AustLit

A fairy who makes quick judgements condemns a lark as quarrelsome because of his long claws - until she sees him use them to save his wife's eggs. Slight. (PB)

A railway engineer tells how a baby's trust saves him from a life of crime. (PB)

An heiress in Victoria, Australia, loses a prospective husband when she loses her inheritance - but she chases up the elderly owner of her one-time property and marries him, he holding the purse-strings tight. Counterpointed with the story of true love between Alick and Phemie - loyal, true lovers. Slight, even their romance of 'poetical justice'. (PB)

A yachting guest tastes the briney seas. (PB)

A detective discovers the secret of thefts from the desk of the headmistress of a girl's school, absolving the beautiful young woman suspected. It is in fact Madame herself, walking in her sleep. Comments on the 'French' art of makeup etc. (PB)

An orphaned girl brings sunshine to the gloomy house inhabited by her uncle who had quarreled with her mother and his own son. She earns a living as a teacher, falls in love, and marries him - making a place for her crusty uncle in their home. Her husband's invalid father is discovered to be her uncle's son - so all is resolved over three New Year's Days. Slow thawing of frozen trust and love stressed. (PB)

Too late Helen Armstrong realises that she has foregone too much to win fame as an artist - a man's love and a child's affection. Tale shows her choice of Italy and her art prove her to be unwomanly. (PB)

A German princess is to marry a prince the next day when she hears the new organist play - the man she truly loves. On the day she discovers they are the same person. Slight tale. (PB)

A beautiful rich tender-hearted girl leaves her fiancee to journey to France and care for her dying father who it was believed had committed suicide for defrauding his employer years before. Twelve years later she returns, dying of consumption, her fiancee having married several years beforehand. Tale of duty and 'the sins of the father' ... (PB)

Romance in Antwerp of the blacksmith/artist/painter Quentin Matsys and his faithful courtship by trial of the daughter of a painter from Flois. Outline tale. (PB)

A complaining citizen is given pithy advice by his mayor. (PB)

Much is not as it seems in this tale. Mark Sinclair is sent to a Victorian country township in pursuit of an escaped criminal. Disguised as a Jewish peddler he penetrates the disguises of a woman dressed as a youth and a man as an old woman. The woman is killed by a tree branch whilst attempting to inform on her accomplices and Sinclair captures one of the criminals, the other escaping Avarice for jewellery and an old Scotsman's miserliness play a part. (PB)

A youth is relieved of his money quickly and efficiently at a ladies charity bazaar. (PB)

An old man's history of the mutilated coins he presents to a shopkeeper wins him his sad purchase. Family photos. (PB)

Sailing up the Suez Canal from Port Said; colour in history of construction and Arabian travellers. Brief. (PB)