A winter in retirement

There is no prospect more lovely and attractive to those who were born upon its shores, than that of the Ocean. In the heat and sunshine of a bright summer day, there is a delic...

The withering wing of Time has swept o’er all your splendor, Your stately palaces, where once the tyrant held his midnight revels, The amphitheatre, which echoed with the groans...

There is a spot, dearer than all beside; A spot where all the joys of life abide; Where sweet affections cluster round the heart, Where peace and love their purest hopes impart;...

The thick curtains were drawn around the windows, excluding the sight, if not the sound, of the tempest without, and the cheerful group again encircled their warm and glowing fi...

Listening thro’ the winter eve To deeds of long past years, when the fierce Goths Invaded Italy; over her lovely plains Poured war and devastation; or the sad tale Of Christian...

The mild blue sky, the silvery moon, sailing in its unclouded brightness, And the soft breeze of night, wafted upon the gentle summer air, All breathe of peace and loveliness; m...

A bright, clear, cold Sabbath morning dawned. The smooth snow sparkled as if sprinkled with diamonds, and the bracing atmosphere seemed to infuse new life into creation. The str...

“My dear mother,” said Herbert, as Mrs. Wilson took her usual place the next evening, “we desire your opinion. Does the fact that we read this story at intervals lessen its inte...

“How’s this, boy? Why are the props removed from this frail plant?” “The gardener, sir, removed them, for, he said, the plant, depending on their kindly aid, grew feeble, tho’ l...

Circumstances intervened to prevent the continuation of the “Tale” for a short time but, on the evening of the Sabbath day, Herbert read a sacred poem upon the subject of Christ...

With a hasty step Lucius Flavius pursued his way through the streets of the city, thronged with persons of every rank and degree, on whose countenances might be traced emotions...

The day of freedom from oppression dawned upon Rome. The short period of repose had renewed the excitement and activity of the populace, who, aroused by tidings of the fate of N...

They had borne all unmoved; disease and death, The pangs of famine, hard and weary toil; That, to their sons, they might bequeath a land, The home of liberty. Shall those sons n...

A charm lingers over the tales of the past, The grey mist of time o’er their beauty is cast; Its thin texture heightens the power of the spell, And the mystic enchantment we wou...

While the heart of many a patriotic American was throbbing with indignation and anxiety, and the countenances of many a mother, wife, daughter or sister was pale with watching a...

Many days of open weather now intervened, when winter appeared to meditate resigning his sovereignty. The snow disappeared from the hills which surrounded their pleasant retreat...

On the ensuing Sabbath evening the conversation turned upon the public services of the day, which were rendered interesting to Charles, as well as the others, by their reference...