[…]certaine of the Jewes banded together[…]

Benjamin Franklin's designation of positive and negative to different charges was arbitrary.

The softening of the great body of snow renders the roads slumpy and full of Thank-ye-ma'ams, so that sleighing is not altogether a blissful experience just now.

...played no games as a boy, but since he did me that good turn I have racqueted about happily.