The curse of Clifton

Upon a glorious morning, in the mid-summer of 18—, two equestrian travellers spurred their horses up the ascent of the Eagle’s Flight, the loftiest and most perilous pass of the...

The torrents had been so terribly swollen and overflowed, and the roads so dreadfully washed and guttered by the tempest and flood of the preceding evening, that the travellers...

She is a lady of confirmed honor, of an unmatchable spirit, and determinate in all virtuous resolutions; not hasty to anticipate affront, nor show to feel where just provocation...

Captain Clifton had written to Carl Kavanagh, informing him of the situation he had procured for the sister of the latter, at Hardbargain. And within this letter he had inclosed...

Carl Kavanagh and his sister were settled in the log cabin on the farm of Hardbargain. Carl, as an old acquaintance of the mistress, and a late laborer on the plantation, fell r...

Alas! they had been friends in youth, But whispering tongues can poison truth; And constancy lives in realms above, And life is thorny, and youth is vain, And to be wroth with o...

Alas! how slight a cause may move Dissension between hearts that love— Hearts that the world in vain had tried, And sorrow but more closely tied; That stood the storm when waves...

“Oh! cast not thou Affection from thee! In this bitter world Hold to thy heart that only treasure fast; Watch—guard it—suffer not a breath to dim That bright gem’s purity.”—MRS....

The bird when she pineth may hush her song, Till the hour when her heart shall again be strong; But thou—canst thou turn in thy woe aside, And weep midst thy sisters? No, not fo...

Sister! since I met thee last, O’er thy brow a change hath past; In the softness of thine eyes, Deep and still a shadow lies; From thy voice there thrills a tone, Never to thy c...

And when she went up to him, he drew her upon his knee, and passed his left arm around her waist, while, with his right hand, he smoothed her black hair.

A weary week passed away. Zuleime had written to Frank, and Carolyn, we already know, had despatched a letter to Archer. But the week had passed away, and no answer to either ha...

The deepest sorrow that stern fate can bring In all her catalogue of suffering, An eating rust—the spirit’s direst pain— To love, adore—nor be beloved again, Or know between you...

When through the deep waters I call thee to go The rivers of wo shall not thee overflow, For I will be with thee thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

Her eyes unmoved, but full and wide, Not once had turned to either side— Nor once did those sweet eyelids close, Or shade the glance on which they rose; But round their orbs of...

Full many a storm on this gray head has beat And now on my high station do I stand, Like the tired watchman in rocked tower, Who looketh for the hour of his release. I’m sick of...

Her look composed, and steady eye, Bespoke a matchless constancy, And there she sat, so calm and pale, That but her breathing did not fail, And motion slight of eye and head, An...

There is no state of mind so calm as that of hopelessness. And, therefore, there is none so often mistaken for resignation. Zuleime’s cheeks were pale and hollow, her eyes heavy...

A retrospect of several hours is necessary here. You will remember that during the drive home from Hardbargain, Mrs. Georgia Clifton had watched Zuleime with much interest and c...

Nearly twelve months have passed since the death of Mr. Clifton. It is October, the most glorious month in the year, when the gorgeous beauty of nature more than satisfies—when...

In a proud city and rich— A city fair and old, Filled with the world’s most costly things, Of precious stones and gold; Of silks, fine wool, and spiceries, And all that’s bought...

It was always Mrs. Clifton’s rule to spend Christmas at home—so she arranged to leave Richmond on the twenty-third. It was three o’clock on the dark, cold, winter morning, that...

Zuleime had been placed by Georgia under the care of a poor woman, the wife of a carver and gilder, who had occasionally worked for her father. And as long as the funds of the b...

Heaven knows that it is now difficult enough for a poor woman to make a living. But in the days when Zuleime lived and suffered, it was even more so. It was especially hard in V...

She sleeps: her breathings are not heard In palace chambers far apart, The fragrant tresses are not stirred That lie upon her charmed heart. She sleeps: on either side upswells...

Two months have passed since the death of the sisters. To the consternation of the _haut ton_ of the city, the beautiful Mrs. Clifton has left Richmond, and come down to mourn w...

Colonel Conyers exercised tact and discretion in availing himself of the privilege granted him by Georgia. In consideration of the recent affliction of the family, he made up a...

Oh, Winter, ruler of the inverted year, I love thee, all unlovely as thou seemest, And dreaded as thou art. I crown thee king of intimate delights, Fire-side enjoyments, homeste...

Come home!—there is a sorrowing breath In music since ye went, And fragrant flower scents wander by With mournful memories blent. The tones of every household voice Are grown mo...

“Oh! answer it! yes! what is it about?” he exclaimed, starting out of his reverie, and glancing at the note again. Then he arose, penned a hasty excuse, and delivering it to the...

When Archer Clifton saw that all indeed was over; when he looked upon that mother-face, the first which had ever met his conscious gaze in life; that old, familiar face, which s...

Stand up, look below, It is my life at thy feet I throw, To step with into light and joy, Not a power of life but I’ll employ To satisfy thy nature’s want.—BROWNING.

Catherine remained seated in the chair into which she had sunk, with her face buried in her open palms. Her favorite maid Henny, from the Hardbargain farm-house, was in attendan...

Slowly, very slowly Catherine recovered from the shock of that bitter parting. And then she felt so lonely—so desolate; no mother—no sister—no bosom friend, to give her one comf...

Catherine’s arrangements for the year were all completed by the first of January; and with less inconvenience to others, and consequently with less pain to herself, than she had...

Nearly a fortnight of extreme anxiety passed away, during which Catherine heard nothing from her messenger. On the evening of the thirteenth day of his departure, however, a let...

Incalculable is the power of the spirit over the flesh. In the intense absorption of her soul by one hope, Catherine was carried above all consciousness of the excessive exertio...

So trial after trial past, Wilt thou fall at the very last, Breathless, half in trance, With the thrill of a great deliverance, Into our arms forever more; And thou shalt know t...