THE HOLLY-TREETHREE BRANCHESTHE HOLLY-TREETHREE BRANCHES1- Page 2-THE HOLLY-TREETHREE BRANCHESFIRST BRANCHMYSELFI have kept one secret in the course of my life. I am a bashful man.Nobody would suppose it, nobody ever does suppose it, nobody ever didsuppose it, but I am naturally a bashful man. This is the secret which Ihave never breathed until now.I might greatly move the reader by some account of the innumerableplaces I have not been to, the innumerable people I have not called upon...　

THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMESA Case of Identity"My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side ofthe fire in his lodgings at Baker Street, "life is infinitelystranger than anything which the mind of man could invent. Wewould not dare to conceive the things which are really merecommonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that windowhand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the roofs,and peep in at the queer things which are going on, the strangecoincidences, the plannings, the cross-purposes, the wonderfulchains of events, working through generations, and leading to the...　

Hunted DownHunted Downby Charles Dickens1- Page 2-Hunted DownI.Most of us see some romances in life. In my capacity as ChiefManager of a Life Assurance Office, I think I have within the last thirtyyears seen more romances than the generality of men, howeverunpromising the opportunity may, at first sight, seem.As I have retired, and live at my ease, I possess the means that I usedto want, of considering what I have seen, at leisure. My experiences...　

My Discovery of Englandby Leacock, StephenIntroduction of Mr. Stephen Leacock Given by Sir Owen Seaman on the Occasion of His First Lecture in LondonLADIES AND GENTLEMEN: It is usual on these occasions for the chairman to begin something like this: "The lecturer, I am sure, needs no introduction from me." And indeed, when I have been the lecturer and somebody else has been the chairman, I have more than once suspected myself of being the better man of the two. Of course I hope I should always have the good mannersI am sure Mr. Leacock hasto disguise that suspicion. However, one has to go through these formalities, and I will therefore introduce the lecturer to you....　

PRELIMINARY CHAPTER.* [Note-This Preliminary Chapter originally formed the first of the Novel, but* has now been printed in italics on account of its introductory character.]So down thy hill, romantic Ashbourn, glidesThe Derby dilly, carrying six insides.Frere.The times have changed in nothing more (we follow as we werewont the manuscript of Peter Pattieson) than in the rapid conveyanceof intelligence and communication betwixt one part of Scotlandand another. It is not above twenty or thirty years, according tothe evidence of many credible witnesses now alive, since a littlemiserable horse-cart, performing with difficulty a journey of thirty...　

FlatlandFlatlandby Edwin A. Abbott 18841- Page 2-FlatlandPART 1THIS WORLDSECTION 1 Of the Nature of FlatlandI call our world Flatland, not because we call it so, but to make itsnature clearer to you, my happy readers, who are privileged to live inSpace.Imagine a vast sheet of paper on which straight Lines, Triangles,...　

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understandingby Davi HumeCONTENTSSection 1: Of the Different Species of PhilosophySection 2: Of the Origin of IdeasSection 3: Of the Association of IdeasSection 4: Sceptical Doubts concerning the Operationsof the UnderstandingSection 5: Sceptical Solution of these DoubtsSection 6: Of ProbabilitySection 7: Of the Idea of Necessary ConnexionSection 8: Of Liberty and NecessitySection 9: Of the Reason of AnimalsSection 10: Of MiraclesSection 11: Of a Particular Providence and of a FutureStateSection 12: Of the Academical or Sceptical Philosophy...　

The Itinerary of Archibishop Baldwin through Walesby Giraldus CambrensisINTRODUCTIONGerald the Welshman - Giraldus Cambrensis - was born, probably in 1147, at Manorbier Castle in the county of Pembroke. His father was a Norman noble, William de Barri, who took his name from the little island of Barry off the coast of Glamorgan. His mother, Angharad, was the daughter of Gerald de Windsor {1} by his wife, the famous Princess Nesta, the "Helen of Wales," and the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr, the last independent Prince of South Wales.Gerald was therefore born to romance and adventure. He was reared in the traditions of the House of Dinevor. He heard the brilliant and pitiful stories of 　

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRAANTONY ANDCLEOPATRAWilliam Shakespeare16071- Page 2-ANTONY AND CLEOPATRADRAMATIS PERSONAEMARK ANTONY, Triumvirs OCTAVIUS CAESAR, " M.AEMILIUS LEPIDUS, " SEXTUS POMPEIUS, " DOMITIUSENOBARBUS, friend to Antony VENTIDIUS, " " " EROS, " " "SCARUS, " " " DERCETAS, " " " DEMETRIUS, " " " PHILO, " " "MAECENAS, friend to Caesar AGRIPPA, " " " DOLABELLA, " " "...　

Returning Homeby Anthony TrollopeIt is generally supposed that people who live at home,gooddomestic people, who love tea and their arm-chairs, and who keep theparlour hearth-rug ever warm,it is generally supposed that theseare the people who value home the most, and best appreciate all thecomforts of that cherished institution. I am inclined to doubtthis. It is, I think, to those who live farthest away from home, tothose who find the greatest difficulty in visiting home, that theword conveys the sweetest idea. In some distant parts of the worldit may be that an Englishman acknowledges his permanent restingplace; but there are many others in which he will not call his daily...　

With Lee in VirginiaA Story Of The American Civil Warby G.A. HentyPREFACE.My Dear Lads:The Great War between the Northern and Southern States ofAmerica possesses a peculiar interest for us, not only because itwas a struggle between two sections of a people akin to us in raceand language, but because of the heroic courage with which theweaker party, with ill-fed, ill-clad, ill-equipped regiments, for fouryears sustained the contest with an adversary not only possessed ofimmense numerical superiority, but having the command of thesea, and being able to draw its arms and munitions of war from allthe manufactories of Europe. Authorities still differ as to the rights...　

THE RED SEALTHE RED SEALby Natalie Sumner Lincoln1- Page 2-THE RED SEALCHAPTER IIN THE POLICE COURTTe Assistant District Attorney glanced down at the papers in his handand then up at the well-dressed, stockily built man occupying the witnessstand. His manner was conciliatory."According to your testimony, Mr. Clymer, the prisoner, JohnSylvester, was honest and reliable, and faithfully performed his duties as...