It was the best {of
times}, [Adjective
to "the best *time*"] it
was the worst (of times},
[Adjective to "the worst *time*"]
it was
the age {of wisdom},
[Adjective to "age"]
it was the age {of
foolishness},
[Adjective to "age"]
it was the epoch {of belief},
[Adjective to "epoch"] it
was the epoch {of incredulity},
[Adjective to "epoch"]
it was the season {of Light},
[Adjective to
"season"] it was the season
{of Darkness},
[Adjective to "season"]
it was the spring {of hope},
[Adjective to "spring"]
it was the
winter {of despair},
[Adjective to "winter"]
we had everything
{before us},
[Adverb to "had"] we
had nothing {before us},
[Adverb to "had"] we were
all going direct {to Heaven},
[Adverb
to "were going"] we were
all going direct the other way-- {in
short,}[Note
# 1] the period was so far {like
the present
period},
[Adjective to the preceding "period"]
that some {of its
noisiest authorities} [Adjective
to "some"] insisted
{on its
being
received},
[Adverb to "insisted"Note
# 2] {for good} [Adverb to
"being received"] or
{for
evil}, [Adverb
to "being received"] {in
the superlative degree} [Adverb
to "being received"] {of
comparison} [Adjective to
"degree"] only.
There were a king {with
a large jaw} [Adjective to "king"]
and a queen {with a plain face},
[Adjective
to "queen"] {on the
throne} [Adverb to "were"]
{of England};
[Adjective to "throne"]
there were a king {with a large
jaw} [Adjective to "king"]
and a
queen {with a fair face},
[Adjective to "queen"]
{on the throne}
[Adverb to "were"] {of France}.
[Adjective
to "throne"] {In both
countries} [Adverb to "was"]
it was clearer {than
crystal} [Adverb
to "clearer"] {to the lords} [Adverb
to "clearer"] {of the State
preserves} [Adjective to
"lords"] {of loaves and fishes},
[Adjective
to "preserves"] that things
{in
general} [Adjective to "things" or
Adverb to "were settled"]
were settled {for ever}.
[Adverb to "were
settled"]
It was the year {of
Our Lord} [Adjective to "year"]
one
thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. Spiritual
revelations were conceded {to England}
[Adverb to "were
conceded"] {at that favoured period},
[Adverb to "were
conceded"] as {at
this}. [Adverb
to "*are* conceded"Note #3]
Mrs.
Southcott had recently attained her five-and-twentieth
blessed
birthday, {of whom} [Adjective
to "appearance"Note # 4]
a
prophetic private {in the Life Guards}
[Adjective to "private"]
had heralded the sublime appearance {by
announcing}
[Adverb to "had heralded"]
that arrangements were made {for
the swallowing up}
[Adjective
to "arrangements"] {of London
and Westminster}.
[Adjective or Adverb to "swallowing"Note
# 5]
Even the Cock-lane ghost had been laid only a round dozen
{of years},
[Adjective to "dozen"]
{after rappingNote
# 6 out
its
messages,} [Adjective to
"years" or Adverb to
"had been laid"] as
the spirits {of this very year}
[Adjective to "spirits"]
last past
(supernaturally deficient {in originality}
[Adverb to "deficient"])
rapped out theirs. Mere messages {in
the earthly order}
[Adjective to "messages"]
{of events} [Adjective
to "order"] had
lately come
{to the English Crown
and People},
[Adverb to
"had come"] {from a congress}
[Adverb
to "had come"] {of
British subjects} [Adjective
to "congress"] {in America}:
[Adjective to "subjects"]
which, strange to relate, have proved
more important {to the human race}
[Adverb
to the adjective
"important"] {than
any communications} [Adverb to the adverb
"more"Note #7]
yet received {through any} [Adverb
to "received"]
{of the chickens} [Adjective
to "any"] {of the Cock-lane brood}.
[Adjective to "chickens"]
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