There is a sound of distant reapers, and yonder rises a blue line of cottage smoke against the woodland.
— from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Success (by laws of competition) signifies always so much victory over your neighbour as to obtain the direction of his work and take the profits of it.
— from Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources Including Phrases, Mottoes, Maxims, Proverbs, Definitions, Aphorisms, and Sayings of Wise Men, in Their Bearing on Life, Literature, Speculation, Science, Art, Religion, and Morals, Especially in the Modern Aspects of Them by Wood, James, Rev.

In this case our fear, if we still choose to call it so, would be lest our cravings should remain unsatisfied, or rather fear has given place to need; we recognise our dependence on external powers not because they threaten but because they forsake us.
— from The Life of Reason: The Phases of Human Progress by George Santayana

The rooms were shut up, the lodgers almost all gone, scarcely any family but of the residents left; and, as there is nothing to admire in the buildings themselves, the remarkable situation of the town, the principal street almost hurrying into the water, the walk to the Cobb, skirting round the pleasant little bay, which, in the season, is animated with bathing machines and company; the Cobb itself, its old wonders and new improvements, with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to the east of the town, are what the stranger's eye will seek; and a very strange stranger it must be, who does not see charms in the immediate environs of Lyme, to make him wish to know it better.
— from Persuasion by Jane Austen

Like all streams rising in glacier bearing lands of calcareous structure, its waters are very white and chalky, which may account for the apparent reluctance of the fish to rise to a fly.
— from Along Alaska's Great River A Popular Account of the Travels of an Alaska Exploring Expedition along the Great Yukon River, from Its Source to Its Mouth, in the British North-West Territory, and in the Territory of Alaska by Frederick Schwatka

There are two houses in which dancing floors have been laid on carriage springs, and all the large houses have their separate ball-room.
— from Forty Thousand Miles Over Land and Water The Journal of a Tour Through the British Empire and America by Ethel Gwendoline Vincent

This booklet does not pretend to be a biography; you may call it a Memorial, or even a Jubilee Souvenir, if you wish; but, kindly do not overlook the purpose for which it is issued:—In all seriousness allow it to call your attention to the stern fact that the Micmac Mission, while in progress was very much hindered by lack of Christian sympathy, and, since the faithful laborer was removed to his reward, no attempt has been made to carry on the work which was so manfully undertaken fifty years ago.
— from Rand and the Micmacs by Jeremiah S. Clark

We want a big lot of canned stuff, vegetables, and bully beef.
— from The Pearl Fishers by H. De Vere (Henry De Vere) Stacpoole

“They were come too late in the year for any amusement or variety which Lyme, as a public place might offer; the rooms were shut up, the lodgers almost gone, scarcely any family but the residents left—and as there is nothing to admire in the buildings themselves, the remarkable situation of the [250] town, the principal street almost hurrying into the water, the walk to the Cobb, skirting round the pleasant little bay, which in the season is animated with bathing machines and company; the Cobb itself, its old wonders and new improvements, with the very beautiful line of cliffs stretching out to the east of the town, are what the stranger’s eye will seek; and a very strange stranger it must be who does not see charms in the immediate environs of Lyme to make him wish to know it better.
— from Jane Austen and Her Times by G. E. (Geraldine Edith) Mitton

And Gregory, lacking the means to inform him that the missing Kenneth was already returned, was forced to possess his soul in patience until his brother, having learnt what was to be learnt of Cromwell, should journey home.
— from The Tavern Knight by Rafael Sabatini

The outer office was vacant, but through the open door to another room she observed Baird at his desk, his head bent low over certain sheets of yellow paper.
— from Merton of the Movies by Harry Leon Wilson