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“An acorn suspended by a piece of thread within half an inch of the surface of water in a hyacinth glass will, in a few months, burst and throw a root down into the water and shoot upwards its straight and tapering stem, with beautiful little green leaves. A young oak tree, growing in this way on the mantelshelf, is a very elegant and interesting object.”

Indeed, one could hardly believe two whole hours had elapsed when Miss Kenton looked up at the clock on the mantelshelf and said she would have to be returning home.

Grace's mother keeps a silver spoon in a box on the mantelshelf: "To sell it, Ma says, would be selling the fact that my ma was lady enough to own a silver spoon."

I could see the sneer settle upon his lips, subtle as that was; and I should have liked to stand and watch him, for I am fond of watching the countenances of artists in their medium moments, when I saw that Miss Benette had stolen to the fire, and was leaning against the mantelshelf her infantine forehead.

Two tall wax-candles upon the mantelshelf were reflected in a tall mirror in tall silver sticks; the gold-colored walls were pictureless, and crimson damask was draperied and festooned at the shuttered window.