Sunday, March 11, 2012

Opening Sentence Sunday

"It's just not fair." Elisabeth Marguerite Cynster, Eliza to all, grumbled the complaint beneath her breath as she stood alone, cloaked in the shadows of a massive potted palm by the wall of her eldest cousin's ballroom.

What do you think? Can you guess it?
Comment here to try, or to leave your own favorite first page. Click for the answer.

Last week's opener was...

Thursday, March 8, 2012

The Thursday News - Food Network 1800

 LINCOLN, RUTLAND & STAMFORD MERCURY
31st January 1800
The POTATOE SOUP recommended by Mr TURNOR at Bourn Sessions, is prepared as follows: (see pamphlet entitled "Information for Overseers": Put an Ox´s Head, well washed, into 13 gallons of water, add a peck and a half of pared potatoes, half a quartem of onions, a few carrots and a handful of pat herbs, thicken it with two quarts of oatmeal (or barley meal) and add pepper and salt to your taste. Set it to stew with a gentle fire early in the afternoon, allowing as little evaporation as may be, and not skimming off the fat, but leaving the whole to stew gently over the fire, which should be renewed and made up at night. Make a small fire under the boiler at seven o´clock in the morning, and keep adding as much water as will make up the loss by evaporation, keeping it gently stewing until noon, when it will be ready to serve for dinner. The whole may be divided into 52 messes, each containing (by a previous division of meat and fat), a piece of meat and fat and a quart of savoury nourishing soup. The expenses of the meals are: Ox´s Head 2 shillings and 6 pence; Potatoes, onions, etc 1 shilling and 1 penny; 2 Qts of Oatmeal 11 pence; Cost exclusive of fire and cooking: 4 shillings and 6 pence.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Opening Sentence Sunday

Heath turned up the collar of his overcoat, cursing through his teeth as he felt an icy draft of wind slip down his neck.

Got an idea? Take a guess or share your own opening line. Comment here. Click for the answer.

Last week's opener was from...

Thursday, March 1, 2012

The Thursday News - Wills

 LINCOLN, RUTLAND & STAMFORD MERCURY
15th March 1799
A poor labouring man (whose name is CARRINGTON and who has a very large family of children) at Swinstead in this county, is said to be heir to a Mr SCOTNEY who got a large fortune in the East Indies and lately died in London. £10,000 secured by mortgage on an estate in Scotland, forms part of the fortunate property.

 LINCOLN, RUTLAND & STAMFORD MERCURY
18th February 1791
PENNELL´S Will: The Heir at Law of WILLIAM PENNELL, late of Horncastle in the County of Lincoln, Attorney at Law, deceased, (whose Residence since the month of April 1783 at different times and for several months together, has been in London or the vicinity thereof, to the Month of June last, when the said William PENNELL returned to Horncastle aforesaid; continued there until his Death, which happened on the 26th day of January last), requests that if any Person or Persons can give Information of being a subscribing Witness or Witnesses to any Will or Codicil executed by the said William PENNELL, since the Month of April 1783, that they will forthwith give notice thereof either to JOHN HANSON, Attorney at Law, Chancery Lane, London: or to RICHARD HEALD of Horncastle aforesaid, Attorney at Law.

 LINCOLN, RUTLAND & STAMFORD MERCURY
7th January 1792
Next of Kin - Notice is hereby given that whoever can satisfactorily prove themselves to be nearest in Degree of Kindred to William OSBORN, late of Raithby in the county of Lincoln, Farmer and Grazier, deceased, may hear of something to their Advantage by applying to Mr WEBB, Attorney at Law at Louth. NB: The said William OSBORN died in the month of March 1789.