The tea-things, including a bottle of rather suspicious character and a cold knuckle of ham, were set forth upon a drum, covered with a white napkin; and there, as if at the most convenient round-table in all the world, sat this roving lady, taking her tea and enjoying the prospect.
— from The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

Anatole kept on refilling Pierre’s glass while explaining that Dólokhov was betting with Stevens, an English naval officer, that he would drink a bottle of rum sitting on the outer ledge of the third floor window with his legs hanging out.
— from War and Peace by Tolstoy, Leo, graf

Why did he always feel as though “that woman” were fated to appear at each critical moment of his life, and tear the thread of his destiny like a bit of rotten string?
— from The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Is there a bard of rustic song, Who, noteless, steals the crowds among, That weekly this area throng, O, pass not by!
— from Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns

It had a strange sound, however; for it was at the same time—dull and vibrating, stifled and clear, as if he were calling out as loud as he could with a bit of rag stuffed into his mouth.
— from Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant by Guy de Maupassant

N. B. The Undertaker does not question but in a short time to have formed a Body of Regular Snuff-Boxes ready to meet and make head against [all] the Regiment of Fans which have been lately Disciplined, and are now in Motion .
— from The Spectator, Volume 1 Eighteenth-Century Periodical Essays by Steele, Richard, Sir

Though the rite is magical in character, perhaps the decaying flesh might act as manure, and be of real service to the farmer.
— from Myth, Ritual And Religion, Vol. 2 (of 2) by Andrew Lang

SURYA, Hindu god of the sun, corresponding to the Greek Helios SUTRI, Orlando's birthplace SVADILFARI, giant's horse SWAN, LEDA AND SYBARIS, Greek city in Southern Italy, famed for luxury SYLVANUS, Latin divinity identified with Pan SYMPLEGADES, floating rocks passed by the Argonauts SYRINX, nymph, pursued by Pan, but escaping by being changed to a bunch of reeds (See Pandean pipes) T TACITUS, Roman historian TAENARUS, Greek entrance to lower regions TAGUS, river in Spain and Portugal TALIESIN, Welsh bard TANAIS, ancient name of river Don TANTALUS, wicked king, punished in Hades by standing in water that retired when he would drink, under fruit trees that withdrew when he would eat TARCHON, Etruscan chief TARENTUM, Italian city TARPEIAN ROCK, in Rome, from which condemned criminals were hurled TARQUINS, a ruling family in early Roman legend TAURIS, Grecian city, site of temple of Diana (See Iphigenia) TAURUS, a mountain TARTARUS, place of confinement of Titans, etc, originally a black abyss below Hades later, represented as place where the wicked were punished, and sometimes the name used as synonymous with Hades TEIRTU, the harp of TELAMON, Greek hero and adventurer, father of Ajax TELEMACHUS, son of Ulysses and Penelope TELLUS, another name for Rhea TENEDOS, an island in Aegean Sea TERMINUS, Roman divinity presiding over boundaries and frontiers TERPSICHORE, Muse of dancing TERRA, goddess of the earth TETHYS, goddess of the sea TEUCER, ancient king of the Trojans THALIA, one of the three Graces THAMYRIS, Thracian bard, who challenged the Muses to competition in singing, and, defeated, was blinded THAUKT, Loki disguised as a hag THEBES, city founded by Cadmus and capital of Boeotia THEMIS, female Titan, law counsellor of Jove THEODORA, sister of Prince Leo THERON, one of Diana's dogs THERSITES, a brawler, killed by Achilles THESCELUS, foe of Perseus, turned to stone by sight of Gorgon's head THESEUM, Athenian temple in honor of Theseus THESEUS, son of Aegeus and Aethra, King of Athens, a great hero of many adventures THESSALY THESTIUS, father of Althea THETIS, mother of Achilles THIALFI, Thor's servant
— from Bulfinch's Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch

Wherever you see a bank of red sand or red clay or a little brook which leaves a red mark on the ground as it flows, there is iron.
— from Diggers in the Earth by Eva March Tappan

The Brothers then bore S. 64° E.; Mount Cornwallis N. 38° E; and a long, low island (Turn-again., of Bligh,) N. 35° to 58° W. At three p.m. the reefs were so numerous, that the ships were obliged to anchor, until the boats could sound for a passage: the depth here was 4½ fathoms, on a bottom of rotten stones and coral.
— from A Voyage to Terra Australis — Volume 1 Undertaken for the purpose of completing the discovery of that vast country, and prosecuted in the years 1801, 1802 and 1803, in His Majesty's ship the Investigator, and subsequently in the armed vessel Porpoise and Cumberland schooner by Matthew Flinders

It appears that Wodrow had intended to publish a book on remarkable special providences—something of a scientific character it was to be, containing a classification of their phenomena, perhaps a theory of their connection with revealed religion.
— from The Book-Hunter A New Edition, with a Memoir of the Author by John Hill Burton

A bit of rope, stolen from about a box of food sent a prisoner, had been made into a rope ladder.
— from Tom Strong, Lincoln's Scout A Story of the United States in the Times That Tried Men's Souls by Alfred Bishop Mason

Her advice was received with a buzz of retaliating sallies from the giggling aspirants for sardine experience.
— from Marjorie Dean, Marvelous Manager by Josephine Chase

Introducing Trudy served as an attraction, and besides the hostess had telephoned her that she had just received a box of Russian sweetmeats made by a refugee who was starting life anew in New York, and two barrels of china, each barrel containing but three plates and each plate being valued at six hundred dollars.
— from The Gorgeous Girl by Nalbro Bartley