There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness but of power. They are messengers of overwhelming grief and unspeakable love. - Washington Irving

There is a sacredness in tears....They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.

His appetite for the marvelous, and his powers of digesting it, were equally extraordinary

Balt Van Tassel was an easy indulgent soul; he loved his daughter better even than his pipe, and, like a reasonable man and an excellent father, let her have her way in everything.

His wife "ruled the roost," and in governing the governor, governed the province, which might thus be said to be under petticoat government.