The Lost Jewel by Aloe Author:Charlotte Maria Tucker General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1860 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER VI. SUNDAY MORNING. It is a bright, glorious morning in May. The large white clouds with their pearly edges scarce move in the soft blue ether. Nature wears her holiday garb; every fruit-tree is bursting into blossom, and the hedges are gay with flowers. Even in crowded London the influence of the sweet season is felt. It is the Sabbath, and a Sabbath brightness seems to be shed around. The streets are filled with streams of people, moving in various directions where the sound of the church-bells summons them to their respective places of worship. Families that can meet but little during the week have met together now. The worn artisan has donned his Sunday coat, and is enjoying, as the weary only can enjoy, the calm of the day of rest. The man of business has gladly thrown aside his six days' burden of care, and surveys with pride the little group of his children, to whom, but for ths Sunday's holiday, he must have been almost a stranger. The aged mother, in her decent weeds, can go to the house of prayer, leaning on the arm of her apprentice- son ; and united families together blend their thanksgivings and songs of praise. Sir John's pew is not empty -- nor full, for it is a rule, which he never breaks, under no circumstances to admit a stranger. He occupies the place next the door, with large gold-clasped prayer-book before him, and, unless when occasionally dosing a little during a lengthened sermon, he appears as devout and attentive in his manner as the greater part of the congregation. His daughter, elegantly dressed, is at his side, and beyond her, with his large earnest eyes fixed ...« less