AustLit

A Yorkshireman refuses to contribute to a fund for the construction of a cemetery wall - plain common sense response. (PB)

Two educated sisters are reduced by poverty to seamstress work for a fashionable establishment. They are visited by two cousins, one selfish who wishes a dress order altered, and the other kind who takes pity on sickly May Peters and cares a little for her. A French name for business purposes, a loaned ring and another one lost, and a lace robe completed all play a part in reuniting May and her former suitor - the kindly cousin's brother who had been searching for her. Underlying theme of the poor work conditions and health of sewing girls. (PB)

A factory-girl marries her employer. Seven years later during a strike she speaks to them independently outside the factory, urging them to hold out a little longer and win rights for themselves and other workers. The platform collapses and crushes her, but her husband promises on her deathbed to meet their demands. (PB/JG)

Frontier tale. A Kansas stage coach outraces an Indian attack with the loss of two men on the roof - other men wounded and women safe. Understated laconic driver - not as 'pathetic' as usual. (PB)

Riverina station adventure. Tracy Linden, an English new chum and barrister, is searching Australia for his guardian's missing son and heir. He strikes up a friendship with a gentlemanly but uncommunicative station hand, Joe. Joe loves his horse, Carmen, and the friendship grows. Linden plans to continue his search on the day Joe returns from a trip to Sydney. Joe does not return and a search party assisted by Carmen finds him wounded. He dies a few days later,revealing he is the man Linden was searching for and showing a volume of Wordsworth bearing the name of Joe's true father.(PB)

Clerical account of a pompous churchgoer confronted in the pew he paid well for by a rare attender and his family. He is outfaced. (PB)

Tale of youthful follies. A young Englishman raised chiefly in Italy, George Vincent Barron, unexpectedly becomes heir to his guardian's estates in England. He displaces the old man's former heir - Gilbert Thorne - who attempts to strip him of his fortune by gambling. Thorne attempts to poison Barron when his scheme is discovered, but Barron survives, mends his ways, marries, etc. (PB)

A merchant service captain's patience is broken by an old sailor who doesn't cater to his self importance. (PB)

A young railway traveller plays a trick on an old man who preaches abstention but has a whisky flask in his pocket. When he takes a pull on the flask the youth discovers it is a quinine mix. (PB)

A man dreams one night on his drawing-room sofa of his neighbour the colonel, victorious in battle and wedded to his queen. The old man dies of gout and is buried with his unusual sword, a picture of his lost love and his bible - the latter more 'ought' than 'would'. (PB)

A Russian gypsy and a Jew haggle over the sale of a horse - both cheat and are cheated so both accept it. (PB)

A country visitor to Sydney describes his first Rugby Union match, between the Wairoas and the Invincibles at Sydney's Woodnor Park. 'Naive' description, comparisons etc. Spectator's tough; compares barracking to a corroboree; leap-frog on field scrum. One comparison of a player to a 'negro' with a chicken under his arm. Casualties of players at half-time. A dead pup thrown at an umpire and his retaliation. (PB)

A college undergraduate holidaying and recuperating with a bachelor uncle falls in love with the delicate daughter of a neighbouring chemist. The father is often away, and the daughter begins to see ghosts. The hero is called away to London twice, but first discovers that the girl is missing. She has been tied up by the gang of couriers - counterfeiters - which her father heads. The undergraduate is wounded and tied up - but rescued by a young London detective and his men. He recovers to find his beloved missing and her father imprisoned. (PB)

Young lovers protestations of affection contrasted to an old bachelor's cynicism. (PB)

An Englishman in Paris to purchase engagement presents for his fiancee is arrested for the murder of a count in 1881. Circumstantial evidence - a scarf pin and a rare book - point to his guilt. But interviews with the magistrate and verifying of his evidence have him set free, but not proven innocent. He is ostracised by many including his fiancee, but he becomes widely popular. A chance encounter in Berlin reveals the identity of the true murderer. (PB)

Narrative of a London society gentleman's youthful escapade - spending a night as a London cabby. He encounters abuse, is nearly recognised, and assists a forger to catch a train for double fare. Reflects on the different faces London and society shows to rich and poor. (PB)

A confirmed bachelor and businessman meets a rich fat widow on a business trip, courts her but fails to propose before leaving town. He writes his proposal and a letter to his sister explaining the situation - but mixes up the envelopes ... and is still a bachelor! (PB)

In diplomatic form. One husband advises another to buy a bicycle for his wife's health - then offers to sell the one his own wife has for half-price. (PB)

The family doctor, fearful that his friend's slow son had been the cause of his mother's and now her sister (his proposed step-mother's) deaths by poison, quickly becomes suspicious of the boy's caretaker. Cousin to his father, and disappointed in her love for him, she had murdered both her rivals and intended to blackmail the father by blaming the son. The boy awakens from his years' long stupour and proves her guilt. (PB)

A bicycle bragart asked to prove his ability steals the bike. (PB)