AustLit

Account of the narrator's struggle to earn a living and out of dissipation after his father's financial ruin and death in Victoria. Only a fair girl's love, her loving father's agreement to a year's trial, and a lucky win in the Beechworth Derby through a horse's loyal heart attain him comfort and a family after his struggle. (PB)

A district school teacher, young and pretty, wishes for a Valentine and is heard by a handsome young Frenchman. A boarding house courtship with a slightly older charming French music and art teacher follows - and is finally resolved when he takes off his disguise and reveals that he is in fact the young Frenchman and a nobleman. Pleasant tale comically relieved by a sub-plot involving the Frenchman's valet and a rich middle-aged spinster. (PB)

A beautiful peasant girl in the Scottish highlands is idly courted by a nobleman and her heart broken when she learns of his forthcoming marriage to his rich and beautiful cousin. Even then she saves his life at the cost of her own from a poacher's bullet. Simple predictable romance with emphasis on purity of love. (PB)

A grandmother's softening towards her granddaughter leads to a reunion with her daughter who married a poor mechanic years before.

A blackfoot Indian is bitten by a rattlesnake and so prevented from attacking an emigrant family whose sentinel has fallen asleep - all hidden under cover of darkness (rattlesnakes very active at night?); brief, atmospheric piece. (PB)

Light romance begun at an English adolescent children's party with a game of 'Post Office' and its requisite exchange of kisses and completed in Switzerland several years later. The heroine is an artist; and there is brief mention of women's right to propose. (PB)

A duel begun on a Mississippi steamer results in a blind man killing his antagonist. (Southern legends of past flavour). (PB)

US boy's summer holiday tale told at school. A gang of boys on holiday on Staten Island steal a farmer's watermelon and through the ruse of a farmhand apologise for the theft. First of this 'Boys Own' style - school, nicknames, chums etc. (PB)

A pair of English lovers separated by their families on the eve of elopement meet again years later in the USA whilst on their roofs looking at the 1882 comet. Pleasant romance; some sprightly comments on old maids, women's vanity etc. (PB)

A tramp given work at Art Ryland's property Badlands learns that Ryland's son is returning home, jumping ship at Melbourne with his friend Tom, brother of Art Jnr's sweetheart Kate. The tramp decides to kill the youth for his money - but gets the wrong man, and is hanged in the ropes of the machinery Art senior has rigged up in his house. (PB)

Australian bushranging tale. Black Robin seemingly by accident rides with a newly appointed magistrate Major Mornington as a chance acquaintance until he reveals his identity and steals the Major's horse, clothes and money. Interesting tale of the Major's lack of judgement and caution, and Black Robin's derring-do which sadly declined to a bad end once he was forced to kill someone in self defence. (PB)