The simplicity of the housekeeper made the licentiate laugh, and he directed the barber to give him the
books one by one to see what they were about, as there might be some to be found among them that did not deserve the penalty of fire.
Here the collection of
books exhibited a greater variety.
It had necessarily passed beyond my father's suggestion, and I think it must have been largely by accident or experiment that I read one
book rather than another.
In the dim, far-off times when our forefathers were wild, naked savages, they had no
books. Like ourselves, when we were tiny, they could neither read nor write.
And while we ate and drank and laughed and chatted, the
books around us were weaving their spells.
He forbids me to see any strangers; and he orders me, if I read at all, only to read the lightest and the most amusing
books. 'Do nothing, Lady Verinder, to weary your head, or to quicken your pulse'--those were his last words, Drusilla, when he left me to-day."
Melville from early manhood indulged deeply in philosophical studies, and his fondness for discussing such matters is pointed out by Hawthorne also, in the 'English Note
Books.' This habit increased as he advanced in years, if possible.
On table and chairs there lay heaps of
books; everywhere were
books and papers.
'I could never thole his
books,' said my mother immediately, and indeed vindictively.
After the most conscientious revision the
book had last year been published, and had been distributed among the booksellers.
Oh, we'll write a famous
book between us, Captain Jim.
Old Dobbins will ask who it was tore his
book. Nobody'll answer.