Lights & Shadows of American Life (Volume 3)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1832. Excerpt: ... LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF AMERICAN LIFE. THE AZURE HOSE. Sure he has a drum in his mouth! Clap an old drum-head to hi3 feet, And draw the thunder downwards. Beaumont And Fletcher. CHAPTER I. There is reason in the boiling of eggs, as well as in roasting them. It was one of those charming spring mornings, so peculiar to our western clime, when the light, cheering sunshine invites abroad to taste the balmy air, but when, if you chance to accept the invitation, you will be saluted by a killing, piercing, sea-monster of a breeze, which chills the genial current of the soul, and drives The Editor begs leave utterly to disclaim the literary heresies of this amusing Tale, which were probably thrown out rather in jest than in earnest by the Author. VOL. III. B you shivering to the fireside to warm your fingers, and complain for the hundredth time of the backwardness of the season. In short, it was a nondescript day, too hot for a great coat and too cool to go without one; when one side of the street was broiling in the sun, the other freezing in the shade. Mr. Lightfoot Lee was seated at the breakfast table, with his only daughter, Miss Lucia Lightfoot Lee, one of the prettiest alliterations ever seen. She was making up her opinions for the day, from the latest number of the London Literary Gazette, and marking with a gold selfsharpening pencil a list of books approved by that infallible oracle, for the circulating library. Mr. Lee was occupied with matters of more importance. He held his watch in one hand, a newspaper in the other. By the way, if I wished to identify a North American beyond all question, I would exhibit him reading a newspaper. But at present Mr. Lee seemed employed in studying his watch, rather than the paper. He had good reasons for it. Mr. Light...