Lost Lenore: The Adventures of a Rolling Stone

From what I have read of ancient history--principally as given by the Jews--I have reason to think, that I am descended from an old and illustrious family. No one can refute the...

He was no longer the humble journeyman--with the deportment of a respectable young fellow striving to retain a situation, and gain friends by good conduct. The very day after th...

What a world to me was that ship! I little knew, before it became my home, how many great men there were in the world. By great men, I mean those high in authority over their fe...

Two days before we reached New Orleans, Stormy Jack expressed some sham contrition for what he had done, with an inclination to return to his duty. He was liberated, and once mo...

No week of my life ever seemed so long, as that night spent in waiting for the return of Stormy Jack. It was not until the sun beams were gushing through my window in the mornin...

I did not dislike a sea life; and would not have been dissatisfied with any situation on a ship, providing it had not been procured for me by Mr Leary.

The reader may justly say that I have dwelt too long on the incidents of my early years. As my excuse for having done so, I can only urge, that the first parts we play on the st...

American authors have written so much about the Mexican war, that I shall state nothing concerning it, except what is absolutely necessary in giving a brief account of my own ad...

There were speculators in New Orleans, engaged in buying land warrants from the returning volunteers. I sold mine to one of them, for one hundred and ten dollars. Besides this a...

I do not like Liverpool as a city; and less do I admire a majority of its citizens. Too many of them are striving to live on what they can obtain from transient sojourners. Bein...

She was beautiful; and she professed to be my friend. But while I felt a consoling pride in possessing the friendship of one so lovely, there was much that was unpleasant in the...

About a week after my interview with Mrs Hyland and her daughter, I saw what I had been daily looking for--a notice in one of the Liverpool papers, under the head of "Shipping I...

Lenore did not disappoint me. Two days after getting out of the prison, I received her reply--informing me that Adkins would be at her mother's house the next day, and advising...

Mrs Hyland did not meet me in the same motherly manner, she once used to exhibit; but I did not expect it; and I could not feel displeased at being admitted on any terms, into t...

My money was gradually growing easier to count--until I found that I had but a few shillings left, and necessity must soon force me to seek employment. Of course I contemplated...

Perhaps the most worthless characters, who follow the sea as a profession, are to be found among the crews of Atlantic liners-- especially those trafficking between Liverpool an...

The emigrants proceeding overland to California, required protection from the Indians--many hostile tribes of whom lived along the route. Military stations, or "forts" as they w...

I travelled along the trail all that afternoon and evening, until, just as twilight was darkening into night, I came in sight of some camp-fires. On seeing them, I paused to con...

On parting with the Californian colonists, young Johnson and I proceeded direct to the diggings on the Yuba, where, after looking about for a day or so, we joined partnership wi...

On my return to the Yuba, with the sad tale of my comrade's death--and the consequent unfortunate termination of our prospecting scheme-- Hiram's partners made search for his go...

After breaking ground upon the Stanislaus, we toiled for three weeks without any success. Every one around us seemed to be doing well; but the several mining claims worked by Gu...

On leaving San Francisco, Guinane had declared his intention of going to the Stanislaus river; and his acquaintances, left behind in that city, had been directed to write to him...

The pursuit conducted us southward; and, at almost every place where we made inquiry, we heard of four mounted Mexicans--who could be no other than the men we were desirous of o...

I have not much fault to find with this world--although the people in it do some strange things, and often act in a manner that puzzles me to comprehend. The man of whom Guinane...

A large grizzly bear had been caught alive in the mountains--about twenty miles from the town--and, at great trouble and expense, had been transported in a strong cage to Sonora...

During my early acquaintance with the old sailor, I was too young to have formed a correct opinion of his character; and my respect for him, was based entirely upon instinct.

I had been much interested in Stormy's story of his early life; and the next evening, I went over to his tent, and taking a seat upon the ground, requested him to continue it.

As already stated, I had left the northern diggings with the design of going to the Tuolumne river; and that on my way to the latter place I had met Guinane--who had induced me...

During all this time, the bear had been energetically trying to pull down, or eat up, the tree; and I only felt secure, when I saw that she had not the ability to do either.

I reached Stormy's tent about ten o'clock; and found him waiting for me. I proposed proceeding at once towards the gaol where the condemned man was kept. I was more impatient th...

Shortly after the termination of the melancholy drama, in which I had taken so prominent a part, Stormy Jack and I went to see the child--now left without either father or mother.

Shortly after my return to the Tuolumne, I was joined by Stormy Jack, who came to Jacksonville, as he had promised he would, with the determination to take the world a little ea...

