They would be obliged to "run away"—a course as dark and dubious as a balloon journey.
— from Silas Marner by George Eliot

Each of them had a collection of panchangams, or calendars for determining auspicious dates, and a bundle of palm leaf strips (ulla mudyan) inscribed with slōkas for astrological purposes.
— from Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 7 of 7 by Edgar Thurston

But for him who, disillusioned by sad experience, saw everywhere discord and disorder, apathy and brutalization in the lower classes, discouragement and disunion in the upper, only one answer presented itself, and it was: extend his hands to the chains, bow his neck beneath the yoke and accept the future with the resignation of an invalid who watches the leaves fall and foresees a long winter amid whose snows he discerns the outlines of his grave.
— from The Philippines a Century Hence by José Rizal

Although the fungus does not produce spores, the leaves die and dry, and are blown away, carrying with them the dried mycelium of the fungus.
— from All About Coffee by William H. (William Harrison) Ukers

on two threads folded in half, a little distance apart, detail a , and bind them together with a flat double knot.
— from Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont

If a timid ring denotes a dun, and a boisterous one a rich relation, then must the inhabitants of that cleanly suburb have been convinced that the present performer on the bell not only had no claims as a creditor on the people of the house, but was a rich California uncle, come to give each adult member of that happy family a gold mine or so, and to distribute a cart-load of diamonds among the children.
— from The Witches of New York by Q. K. Philander Doesticks

And as since then nothing had happened, he expressed the hope that nothing would, and that his wisdom in buying Dot and Dash at a bargain would be demonstrated.
— from The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley; Or, Diamond X and the Poison Mystery by Willard F. Baker

He has a job sometimes with a greengrocer, at 6 d. a day and a bit of grub; a little bit—very.
— from London Labour and the London Poor (Vol. 1 of 4) by Henry Mayhew

From that time to this I have never ceased pressing the King every day and demanding an answer, but my efforts have been of no avail.
— from The Life and Letters of Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, Volumes 1 and 2 by Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq

There must have been many a shriek for help that had rung through that terrible dungeon, and died away answerless but for the mocking echoes!
— from The Chevalier d'Auriac by S. (Sidney) Levett Yeats

The lifeless body being without its breathing, becomes dull and dull and dumb as a block; its power of movement being derived from the air of breath, but its powers of thought and knowledge are attributed to the intellect.
— from The Yoga-Vasishtha Maharamayana of Valmiki, vol. 3 (of 4) part 2 (of 2) by Valmiki

On Saturday, the 14th of October, at nightfall, Don Alonzo de Avellano, accompanied by the prescribed individuals, including Fray Hernando del, Castillo, an ecclesiastic of high reputation, made their appearance at the prison of Simancas.
— from The Rise of the Dutch Republic — Complete (1555-84) by John Lothrop Motley

And he said: “Well, you were wasting your time, because he is deaf and dumb, and as blind as a badger!”
— from Sketches New and Old by Mark Twain