Cirrus@Austlit

Tale of a dog given to the owner of a Mississippi swamp plantation; their friendship and his misbehaviour. The dog introduces the narrator to his future wife - their romance is recounted; but is shot in anger and pain one night. Well written tale. (PB)

Story of old England and a sinful nobleman's attempt to falsely convict his critical parson of theft. Incorruptibility of poor clergyman stressed. Homely tale. (PB)

Anecdote of the Irish General Bligh and how he won a costly gold watch from a group of Yorkshiremen who would not follow through on a challenge. (PB)

Melodramatic romance of misunderstandings. A man on his way to India reveals his heart to the aunt of his beloved but she mistakes it as a proposal to her. The error continues until she joins him in India where he feels forced to keep his secret and marry her; and his love joins the convent, dying a short time later! (PB)

Mrs Clarenden, wife of a former commercial college principal, recalls the portentous dreams which she listened to and thus saved two loved pupils from a railway accident. Warm, commonsensical. (PB)

The leader of an expedition into Oregon is saved from a huge grizzly by his sharp-shooting Cherokee companion. Action-filled. (PB)

A confession from his grandfather's deathbed wrings from Philip Grant a promise to marry the old man's ward - but she overhears his true response and runs away into the snow. Imbalanced, though the sketch of a deceitful vain woman 'in love' is at least unusual. (PB)

An elderly judge refuses to resign and proves his point with boxing gloves. (PB)

Account of a an unorthodox charge on a French fort in Egypt in 1801 with fixed bayonets. (PB)

Romance between a once-erring jeweller's assistant and a falsely accused salesgirl begins at the police court, survives his term of imprisonment, and is carried on to a fresh start in Toronto, Canada. Thin. (PB)

A farmer complains of the declining quality of hired men - demanding a full night's sleep, etc. Humour. (PB)

A lawyer has a difficult time getting rid of a loquacious travelling salesman. (PB)

Romance blooms over a child's hospital bed between a once broken-hearted heiress turned self-sacrificing nurse and a sensitive doctor. Slight; somewhat hackneyed. (PB)

Romance between the new young master of the Grange and the girl who was his mother's companion before her death. Ends honourably. Slight. (PB)

A temperance lecturer is mistaken for Mark Twain and his address greeted with laughter. (PB)