At the time that Stormy was teaching, or rather receiving, that terrible lesson of manners, I was not in the village. I had gone some two or three miles up the river, to look af...

"Let him dare tell me that it was murder," said the red-haired man, "and I'll serve him in the same way I did the other. Murder indeed! Why, there was a dozen men by, who can pr...

When I returned to Stormy he was worse; and I saw that he had not much longer to live. He was not in so much pain as when I left him; but it was evident he was sinking rapidly.

We started at six o'clock in the morning, on a journey of eighty-four miles. This we should have to perform before four o'clock in the afternoon of the same day--in order to cat...

As my return to Liverpool and Lenore was now indefinitely postponed, I was in less haste to leave San Francisco. I wished to see something of this singular city, which had grown...

When I again embark as a passenger in a Dutch vessel, it will be after I have learnt to speak that detestable lingo. Of all the crew of the "Ceres," only the first officer could...

The more respectable of the castaways were now convinced that some form of government was necessary; and that it should be a strong one. Some who had been willing to acknowledge...

The ship thus brought to our rescue was a New England whaler, that had been cruising about in pursuit of the sperm whale. The captain asked six hundred dollars for taking our wh...

I felt a very singular sort of pleasure, in the anticipation of an interview with my mother and sister. They would not know me: for I was but a boy, when I parted from them in D...

Passing along the street, to which I had been directed, I saw a small, but neat-looking shop, with the words "_Mrs Leary, Milliner and Dress-Maker_" painted over the door. I had...

"He has always been very kind to me," she answered, "very kind indeed. He has gone to the diggings in California, where I have no doubt but what he will do well, and come back w...

I was anxious at once to set sail for Liverpool--taking my mother and sister along with me. Of the money I had brought from San Francisco, there was still left a sufficient sum...

He said, that her life depended on her being kept tranquil; and he had learnt enough to know, that nothing would be more certain to injure her than the sight of myself. He feare...

I made up my mind to go by this vessel; and selected a berth in the second cabin. Before leaving the clipper, I came in contact with her steward; and was surprised at finding in...

My passage from Sydney to Melbourne, was made in the steamer "Shamrock," and, after landing on the shore of Port Philip, I tried to believe myself free from all that could attra...

I worked a claim in German Gully, Fryer's Creek, in partnership with two men, of whom I knew very little; and with whom--except during our hours of labour--I held scarce any int...

The leads were generally but one claim in width; and no party could obtain a claim on either of them, without first having a fight to get, and several others to keep, possession...

There could not well have been a more uninteresting voyage, than the one we made to Callao. There was about one hundred and fifty passengers on board--most of them young and wil...

In the morning and afternoon, when your shadow is far prolonged over the greensward--and you breathe the free genial atmosphere of that sunny clime--an exhilarating effect is pr...

As I moved onward, I began to perceive, that I had not been such a fool, after all, in having waited awhile for my companions. My long quiet reverie, in the shade of the tree, h...

The owner of the station, Mr H--, followed the kindred occupations of grazier and wool-grower; and, to judge by the appearance of his home, he had carried on this combined busin...

I loved Lenore Hyland--I felt that I ever should, as long as life was left me. Such being the case, was it right for me to endeavour to gain the affections of an unsophisticated...

Once more I found myself without a home, without an occupation, and without any plans for the future--with a spirit undecided--depending on some slight circumstance as to what c...

I at length succeeded in making up my mind to leave Melbourne; and, having parted with Vane and Cannon, I proceeded alone to Geelong--on my way to the gold fields of Ballarat. I...

Farrell's philosophical resolve--to trouble the delinquents no more-- formed the subject of my reflections, as I walked towards my tent. It was an illustration of the power whic...

For two or three days I strolled about the diggings, looking for some opportunity of setting myself to work. On the Eureka lead I found five men holding a claim, that stood a go...

So much did my apprehensions prey upon me, that I had some idea of selling out my share and forsaking the partnership; but I had not been very long in the concern, before becomi...

When Oakes and I got back from our search after the thieves, we discovered that still another defection had taken place in the firm. During the interval of our absence, Mr John...

I was accompanied by two others, with whom I had lately been working. Soon after arriving at the rush, we took possession of a claim; and proceeded to "prospect" it.

Three weeks "prospecting," at Slaty Creek, convinced me that it was not the place for a gold-digger to make his fortune, without the severest labour; and for this reason, I left...

After passing four or five days in looking about the Canadian, Eureka, and Gravel-pits, "leads" on the Ballarat Gold-fields, and finding no favourable opportunity of getting int...

