Lights & Shadows of American Life, Volume 1

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Mary Russell Mitford
H. Colburn & R. Bentley, 1832 - Short stories, English
 

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Page 305 - Come, all ye quack bards, and ye quacking divines, Come, and dance on the spot where your tyrant reclines When satire and censure encircled his throne, I fear'd for your safety, I fear'd for my own : But now he is gone, and we want a detector, Our Dodds...
Page 42 - As soon as the cat had lapped up the milk, the cat began to kill the rat, the rat began to gnaw the rope, the rope began to hang the butcher, the butcher began to kill the ox, the ox began to drink the water, the water began to quench the fire, the fire began to burn the stick, the stick began to beat the dog, the dog began to bite the pig, the little pig in a fright jumped over the stile, and so the old woman got home that night.
Page 88 - ... highest aspirations, their brightest dreams of fancy, chilled and dispelled by anxiety about " to-morrow's fare." Such an isolated being was Elizabeth Latimer, who, at twenty-four, found herself in possession of an accomplished mind, a memory stored with reading of the best kind, and a judgment accustomed to exercise itself from its earliest development ; and this, with a graceful person and a countenance of great sweetness and intelligence, was pretty nearly all that Elizabeth possessed. She...
Page 97 - A cobbler or a blacksmith would enliven the scene," thought Elizabeth, "but I hope I shall not stay here long." Her first attempt to escape from her new dwelling was a letter to a lady with whom she had long been intimate. Her plan was to open a school, and she solicited Mrs. Graham's assistance, or rather patronage, without taking into consideration how little that lady had to bestow. She answered Elizabeth kindly, explaining to her that her influence was confined to five or six families, none of...
Page 124 - Do not deceive me. I feel that ere long I shall be in the presence of God. And yet I cannot say I die without regret, for I am yet young, and youth, even though oppressed with care, shrinks back at sight of the grave. Yet, as I feel drawing nearer to it, much of the fear that it once excited, subsides, and, perhaps, before my last hour comes, I may cease to think even on Louis. Poor Louis ! if I could have lived a few years longer — but God's will be done.' Mrs Leslie wept. She understood how...
Page 119 - Elizabeth, who had learned to anticipate injustice, lost all self-command, and, clasping her hands, burst into a passion of tears. "Nay, do not suppose," said Mr. C , distressed at his own abruptness, " that I have forgotten our agreement. I have no idea of depriving you of the price of your labours." He unlocked a desk and took out bills, which he put into her hand, saying, " I only meant to tell you that I have deferred the publication of this work for a few months, as there are so many new books...
Page 123 - Yes! when the sun of life more feebly shines, Becoming thoughts, I trust, of solemn gloom Or of high gladness you shall hither bring; And these perennial bowers and murmuring pines Be gracious as the music and the bloom And all the mighty ravishment of Spring.
Page 98 - No! gracious goodness! what could you be thinking of when you offered yourself as governess? Such a salary as I give, and paya music master besides!" " Then reduce the salary,
Page 102 - I am afraid I shall not be able to write until the spring; but, in the meantime, my dear Miss Latimer, I will make use of your pen. Our minds — I say it without flattery, believe me — our minds are somewhat of the same order, allowing for the difference of sex and education. Now, all I ask of you is this: just give me, from time to time, a critique upon some modern writer, and now and then we will review an old one. I leave the choice of subjects to you; of course you will have the '• advantage...
Page 119 - A singular young person, that,' said the bookseller ; ' I must try and find her some employment. Yet I cannot understand how such an elegant and accomplished woman should be in such extreme distress. But what astonishes you ? ' for, as soon as Leslie had cast his eyes on the handwriting, he recognised that of Warren's manuscripts.

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