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"Brother Jacob" by George Eliot tells the story of David Faux, a selfish and ambitious confectioner who assumes a new identity and amasses a fortune, but ultimately faces downfall and rejection when his deceit and greed are exposed.
Among the many fatalities attending the bloom of young desire, that of
blindly taking to the confectionery line has not, perhaps, been sufficiently
considered. How is the son of a British yeoman, who has been fed
principally on salt pork and yeast dumplings, to know that there is satiety
for the human stomach even in a paradise of glass jars full of sugared
almonds and pink lozenges, and that the tedium of life can reach a pitch
where plum-buns at discretion cease to offer the slightest excitement? Or
how, at the tender age when a confectioner seems to him a very prince
whom all the world must envy--who breakfasts on macaroons, dines on
meringues, sups on twelfth-cake, and fills up the intermediate hours with
sugar-candy or peppermint--how is he to foresee the day of sad wisdom,
when he will discern that the confectioner's calling is not socially
influential, or favourable to a soaring ambition? I have known a man who
turned out to have a metaphysical genius, incautiously, in the period of
youthful buoyancy, commence his career as a dancing-master; and you
may imagine the use that was made of this initial mistake by opponents
who felt themselves bound to warn the public against his doctrine of the
Inconceivable. He could not give up his dancing-lessons, because he
made his bread by them, and metaphysics would not have found him in
so much as salt to his bread. It was really the same with Mr. David Faux
and the confectionery business. His uncle, the butler at the great house
close by Brigford, had made a pet of him in his early boyhood, and it was
on a visit to this uncle that the confectioners' shops in that brilliant town
had, on a single day, fired his tender imagination. He carried home the
pleasing illusion that a confectioner must be at once the happiest and the
foremost of men, since the things he made were not only the most
beautiful to behold, but the very best eating, and such as the Lord Mayor
must always order largely for his private recreation; so that when his
father declared he must be put to a trade, David chose his line without a
moment's hesitation; and, with a rashness inspired by a sweet tooth, wedded himself irrevocably to confectionery. Soon, however, the tooth
lost its relish and fell into blank indifference; and all the while, his mind
expanded, his ambition took new shapes, which could hardly be satisfied
within the sphere his youthful ardour had chosen. But what was he to do?
He was a young man of much mental activity, and, above all, gifted with
a spirit of contrivance; but then, his faculties would not tell with great
effect in any other medium than that of candied sugars, conserves, and
pastry. Say what you will about the identity of the reasoning process in all
branches of thought, or about the advantage of coming to subjects with a
fresh mind, the adjustment of butter to flour, and of heat to pastry, is not
the best preparation for the office of prime minister; besides, in the
present imperfectly-organized state of society, there are social barriers.
David could invent delightful things in the way of drop-cakes, and he had
the widest views of the sugar department; but in other directions he
certainly felt hampered by the want of knowledge and practical skill; and
the world is so inconveniently constituted, that the vague consciousness
of being a fine fellow is no guarantee of success in any line of business.
This difficulty pressed with some severity on Mr. David Faux, even before
his apprenticeship was ended. His soul swelled with an impatient sense
that he ought to become something very remarkable--that it was quite
out of the question for him to put up with a narrow lot as other men did:
he scorned the idea that he could accept an average. He was sure there
was nothing average about him: even such a person as Mrs. Tibbits, the
washer- woman, perceived it, and probably had a preference for his linen.
At that particular period he was weighing out gingerbread nuts; but such
an anomaly could not continue. No position could be suited to Mr. David
Faux that was not in the highest degree easy to the flesh and flattering to
the spirit. If he had fallen on the present times, and enjoyed the
advantages of a Mechanic's Institute, he would certainly have taken to
literature and have written reviews; but his education had not been
liberal. He had read some novels from the adjoining circulating library,
and had even bought the story of Inkle and Yarico, which had made him
feel very sorry for poor Mr. Inkle; so that his ideas might not have been
below a certain mark of the literary calling; but his spelling and diction
were too unconventional.
Aviation-nut Jo Mack is more than a future A&P mechanic, she's also the lone survivor of a personal hell that has haunted her every step. Ethan Taylor is the latest over-the-top success to come out of Silicon Valley, but now he must face an even bigger challenge-- the scarred past that has come along for the ride. Can the mechanic and the nerd find hope in the clear, dandelion sky?
In a world where ancient magic and forgotten lore await discovery, three unlikely heroes must unite to reclaim their kingdom's lost glory. Elara, a skilled warrior, Fen, a cunning rogue, and Caden, a brilliant scholar, embark on a perilous quest to uncover the secrets of Eldoria's forgotten past. As they navigate treacherous landscapes, battle formidable foes, and unravel cryptic prophecies, they begin to realize that their journey is not just about restoring their kingdom, but about discovering their own destinies. With the fate of Eldoria hanging in the balance, can Elara, Fen, and Caden overcome their differences and forge a bond strong enough to defeat the darkness threatening their world? Or will the shadows of the past consume their future? The Forgotten Kingdom* is a thrilling epic fantasy adventure of friendship, self-discovery, and the unyielding power of courage in the face of adversity.
In the lush gardens of Casa dei Fiori(House Of Flowers in ITALIAN), secrets bloom, love unfurls, and a family's legacy comes alive in a heartwarming tale of self-discovery, romance, and the power of love to transform lives.
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Desperate to handle her grandmother's towering medical bills, Gianna agreed to a contract marriage with Tristan, the enigmatic man she'd once shared a one-night stand with. She assumed they'd fulfill each other's needs and dissolve the arrangement once the terms expired. Unbeknownst to Gianna, this marriage was a dream Tristan had clung to for ten relentless years. Certain she was just filling someone else's role, Gianna prepared to leave when that other woman returned. But Tristan, his eyes burning with unspoken emotion, seized her trembling hand and declared, "You’re mine. Now and always."
Blinded in a crash, Cary was rejected by every socialite—except Evelina, who married him without hesitation. Three years later, he regained his sight and ended their marriage. "We’ve already lost so many years. I won’t let her waste another one on me." Evelina signed the divorce papers without a word. Everyone mocked her fall—until they discovered that the miracle doctor, jewelry mogul, stock genius, top hacker, and the President's true daughter… were all her. When Cary came crawling back, a ruthless tycoon had him kicked out. "She's my wife now. Get lost."
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
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