{"product_id":"9781508001409","title":"Lovers and Husbands: A Story of Married Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eEXCERPT:\u003cbr\u003eTwo maidens sat in earnest conversation one quiet afternoon in October, near the window of a tasteful cottage which looked out upon a gently declining lawn, encircled by elms that still retained their thick foliage. Beyond this lawn was a dense wood, gayly attired in its many-coloured autumn robes. The rays of the setting sun fell broad and unobstructed upon the bosom of this forest, lending to each gaudy leaf, or to the half-revealed silvery branches and trunks of the trees, a glittering lustre that dazzled the eye.\u003cbr\u003e\"\"See, Flora!\"\" said one of the maidens, suddenly interrupting their conversation, and glancing out of the window as she spoke: \"\"is there anything in nature more beautiful than an autumn sunset?\"\"\u003cbr\u003e\"\"Nothing,\"\" returned her companion, half abstractedly, as her eyes followed the direction of her companion's. Then speaking with a sudden animation, inspired by the scene, she added,\u003cbr\u003e\"\"Beautiful, very beautiful! See, Emily, how the sun's declining rays fall in broad masses of golden light over that more sombre and distant portion of the forest, softening it down, and blending it in exquisite harmony, like a skilfully-laid background, with the brighter picture that stands out nearer and in more gorgeous colouring.\"\"\u003cbr\u003e\"\"A living and real picture — not cold, inanimate canvass.\"\"\u003cbr\u003e\"\"Yes, living and real. That strong-armed, deep-bosomed oak, upon whose outermost branches lingers the sun's parting rays, is a different thing from the oak of the painter, no matter how perfect his work may be; and in looking at it, we have a different feeling. We admire the work of art, but we love the work of nature. In looking at the real tree, we have a consciousness that it is the actual, living correspondent of something in ourselves. That there is between us, or a certain principle in us and the tree, an affinity; as there is between us, or certain principles in us, and every flower or bird — between us and everything, animate or inanimate, in the world of creation. It is from this cause that we are peculiarly and variously affected by the sight of natural objects — affected in a different way than by objects the work of men's hands. The latter awake admiration, if beautiful; but nature stirs something within us that is far deeper than a cold approval.\"\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kitrinos Publishers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47143481311472,"sku":"9781508001409","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781508001409_p0.jpg?v=1763721111","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781508001409","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}