The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

259

Kazimierz Alchimowicz (1840–1916)

The Story of Ruth Clay Lane

Naomi lost her husband and two sons in Moab, and returned to Bethlehem with only one comfort in her bitterness, her daughter-in-law Ruth.

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260

Engraved by Robert Hicks (active 1800-1836), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

An Unpopular Popular Reform Samuel Smiles

Statesmen promise to make the country a better place, but they never mention the one thing that would do some good.

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261

Matthias Stom (fl. 1615–1649), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Inordinate Saving Samuel Smiles

Samuel Smiles warned that taking care of the pennies should not come before taking care of living.

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262

By the Fairfax Corporation, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Underqualified Flight International

Amy Johnson of Hull had clocked only ninety hours of flying experience before taking off alone for Australia.

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263

By Hugh Charles McBarron, Jr. (1902-1992), via the US Army Center for Military History and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Lady Harriet’s Errand General John Burgoyne

On the evening of October 7th, 1777, as fighting on Bemis Heights subsided, Harriet Acland came to General Burgoyne with a startling request.

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264

© Eric Cosmides, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Keeping the Colonies John Trenchard

Peoples of another culture or region will not long tolerate a Government that uses guns and soldiers to secure their obedience.

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