Author Description

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. 1848 Excerpt:...of the French authors--a book I never wished to see within my doors. I trust, Sybil, you have not been reading such a work of depravity." She answered not, but sat, as I found her, in silent confusion. Albert, without noticing my entrance, again gave a hurried glance at the book. Volume second, and a mark placed towards the close of it! He stood for a moment, evidently much annoyed, and then said, "Well, Sybil, my only consolation on this occasion, must rest upon those words of the. Apostle--" To the pure, all things are pure"--and therefore trust, that to your mind the foul things written within this book, are nearly as harmless, as the passage little Mary has just read, appears to her innocent mind. But pray, dearest, send this dirt from the house directly--Dirt! I wish it were as innoxious--dirt may be washed away, but the pollutions with which such writings defile the mind, never! Upon my word, Sybil," he again resumed with great warmth, " if I did not feel quite convinced that your mind was purity itself--even after this single glance at such a venomous mixture, I could not regard you as the same uncontaminated being, which it has been my pride to consider my wife heretofore. As you vallie my peace, Sybil--your own interest here and hereafter, eschew every work of a questionable nature--French novels, in short all literature which admits of a doubt as to its purity." Alas! alas! one single glance over infected pages--pollution!--what words for one to hear whose daily food of late had been those streams of insiduous evil! Remembering Rousseau, I wondered not so much at the emotion of Mrs. Lennard during these animadversions of her husband--the death-like pallor succeeding the crimson hue which tinged her cheek! I fondl...