Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 edition. Excerpt:...war, illustrious in peace, We breathe but her name, and her enemies cease. When her pure spirit, call'd by the Great King of Kings, Is borne hence to heav'n on His own angels' wings, In sorrow a nation, her loved virtuous name Shall behold as a star in one bright blaze of fame. VOTUM. Vhy, good Master-Marline, where are you now trudg-ing, At your time of life, in this thick fall of snow? One would think from your fireside you would never be budging In such severe weather its warmth to forego. For many a morning from the door of my cottage, I 've seen you hard labouring up the long hill: Is it with you a secret whence your favourite pottage, Or favourite stream your canteen to fill?--Many thanks to your Reverence, thereby hangs a story, Which some time or other I would you should know: I; is to my happiness, honour, and glory, To fulfil a made vow to the old church I go.--Ve1l, shake off the snow, my cottage is handy, And tell me this tale, now I 've little to do; Take off your great coat, and a mouthful of brandy, Draw up to the fire and fill your pipe too.--Mayhap not much matter your Reverence may think, And as for the story, not often I 've warm'd it, But to do this good service, 'tis victuals and drink, And I never rest quiet until I 've perform'd it. My life has been one full of hair-breadth escapes, Four shipwrecks I 've suffer'd, and once almost starved; J 've lived upon earth-worms, sea-slugs, and apes, And once with a vulture my dinner I halved. Ah! well I remember, as we sat down to dinner, The presence of other to each of us vex'd: The vulture eyed me as he saw I grew thinner, And thought it quite doubtful which of us went next. From the dear old grey church, what a view of the ocean There is in fine weather! I love there to...