No, my poor friend," continued he, addressing the Caterpillar, "disdain you as they may, and unpromising as your aspect certainly is at present, the time is at" hand when you will prank it with the gayest of them all.

Every handful of loose gravel not wholly water leached affords a plant footing, and even in such unpromising surroundings there is a choice of locations.

For what can be more unsuitable and unpromising, than to seem serious with those who are not so themselves, or demure with the scornful?

A more unpromising place for a well could not have been selected in all his extensive grounds; but he was not a man to be patiently baffled even by Nature herself, and he stood looking with grim satisfaction at the hole which rapidly widened and deepened under the vigorous efforts of his sturdy workmen.

I felt quite cool, but I must admit that the situation was beginning to strike me as a little unpromising.

In the Virginia convention, which was called to act upon that question, the prospects of a favorable decision seemed at first to be most unpromising.

The country to the south being sandy and unpromising, Gregory kept westwards, and succeeded in again picking up the channel, now finding the water in it to be slightly brackish.

The first khan we visited was too filthy to enter; but the second, though most unpromising in appearance, turned out to be better than it looked.

Seemingly trivial pursuits have led to discoveries which have benefited all mankind, and priceless truths have been dug out of the most unpromising mines.

I am not insinuating that anyone's nose is an unpromising mine, but I say that I am persuaded there is wisdom hidden in that organ for him who will observingly distil it out.

For parents desirous of finding their true sphere for promising and for unpromising sons, it is eminently a practical question.

It is a most unpromising body,yet the Emperor's will stirs it.

From Mr. Roe's report the country was low and of unpromising appearance.

SIR, The writers who have undertaken the unpromising task of moderating desire, exert all the power of their eloquence, to shew that happiness is not the lot of man, and have, by many arguments and examples, proved the instability of every condition by which envy or ambition are excited.

The true sort, which this lady has manifestedby an expedient which at first sight might seem a little unpromising, has cured me of the other.

This commencement, as will be at once apparent, was sufficiently unpromising, but the French envoy was in a position of such responsibility that he dared not suffer himself to be discouraged; nor had he been long in England ere he became painfully convinced that the petulance and want of self-control in which Henriette wilfully indulged, daily tended to widen a schism that was already too threatening.

The character and style of this book, in its exterior aspect, were as unpromising as it's title.

Much the larger number of characters in these novels are of the same unpromising quality.

Especially does the reader learn that what is most human and what is most lovely in personal character may be found within these rough exteriors and amid these unpromising circumstances.

The natural characteristics of the entire route are as unpromising as those of its inhabitants.

The room into which Mr. Fenton went upon receiving this unpromising invitation was in a state of chaotic confusion.

Everything bleak, unpromising, cold, and unpleasant.

For the subject, as unpromising as it seemeth at first view, is no less than that of Lucretius, to free men's minds from the bondage of religion; and this not by little hints and by piecemeal, after the manner of those little atheistical tracts that steal into the world, but in a thorough wholesale manner; by making religion, church, Christianity, with all their concomitants, a perfect contrivance of the civil power.

But for some time they wore but an unpromising appearance, were more than once suspended, if not broken off, and little, if any, disposition was exhibited on the part of the Russian Government to listen to terms of compromise.

It is a somewhat unpromising morningthe river is dark with fog and the huge arch of the station nearly hidden by mist and steam.