AustLit

Romance of the English countryside. An artist saves a titled lady's life when he stops her horse bolting home and in gratitude she employs him to paint her portrait. They fall in love, she a young widow, but she must overcome her pride as he will not overcome his. Slight. (PB)

Confrontation in a London coffee house between a drunken young man and an Irish army captain. (PB)

Old sketch of famous comic actor consulting a doctor for depression and being advised to attend his own show. (PB)

Account by a newspaper editor of his publication of bushranger Frank Gardiner's letters in his paper, and his personal interview with Gardiner where he was presented with a watch in thanks. Strong air of reminiscence; includes summary of Gardiner's fate.

A Scottish farm servant's conviction that even in heaven they'll find him something to do. (PB)

English story of mesmerism and attempted murder. Two sisters are soon to be parted by the younger's marriage to a local widower who has used mesmerism on her. A tale told by her sister, and a strange dream, are preludes to the man's attempted murder of his fiancee when confronted with the tale ... Competent; overworked. (PB)

A long-married couple agree to confess their faults to each other - and she has scarcely begun before a fight erupts. (PB)

English romance of the nobility. A handsome gentlemanly head-keeper on Sir George Ralston's estate saves his employer's fiancee's life and wins her regard. At first Sir George seems to hate him but after a fight which nearly costs him his life accepts him as his step-brother Sir Charles Ralston. Sir Charles also wins the lady for his own. Pleasant romance; ill-temper of Sir George stressed. (PB)

A lodger moves into a hotel because of comments on his large appetite. (PB)

A horse-reporter's eloquent advice to a shy young lady on marrying in June. (PB)

Madeline Crofton and her father are summoned from their home in North USA to aid Madeline's sister Hester, a governess in North Carolina. When they arrive she has disappeared and is believed dead ... Twin brothers and a spurned half-wild madwoman are part of the denoument. Unlikely plot. (PB)

Account of a clever swindle of a London silversmith in the 1850s. From an old English paper: dramatised. (PB)

US moral tale. A lame infant is cared for by his widowed mother in the home of a generous-hearted Irishwoman in the city, until the mother is killed in a street accident. Bertie feels himself a burden until he hears in church that each of us has a mission - and he awaits his. It is fulfilled when he dies saving an infant from a collapsing house. Sentimental; some effective characterisation. (PB)

Tale of the goldfields and of three mates, 'Gold', 'Silver' and 'Bronze'. Gold, the oldest, is robbed of the savings he had been making to send to his mother, and he suspected a neighbouring miner, 'Happy Jack'. Happy Jack had been flirting with the respectable barmaid Lucy Leonard who Gold loved, but she helped the three mates discover Happy Jack's plans to dig into their mine wall - which finally collapses, killing Gold. Tale of male camaraderie and love. (PB)

Romance of an Italian shepherd and his village maiden who sacrifice three fingers each so they may marry. Slight. (PB)

A clergyman's son determines the age of a horse given to his father - an ancient one. (PB)