I hev allus hed a good opinion uv the wimmin folks. I don’t look at ’em as some people do; uv course they’re a necessity–just as men are. Uv course if there warn’t no wimmin folks there wouldn’t be no men folks–leastwise that’s what the medikil books say. But I never wuz much on discussin’ […]

Havin’ lived next door to the Hobart place f’r goin’ on thirty years, I calc’late that I know jest about ez much about the case ez anybody else now on airth, exceptin’ perhaps it’s ol’ Jedge Baker, and he’s so plaguy old ‘nd so powerful feeble that he don’t know nothin’. It seems that in […]

Most everybody liked Dock Stebbins, fur all he wuz the durnedest critter that ever lived to play jokes on folks! Seems like he wuz born jokin’ ‘nd kep’ it up all his life. Ol’ Mrs. Stebbins used to tell how when the Dock wuz a baby he used to wake her up haff a dozen […]

Once upon a time the air, the mountain, and the sea lived undisturbed upon all the earth. The mountain alone was immovable; he stood always here upon his rocky foundation, and the sea rippled and foamed at his feet, while the air danced freely over his head and about his grim face. It came to […]

Once upon a time a robin lived in the greenwood. Of all the birds his breast was the brightest, his music was the sweetest, and his life was the merriest. Every morning and evening he perched himself among the berries of the linden-tree, and carolled a song that made the whole forest joyous; and all […]

In the greenwood stood a mighty oak. So majestic was he that all who came that way paused to admire his strength and beauty, and all the other trees of the greenwood acknowledged him to be their monarch. Now it came to pass that the ivy loved the oak-tree, and inclining her graceful tendrils where […]

In a certain part of the sea, very many leagues from here, there once lived a large family of oysters noted for their beauty and size. But among them was one so small, so feeble, and so ill-looking as to excite the pity, if not the contempt, of all the others. The father, a venerable, […]

“Tell me, Father,” said the child at Rodolph’s knee,–“tell me of the king.” “There is no king, my child,” said Rodolph. “What you have heard are old women’s tales. Do not believe them, for there is no king.” “But why, then,” queried the child, “do all the people praise and call on him; why do […]

One afternoon many years ago two little brothers named Seth and Abner were playing in the orchard. They were not troubled with the heat of the August day, for a soft, cool wind came up from the river in the valley over yonder and fanned their red cheeks and played all kinds of pranks with […]

A child once said to his grandsire: “Gran’pa, what do the flowers mean when they talk to the old oak-tree about death? I hear them talking every day, but I cannot understand; it is all very strange.” The grandsire bade the child think no more of these things; the flowers were foolish prattlers,–what right had […]

It befell that on a time ye Divell did walk to and fro upon ye earth, having in his mind full evill cogitations how that he might do despight; for of soche nature is ye Divell, and ever hath been, that continually doth he go about among men, being so dispositioned that it sufficeth him […]

Once upon a time a young man made ready for a voyage. His name was Norss; broad were his shoulders, his cheeks were ruddy, his hair was fair and long, his body betokened strength, and good-nature shone from his blue eyes and lurked about the corners of his mouth. “Where are you going?” asked his […]

One Christmas eve Joel Baker was in a most unhappy mood. He was lonesome and miserable; the chimes making merry Christmas music outside disturbed rather than soothed him, the jingle of the sleigh-bells fretted him, and the shrill whistling of the wind around the corners of the house and up and down the chimney seemed […]

From out Cologne there came three kings To worship Jesus Christ, their King. To Him they sought fine herbs they brought, And many a beauteous golden thing; They brought their gifts to Bethlehem town, And in that manger set them down. Then spake the first king, and he said: “O Child, most heavenly, bright, and […]

I “Whirr-r-r! whirr-r-r! whirr-r-r!” said the wind, and it tore through the streets of the city that Christmas eve, turning umbrellas inside out, driving the snow in fitful gusts before it, creaking the rusty signs and shutters, and playing every kind of rude prank it could think of. “How cold your breath is to-night!” said […]

God rest you, Chrysten gentil men, Wherever you may be,– God rest you all in fielde or hall, Or on ye stormy sea; For on this morn oure Chryst is born That saveth you and me. Last night ye shepherds in ye east Saw many a wondrous thing; Ye sky last night flamed passing bright […]

Whilst you were sleeping, little Dear-my-Soul, strange things happened; but that I saw and heard them, I should never have believed them. The clock stood, of course, in the corner, a moonbeam floated idly on the floor, and a little mauve mouse came from the hole in the chimney corner and frisked and scampered in […]

The angel host that sped last night, Bearing the wondrous news afar, Came in their ever-glorious flight Unto a slumbering little star. “Awake and sing, O star!” they cried. “Awake and glorify the morn! Herald the tidings far and wide– He that shall lead His flock is born!” The little star awoke and sung As […]

This is to tell of our little Mistress Merciless, who for a season abided with us, but is now and forever gone from us unto the far-off land of Ever-Plaisance. The tale is soon told; for it were not seemly to speak all the things that are in one’s heart when one hath to say […]

Once upon a time the forest was in a great commotion. Early in the evening the wise old cedars had shaken their heads ominously and predicted strange things. They had lived in the forest many, many years; but never had they seen such marvellous sights as were to be seen now in the sky, and […]