Choice Readings (Paperback)

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. 1883 Excerpt: ...would out: and so there is; but it lies as coldly in him as fire in a flint, which will not show without knocking. The man's undone forever: for if Hector break not his neck i' the combat, he '11 break it himself in vainglory. He knows not me: I said, Good morrow, Ajax;" and he replies, "Thanks, Agamemnon." What think you of this man, that takes me for the general? He is grown a very land-fish, languageless, a monster, a plague of opinion a man may wear it on both sides, like a leather jerkin. Shahspeare. THE LOST HEIR. Oh where, and oh where, Is my bonny laddie gone?"--Old Song. One day, as I was going by That part of Holborn christened High, I heard a loud and sudden cry That chilled my very blood; And, lo from out a dirty alley, Where pigs and Irish wont to rally, I saw a crazy woman sally, Bedaubed with grease and mud. She turned her East, she turned her West, Staring like Pythoness possessed, With streaming hair and heaving breast, As one stark mad with grief. This way and that she wildly ran, Jostling with woman and with man, Her right hand held a frying-pan; The left, a lump of beef. At last her frenzy seemed to reach A point just capable of speech; And with a tone, almost a screech, As wild as ocean birds, Or female Ranter moved to preach, She gave her "sorrow words." "O lawk O dear my heart will break, I shall go stick stark staring wild Has ever a one seen anything about the streets like a crying lost-looking child? Lawk help me I don't know where to look or to run, if I only knew which way--A child as is lost about London streets, and especially Seven Dials, is a needle in a bottle of hay. I am all in a quiver, --get out of my sight, do, you wretch, you little Kitty McNab You promised to have half an eye t...