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The Spy, by the Author of 'the Pilot'. Revised
The Spy by the Author of 'the Pilot' Revised Author:James Fenimore Cooper General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1831 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER II. And many a halcyon day he liv'd to see Unbroken, but by one misfortune dire, When fate had reft his mutual heart -- but she Was gone -- and Gertrude climbed a widow'd father's knee. Gertrude of Wyoming. The father of Mr. Wharton was a native of England, and of a family whose parliamentary interest had enabled them to provide for a younger son in the colony of New-York. The young man, like hundreds of others in his situation, had settled permanently in the country. He married; and the sole issue of his connection had been sent, early in life, to receive the benefits of the English schools. After taking his degrees at one of the universities of the mother-country, th3e youth had been suffered to acquire a knowledge of life, with the advantages of European society. But the death of his father recalled him, after passing two years in this manner, to the possession of an honourable name, and a very ample estate. It was much the fashion of that day, to place the youth of certain families in the army or navy of England, as the regular stepping-stones to preferment. Most of the higher offices in the colonies were filled by men who had made arms their profession; and it was even no uncommon sight to see a veteran warrior laying aside the sword, to assume the ermine on the benches of the highest judicial authority. In conformity with this system, the senior Mr. Wharton had intended his son for a soldier; but a natural imbecility of character in his child interfered with his wishes. A twelvemonth had been spent by the young man in weighing the comparative advantages of the different classes o...« less