AustLit

Humorous account of recent scientific discoveries about the earth and their implications. Slightly amusing; overdone. (PB)

Set over three Christmas Days. Begun on a railway journey from London to Yorkshire when the narrator and a young beautiful girl are snowed in their carriage together; continued after a railway accident the next Christmas at the same spot; and completed at a hearty Yorkshire squire's celebrations. (PB)

Tale from Virginia of a maiden aunt's loss of reason in her youth. On a visit to Harper's Ferry she spent the night in an old cabin and was locked in for several hours with an escaped maniac. Better than the usual 'confrontation with a madman' tale because the setting and situation are varied. (PB)

An American woman circus rider impersonates a fellow passenger when the ship carrying them both and their husbands to England sinks. She is unknown to the heiress' husband's titled family, and in her disguise wins the love of the new heir, but is exposed on the very day they are to marry. She leaves with her true husband who had survived the shipwreck but is deserted by him and returns to the circus ring where she eventually dies in the arms of the English lord when their paths cross in Mexico! Lightly exotic; interesting for its description of the distinctions between refined English manners style. (Counterpointed by the equestrienne's base English husband.) (PB)

A US college professor counsels a student to play a kindly rather than a mischievous trick on an old labourer hoeing a cornfield. Humanity urged. (PB)

An artist's daughter is forced by her father's recent blindness to support the family by painting multiple copies of cheap scenes for warehouse distribution. The name chosen to market them, Moses and Co, belongs to a young artist - and he comes to protect his reputation, romance soon following. Includes a scene where the artist himself helps finish some of the mass produced works. (PB)

Humorous romance. An English squire's son wins his unwilling father-in-law's consent to a marriage with his daughter by stealing his clothes while he was swimming in the river and innocently offering his own in their place. A confirmation and a bishop complete the scene ... (PB)

Romance set in the uproar of a children's party and an attempted burglary - when an erstwhile nervous suitor shows his true courage. Light; humorous, domestic tale. Female narrator. (PB)

Christmas reunion for an old couple and their prodigal son who left them 15 years before when he was caught by his father drunk and having stolen from his employer. Plain tale of a mother's faithful love. (PB)

A poor seamstress' death in hospital after a carriage accident. Her worry is all for the family who depend on her. Pathos. (PB)

A photographer photographs his wife's lady companion apparently talking to this younger brother-in-law Frank in the botanical gardens. She is discovered murdered by a poison and Frank is suspected. But the discovery of a marriage certificate and the lady's ring in the possession of a purported squatter about to marry a rich society girl turns suspicion elsewhere. The bride-to-be though photographed in her gown dies soon after - before she is married. Comments on the effects of social connection and money or justice - it helps the intended groom escape. (PB)

Tale of US street boys. A gentleman's wish to do a Christmas kindness to his bootblack reveals the unselfishness of the boy and his ex-partner dying in hospital from the results of a street accident. (PB)