"
The youngest brother, Gluck, was as completely opposed, in both
appearance and character, to his seniors as could possibly be imagined
or desired. He was not above twelve years old, fair, blue-eyed,
and kind in temper to every living thing. He did not, of course,
agree particularly well with his brothers, or rather they did not agree
with him. He was usually appointed to the honorable office of turnspit,
when there was anything to roast, which was not often; for, to do the
brothers justice, they were hardly less sparing upon themselves than
upon other people. At other times he used to clean the shoes,
the floors, and sometimes the plates, occasionally getting what was left
on them, by way of encouragement, and a wholesome quantity of dry blows,
by way of education.
The author starts out with a periodic sentence, beginning with a
predicate modifier and placing the subject last. This serves to fix our
attention from the first. The arrangement also throws the emphasis on
"surprising and luxuriant fertility." The last word is the essential one
in conveying the meaning, though a modifier of the simple subject noun
"valley.
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