Lost Lenore: The Adventures of a Rolling Stone

The first important event of my life transpired on the 22nd May, 1831. On that day I was born. Six weeks after, another event occurred which no doubt exerted an influence over my destiny: I was christened Rowland Stone. From what I have read of ancient history-principally as given by the Jews-I have reason to think, that I am descended from an old and illustrious family. No one can refute the evidence I have for believing that some of my ancestors were in existence many hundred years ago. The simple fact that I am in existence now is sufficient proof that my family is of a descent, ancient and noble, as that of any other on earth. Perhaps there is no family, in its wanderings and struggles towards remotest posterity, that has not experienced every vicissitude of fortune; sometimes standing in the ranks of the great; and in the lapse of ages descending to the lower strata of the social scale, and there becoming historically lost.