For instance, when you are about to send a billet-doux , or love letter to a fair friend, you must only think of what you would say to her if you were both together, and then write it; that renders the style easy and natural; though some people imagine the wording of a letter to be a great undertaking, and think they must write abundantly better than they talk, which is not at all necessary.
— from The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness Being a Complete Guide for a Gentleman's Conduct in All His Relations Towards Society by Cecil B. Hartley

But none had ever heard where the entrance to this enchanted hall was, till a farmer, fifty years since, was sitting knitting on the ruins of the castle, and his clew fell and ran downwards through briars into a deep subterranean passage.
— from Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway

I won’t take a farthing from you.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Chicot was in despair, and it seemed to him as if he had been paying that annuity for fifty years, that he had been taken in, done, ruined.
— from Complete Original Short Stories of Guy De Maupassant by Guy de Maupassant

1 Then Adam returned to Eve, and said to her, "Get up, and take a fig for yourself, and I will take another; and let us go to our cave.
— from The First Book of Adam and Eve by Rutherford Hayes Platt

The distance between the first and second potatoes was to be one yard, between the second and third three yards, between the third and fourth five yards, between the fourth and fifth seven yards, and so on—an increase of two yards for every successive potato laid down.
— from Amusements in Mathematics by Henry Ernest Dudeney

They are for fiscal years, ending June 30.
— from All About Coffee by William H. (William Harrison) Ukers

I shall expect to get the inspiration, thoughts and facts from you, and will agree to dress all the children you bring.
— from The Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony (Volume 1 of 2) Including Public Addresses, Her Own Letters and Many From Her Contemporaries During Fifty Years by Ida Husted Harper

Make the sentence read: "In the case of joint authors, until the death of the last survivor of them and for fifty years thereafter.
— from Arguments before the Committee on Patents of the House of Representatives, conjointly with the Senate Committee on Patents, on H.R. 19853, to amend and consolidate the acts respecting copyright June 6, 7, 8, and 9, 1906. by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Patents

I will not take a favor from you, though I have done this house many favors."
— from A Reconstructed Marriage by Amelia E. Barr

Woe unto you that are full, for ye shall hunger.
— from The Hope of the Gospel by George MacDonald

You argue zealously against domestic life—against the duties of marriage, and yet, at the same time, wilfully determine to tie those bonds with a man who will make them actual fetters for you."
— from The Home; Or, Life in Sweden by Fredrika Bremer

After that the little courier came often unperceived, carrying letters to and fro; for Yvonne sent bits of paper, and Gaston wrote his answers with his blood and a quill from Blanchette's wing.
— from Spinning-Wheel Stories by Louisa May Alcott

He was supplied with clothing and arms, and remained there alone for four years and four months.
— from English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction by Henry Coppée

That paragraph about the little girl trailed along for fifty yards under the rear wheels, with—Hold your tongue, you understand, Higgins—the details would not look well posted up in my club!
— from Sweethearts at Home by S. R. (Samuel Rutherford) Crockett