We arrived near the Avoca diggings late in the afternoon. Seeing a good spot for pitching a tent, my companion stopped, and proposed that we should go no further: as that place...

"You have expressed a desire to hear the story of my life," said my mining partner. "I make you welcome to it. There is not much of my history that I should be ashamed to tell y...

The old convict, as if reminded by the queer incidents he had related: that he himself stood in need of a smoke, here took out his pipe. After filling and lighting it, he resume...

Our claim on the Avoca "lead" turned out to be worth working; and we had five or six weeks of hard toil before us. My mate continued temperate and industrious; and we got along...

A "claim," adjoining the one in which my partner and I were working, was much richer than ours. The primitive rock lay farther below the surface--showing that there had been a b...

After we had completed the working of our claim in the Avoca lead, my partner--who had told me that his name was Brown--signified his intention of returning home to England.

All engaged in the occupation of mining, were required to take out a monthly licence, for which one pound ten shillings had to be paid. Each miner was required to carry this lic...

When I went to join the insurgents at the Stockade, I was accompanied by a man, who had been living in a tent near my own--a German, whom I only knew by the name of "Karl." He w...

I have stated that about four hundred men were kept under arms at Ballarat, to oppose the amusement of digger-hunting, so much indulged in by the government officials. The forme...

Mount Blackwood was more heavily and thickly timbered, than any other of the Victorian gold-fields. The surface of the ground was very uneven; and the soil on the rocks of but l...

This speculation proved fortunate: for the prospect turned out a good one. The gold I expected to obtain from my claim--added to what I had previously accumulated--promised to a...

Our claim was at length completed, and we--the shareholders--with some of our friends determined to hold a little jollification. We engaged a private room in the hotel, where we...

"At the age of seventeen, I was sent to England to be educated; and, being well supplied with money, the design of those who sent me was not defeated: for I did learn a good dea...

As the autobiography of the "Elephant," had been of too common-place a character to create any excitement, there was but little interruption in the proceedings; and Sailor Bill,...

"There's a question," said Bill, "that I've often thought of putting to you. I've heard you called Rowland. Excuse my appearing to be inquisitive; but I have a strong reason for...

The Melbourne steamer made the port of Sydney, at a late hour of the night. On landing, we proceeded direct to a hotel, where, after some difficulty, we obtained accommodation f...

I had been some little time in my sister's company, before telling her of my intentions regarding her. I had allowed her to indulge in such conjectures about my designs, as the...

It was wrong to part with my poor sister in such fashion; and my conscience told me so, before I had proceeded two hundred yards along the street. I should at least have given h...

On arriving at Melbourne, my sister was taken to the residence of Mrs Morell, where she had the pleasure of meeting her brother William; and making the acquaintance of her futur...

For several days after our arrival, my brother was employed in the pleasant duty of escorting his wife and mother-in-law--on a round of visits to their numerous old acquaintance...

One day, while riding inside a "bus" along the Strand, and gazing out through the slides, I amused myself by looking at the "fares" seated upon the "knife-board," or rather thei...

Next morning I repeated my visit to Saint John's Wood. I again saw Jessie. She expressed herself much pleased to see me; but upon her features was an expression that pained me t...

The servant, who attended to these rooms, possessed a character, marked by some peculiarities that were rather amusing. She was over fifty years of age; and carried about the ho...

I discovered the "entertainment" to consist of one or more persons standing upon a stage, before a large assemblage of people, and screaming in such a manner, that not a word co...

I am afflicted by a mental peculiarity, which seems to be hereditary in my family. It is my fate to form attachments, that will not yield to circumstances, and cannot be subdued...

I had two reasons for this. I wanted to see the great city of iron foundries; and, still more, my old mate--Brown, the convict--who had worked along with me on the diggings of A...

From having resided so long in Captain Hyland's family, I was familiar, as already stated, with the names of many of their acquaintances. Amongst others, I remembered a Mrs Lans...

One morning as I sat in my room, impatiently waiting for the hour when I could call upon Lenore; and pondering over the events of my past life-- especially that latest one that...

Since meeting with Lenore, I had faithfully responded to the invitation of Captain Nowell. Most of my time had been devoted to his ladies; or rather, spent in the society of Len...

Next morning, as I was on my way to Lenore, I thought of Jessie. I was reminded of her by the ringing of bells. It might not have been for her wedding; but no doubt at that same...

One bright May morning, from the turrets of two London churches pealed forth the sound of bells. Sadly discordant were they in tone, yet less so, than the causes for which they...