The Conversion of Cleora

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: ... CONVERSION OF CLEORA. The mansion in the village, stands elevated in the midst of a most lovely and enchanting spot; for there, with no sparing hand, Nature seems to have scattered her richest beauties; and to have drawn, with her own inimitable pencil, the proportions of all-inviting loveliness. There, the eye once caught, is instantly and almost immovably fixed; while the heart is no less enthusiastically charmed. On first approaching, you seem as though transported to the regions of another earthly paradise, where your most reasonable expectations are more than realized. And none ever left that spot without feeling unwilling to be forced away from a feast of such exquisite variety; while many have turned again, and flung "One longing, ling'ring look behind." The mansion, at the time of the following brief history, was in the possession of Esq. a descendant from an ancient and noble family, supposed to have been brought over by William the Conqueror, and by which the A mansion ever since the invasion, seems to have been occupied. The Esq. did not enjoy all the glory of his forefathers; that having partly faded with the ever-changing forms of all sublunary objects. So true is it, that as one generation passes away, and another cometh, so honour perishes, and finds a sepulture in the gloomy cave of forgetfulness and silence, unceremoniously covered by the hand of Time. The Esq. had one only daughter, and it is necessary to add, she was also his only child. This young lady we shall all the way through our little book, designate by the name Cleora. Cleora, then, it is almost needless to say, was ever the object of no ordinary degree of parental fondness--affection we do not say--fondness is instinct--affection is nature, under the government of reason and p...