RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON, V2BY CONSTANTPREMIER VALET DE CHAMBRETRANSLATED BY WALTER CLARKCONTENTS:CHAPTER VII. to CHAPTER XII.CHAPTER VII.In the month of May, 1801, there came to Paris, on his way to takepossession of his new kingdom, the Prince of Tuscany, Don Louis theFirst, whom the First Consul had just made King of Etruria. He traveledunder the name of the Count of Leghorn, with his wife, who was theinfanta of Spain, Maria Louisa, third daughter of Charles the Fourth; butin spite of the incognito, which, from the modest title he had assumed,he seemed really anxious to preserve, especially, perhaps, on account of...　

Memoirs of Carwin the BiloquistCharles Brockden BrownChapter I.I was the second son of a farmer, whose place of residence was a western district of Pennsylvania. My eldest brother seemed fitted by nature for the employment to which he was destined. His wishes never led him astray from the hay-stack and the furrow. His ideas never ranged beyond the sphere of his vision, or suggested the possibility that to-morrow could differ from to-day. He could read and write, because he had no alternative between learning the lesson prescribed to him, and punishment. He was diligent, as long as fear urged him forward, but his exertions ceased with the cessation of this motive. The limits of his acq　

THE CROW[13][13] From the Polish. Kletke.Once upon a time there were three Princesses who were all threeyoung and beautiful; but the youngest, although she was notfairer than the other two, was the most loveable of them all.About half a mile from the palace in which they lived there stooda castle, which was uninhabited and almost a ruin, but the gardenwhich surrounded it was a mass of blooming flowers, and in thisgarden the youngest Princess used often to walk.One day when she was pacing to and fro under the lime trees, ablack crow hopped out of a rose-bush in front of her. The poorbeast was all torn and bleeding, and the kind little Princess was...　

A JOURNAL OF THE PLAGUE YEARby DANIEL DEFOEPart 1being observations or memorialsof the most remarkable occurrences,as well public as private, which happened inLondon during the last great visitation in 1665.Written by a Citizen who continuedall the while in London.Never made public beforeIt was about the beginning of September, 1664, that I, among the restof my neighbours, heard in ordinary discourse that the plague wasreturned again in Holland; for it had been very violent there, andparticularly at Amsterdam and Rotterdam, in the year 1663, whither,they say, it was brought, some said from Italy, others from the Levant,...　

Ragged Lady, v1by William Dean HowellsPart 1.I.It was their first summer at Middlemount and the Landers did not know theroads. When they came to a place where they had a choice of two, shesaid that now he must get out of the carry-all and ask at the housestanding a little back in the edge of the pine woods, which road theyought to take for South Middlemount. She alleged many cases in whichthey had met trouble through his perverse reluctance to find out wherethey were before he pushed rashly forward in their drives. Whilst sheurged the facts she reached forward from the back seat where she sat, andheld her hand upon the reins to prevent his starting the horse, which was...　

Former Inhabitants and Winter VisitorsI weathered some merry snow-storms, and spent some cheerfulwinter evenings by my fireside, while the snow whirled wildlywithout, and even the hooting of the owl was hushed. For many weeksI met no one in my walks but those who came occasionally to cut woodand sled it to the village. The elements, however, abetted me inmaking a path through the deepest snow in the woods, for when I hadonce gone through the wind blew the oak leaves into my tracks, wherethey lodged, and by absorbing the rays of the sun melted the snow,and so not only made a my bed for my feet, but in the night theirdark line was my guide. For human society I was obliged to conjure...　

FABIUS270-203 B.C.by Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenHAVING related the memorable actions of Pericles, our history nowproceeds to the life of Fabius. A son of Hercules and a nymph, of somewoman of that country, who brought him forth on the banks of Tiber,was, it is said, the first Fabius, the founder of the numerous anddistinguished family of the name. Others will have it that they werefirst called Fodii, because the first of the race delighted in diggingpitfalls for wild beasts, fodere being still the Latin for to dig, andfossa for a ditch, and that in process of time, by the change of the...　

The Coming Raceby Edward Bulwer LyttonChapter I.I am a native of _____, in the United States of America. My ancestors migrated from England in the reign of Charles II.; and my grandfather was not undistinguished in the War of Independence. My family, therefore, enjoyed a somewhat high social position in right of birth; and being also opulent, they were considered disqualified for the public service. My father once ran for Congress, but was signally defeated by his tailor. After that event he interfered little in politics, and lived much in his library. I was the eldest of three sons, and sent at the age of sixteen to the old country, partly to complete my literary education, partly to c　

ROMULUSLegendary, 8th Century B.C.by Plutarchtranslated by John DrydenFrom whom, and for what reason, the city of Rome, a name so great inglory, and famous in the mouths of all men, was so first called,authors do not agree. Some are of opinion that the Pelasgians,wandering over the greater part of the habitable world, and subduingnumerous nations, fixed themselves here, and, from their own greatstrength in war, called the city Rome. Others, that at the taking ofTroy, some few that escaped and met with shipping, put to sea, anddriven by winds, were carried upon the coasts of Tuscany, and came...　

SHERLOCK HOLMESTHE ADVENTURE OF THE BLANCHED SOLDIERby Sir Arthur Conan DoyleThe ideas of my friend Watson, though limited, are exceedinglypertinacious. For a long time he has worried me to write an experienceof my own. Perhaps I have rather invited this persecution, since Ihave often had occasion to point out to him how superficial are hisown accounts and to accuse him of pandering to popular taste insteadof confining himself rigidly to facts and figures. "Try it yourself,Holmes!" he has retorted, and I am compelled to admit that, havingtaken my pen in my hand, I do begin to realize that the matter must be...　

THE CHILD WHO CAME FROM AN EGGOnce upon a time there lived a queen whose heart was sore becauseshe had no children. She was sad enough when her husband was athome with her, but when he was away she would see nobody, but satand wept all day long.Now it happened that a war broke out with the king of aneighbouring country, and the queen was left in the palace alone.She was so unhappy that she felt as if the walls would stifleher, so she wandered out into the garden, and threw herself downon a grassy bank, under the shade of a lime tree. She had beenthere for some time, when a rustle among the leaves caused her tolook up, and she saw an old woman limping on her crutches towards...　

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE INFANTA[TO MRS. WILLIAM H. GRENFELL OF TAPLOW COURT - LADY DESBOROUGH]It was the birthday of the Infanta. She was just twelve years ofage, and the sun was shining brightly in the gardens of the palace.Although she was a real Princess and the Infanta of Spain, she hadonly one birthday every year, just like the children of quite poorpeople, so it was naturally a matter of great importance to thewhole country that she should have a really fine day for theoccasion. And a really fine day it certainly was. The tallstriped tulips stood straight up upon their stalks, like long rowsof soldiers, and looked defiantly across the grass at the roses,...