of canine degradationand incompetency, nor why the possession of one should seriouslyaffect the social standing of its possessor. But the fact beingestablished, I think we accepted it at Rattlers Ridge withoutquestion. The matter of ownership was more difficult to settle;and although the dog I have in my mind at the present writingattached himself impartially and equally to everyone in camp, noone ventured to exclusively claim him; while, after theperpetration of any canine atrocity, everybody repudiated him withindecent haste....　

1872FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENTHE TOP AND BALLby Hans Christian AndersenA WHIPPING TOP and a little ball lay together in a box, amongother toys, and the top said to the ball, "Shall we be married, aswe live in the same box?"But the ball, which wore a dress of morocco leather, and thoughtas much of herself as any other young lady, would not evencondescend to reply.The next day came the little boy to whom the playthingsbelonged, and he painted the top red and yellow, and drove abrass-headed nail into the middle, so that while the top wasspinning round it looked splendid."Look at me," said the top to the ball. "What do you say now?Shall we be engaged to each other? We should suit s　

380 BCPLUTUSby Aristophanesanonymous translatorCHARACTERS IN THE PLAYCHREMYLUSCARIO, Servant of ChremylusPLUTUS, God of RichesBLEPSIDEMUS, friend of ChremylusPOVERTYWIFE OF CHREMYLUSA JUST MANAN INFORMERAN OLD WOMANA YOUTHHERMESA PRIEST OF ZEUSCHORUS OF RUSTICSPLUTUSPLUTUS(SCENE:-The Orchestra represents a public square in Athens.In the background is the house of CHREMYLUS. A ragged old...　

KING RICHARD THE SECONDKING RICHARD THESECONDWilliam Shakespeare15961- Page 2-KING RICHARD THE SECONDACT I.2- Page 3-KING RICHARD THE SECONDSCENE I. London. The palaceEnter RICHARD, JOHN OF GAUNT, with other NOBLES andattendantsKING RICHARD. Old John of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaster,...　

THE HAZEL-NUT CHILD [29][29] From the Bukowniaer. Van Wliolocki.There was once upon a time a couple who had no children, and theyprayed Heaven every day to send them a child, though it were nobigger than a hazel-nut. At last Heaven heard their prayer andsent them a child exactly the size of a hazel-nut, and it nevergrew an inch. The parents were very devoted to the littlecreature, and nursed and tended it carefully. Their tiny son toowas as clever as he could be, and so sharp and sensible that allthe neighbours marvelled over the wise things he said and did.When the Hazel-nut child was fifteen years old, and was sittingone day in an egg-shell on the table beside his mother, she...　

　"The Captive"　Chapter One　She sat by the creek, half-hidden in lush grasses. Carefully she twined purple summer flowers into her single dark brown braid, and dabbled bare feet in the rushing water. Stems and crushed blooms littered the coarse yellow gown she wore and damp earth stained the garment, but she paid it no mind. She was purpose-fully intent on her work, for if she allowed her thoughts to range freely she would be overtaken by the knowledge and the hope that he still might e.　A songbird called from the forest behind and she glanced up, smiling at the delicate melody. Then her attention was caught by an approaching rider, and she let fall the flowered braid from limp fingers....　

The Vanished Messengerby E. Phillips OppenheimCHAPTER IThere were very few people upon Platform Number Twenty-one ofLiverpool Street Station at a quarter to nine on the eveningof April 2 - possibly because the platform in question is one ofthe most remote and least used in the great terminus. Thestation-master, however, was there himself, with an inspector inattendance. A dark, thick-set man, wearing a long travellingulster and a Homburg hat, and carrying in his hand a brown leatherdressing-case, across which was painted in black letters the nameMR. JOHN P. DUNSTER, was standing a few yards away, smoking along cigar, and, to all appearance absorbed in studying the...　

THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFTHE HOUSE OF THEWOLFby STANLEY WEYMAN1- Page 2-THE HOUSE OF THE WOLFINTRODUCTION.The following is a modern English version of a curious French memoir,or fragment of autobiography, apparently written about the year 1620 byAnne, Vicomte de Caylus, and brought to this countryif, in fact, theoriginal ever existed in Englandby one of his descendants after theRevocation of the Edict of Nantes. This Anne, we learn from other...　

　Winters on Ballybran were generally mild, so the fury of the first spring storms as they howled across the land was ever unexpected. This first one of the new season swept ferociously across the Milekey Ranges, bearing before its westward course the fleeing sleds of crystal singers like so much jetsam. Those laggard singers who had tarried too long at their claims were barely able to hold their bucking sleds on course as they bolted for the safety of the Heptite Guild plex.　Inside the gigantic Hangar, its baffles raised against the mach winds, ordered confusion reigned. Crystal singers lurched from their sleds, half deafened by windscream, exhausted by their turbulent flights. The Hangar c　

Worldly Ways and BywaysWorldly Ways andBywaysEliot Gregory1- Page 2-Worldly Ways and BywaysTo the ReaderTHERE existed formerly, in diplomatic circles, a curious custom,since fallen into disuse, entitled the Pele Mele, contrived doubtless bysome distracted Master of Ceremonies to quell the endless jealousies andquarrels for precedence between courtiers and diplomatists of contendingpretensions. Under this rule no rank was recognized, each person being...