Her young mother had died, and as the child had been treated like a favorite doll or a very spoiled pet monkey or lap dog ever since the first hour of her life, she was a very appalling little creature.
— from A Little Princess Being the whole story of Sara Crewe now told for the first time by Frances Hodgson Burnett

There is a light that illumines, in greater or less degree, every soul that cometh into the world; but the Gift of the Holy Ghost, imparted by the laying on of hands of one divinely authorized to bestow it, is a special endowment, and only those having membership in the Church of Christ can possess it.
— from Saturday Night Thoughts A Series of Dissertations on Spiritual, Historical, and Philosophic Themes by Orson F. (Orson Ferguson) Whitney

There was no outcry, no spoken word; but in a moment a tremor ran over her slender form, her knees gave way, and with one last desperate effort she tried to reach Maillot.
— from The Paternoster Ruby by Charles Edmonds Walk

The student must, however, read between the lines of this biography, for Decembrio, at the request of Leonello d' Este, suppressed the darker colors of the portrait of his master.
— from Renaissance in Italy, Volume 1 (of 7) The Age of the Despots by John Addington Symonds

Next above them was a stratum of loose dark earth similar to that noticed in the front part of the cavern; but here were found no traces whatever of man's presence.
— from Archeological Investigations Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 76 by Gerard Fowke

And the answer is that some astronomers have been searching for another planet to make up the weight, with more or less diligence, ever since the deficiency came to be recognised.
— from New Theories in Astronomy by Willam Stirling

Your men have been more or less drunk ever since they came here.
— from The Lost Heir by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty