Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ... ilcrder form Jo not conceal a coward thought. Their eyes wander from the form of the General, to the figure by his side. That figure, the most beautiful thing out of Paradise--a young wife, with a biby nestling on her bosom! At the head of the table she is seen; her form now ripened into its perfect bloom, negligently attired in a loose robe, whose careless folds cannot hide the whiteness of her neck, or the faultless contour of that half-bared arm. And the child that sleeps upon her full bosom, its tiny hands wound among the tresses of her golden hair, is very beautiful. The Darkness of its Father's Crime, has not yet shadowed its cherub face. Arnold is silent. Ever and again from the shadows of his deep drawn brows, he gazes upon her, his wife! Upon the burden of her breast, that smiling child. How much has he risked for them! Her eye of deep melting blue, first trembles over the face of the infant, and then surveys her husband's visage. O, the fearful anxiety of that momentary gaze! Does she fear for the future of her babe? Shall he be the heir of Arnold the Earl? Does she the child of wealth and luxury, lapped from her birth in soft attire, for a moment fancy that Arnold himself, was once a friendless babe, pressed to the agonized bosom of a poor and pious woman? --Ere we li-ten to the conversation of the Breakfast-table, let its approach these windows, and behold the scene without. Not upon the beautiful river, nor the far extending mountains, will we gaze. No! There are certain sights which at once strike our eye. A warrior's horse stands saddled by the door. Yonder, far down the river, the British Flag streams from the British Ship, Vulture. To the north-west, we behold the rocks and clifl's of West Point. Let us traverse this..