Charles O'Malley, Vol. 1 of 2

Excerpt from Charles O'malley, Vol. 1 of 2: The Irish Dragoon

While, however, I was sifting these evidences, and sepa rating, as well as I might, the wheat from the chafi', I was in a measure training myself for what, without my then knowing it, was to become my career in life. This was not therefore altogether without a certain degree of labour, but so light and pleasant withal, so full of picturesque peeps at character and humourous views of human nature, that it would be the very rankest ingratitude of me if I did not own that I gained all my earlier experiences of the world in very pleasant company - highly enjoyable at the time, and with matter for charming souvenirs long after.

That certain traits of my acquaintances found them selves embodied in some of the characters of this story, I do not seek to deny. The principle of natural selection adapts itself to novels as to nature, and it would have demanded an effort above my strength to have disabused myself at the desk of all the impressions of the dinner table, and to have forgotten features which interested or amused me.

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