Short Stories

  Little Thumb by Charles Perrault There was, once upon a time, a man and his wife, faggot-makers by trade, who had seven children, all boys. The eldest was but ten years old, and the youngest only seven. One might …

The Woman Who Lived In a Shoe by L. Frank Baum   There was an old woman Who lived in a shoe, She had so many children She didn’t know what to do; She gave them some broth Without any …

The Woggle-Bug Book by L. Frank Baum   The Unique Adventures of the WOGGLE-BUG ONE day Mr. H. M. Woggle-Bug, T. E., becoming separated from his comrades who had accompanied him from the Land of Oz, and finding that time …

The Story Of Tommy Tucker by L. Frank Baum   Little Tommy Tucker sang for his supper. What did he sing for? white bread and butter. How could he cut it, without any knife? How could he marry, without any …

The Story Of Little Boy Blue by L. Frank Baum   Little Boy Blue, come blow your horn. The sheep ‘s in the meadow, the cow ‘s in the corn; Where ‘s the little boy that minds the sheep? He …

  The Scarecrow and The Tin Woodman by L. Frank Baum   There lived in the Land of Oz two queerly made men who were the best of friends. They were so much happier when together that they were seldom …

The Bênitous’ Slave by Kate Chopin   OLD Uncle Oswald believed he belonged to the Bênitous, and there was no getting the notion out of his head. Monsieur tried every way, for there was no sense in it. Why, it …

Tante Cat’rinette by Kate Chopin   IT happened just as everyone had predicted. Tante Cat’rinette was beside herself with rage and indignation when she learned that the town authorities had for some reason condemned her house and intended to demolish …

Ripe Figs by Kate Chopin   Maman-Nainaine said that when the figs were ripe Babette might go to visit her cousins down on Bayou-Boeuf, where the sugar cane grows. Not that the ripening of figs had the least thing to …

Regret by Kate Chopin MAMZELLE AURLIE possessed a good strong figure, ruddy cheeks, hair that was changing from brown to gray, and a determined eye. She wore a man’s hat about the farm, and an old blue army overcoat when …

Polydor by Kate Chopin   It was often said that Polydore was the stupidest boy to be found “from the mouth of Cane river plumb to Natchitoches.” Hence it was an easy matter to persuade him, as meddlesome and mischievous …

Xingu by Edith Wharton   Mrs. Ballinger is one of the ladies who pursue Culture in bands, as though it were dangerous to meet alone. To this end she had founded the Lunch Club, an association composed of herself and …

The Verdict by Edith Wharton   I had always thought Jack Gisburn rather a cheap genius — though a good fellow enough — so it was no great surprise to me to hear that, in the height of his glory, …

The Twilight of the God by Edith Wharton   I A Newport drawing-room. Tapestries, flowers, bric-a-brac. Through the windows, a geranium-edged lawn, the cliffs and the sea. Isabel Warland sits reading. Lucius Warland enters in flannels and a yachting-cap. Isabel. …

The Triumph of Night by Edith Wharton   I It was clear that the sleigh from Weymore had not come; and the shivering young traveller from Boston, who had so confidently counted on jumping into it when he left the …

The Inchcape Rock by James Baldwin   In the North Sea there is a great rock called the Inch-cape Rock. It is twelve miles from any land, and is covered most of the time with water. Many boats and ships …

The Endless Tale by James Baldwin   In the Far East there was a great king who had no work to do. Every day, and all day long, he sat on soft cush-ions and lis-tened to stories. And no matter …

The Brave Three Hundred by James Baldwin   All Greece was in danger. A mighty army, led by the great King of Persia, had come from the east. It was marching along the seashore, and in a few days would …

The Blind Men and the Elephant by James Baldwin   The Blind Men and the Elephant is a parable from India that has been adapted by many religions and published in various stories for adults and children. It is about …

The Black Douglas by James Baldwin   In Scotland, in the time of King Robert Bruce, there lived a brave man whose name was Doug-las. His hair and beard were black and long, and his face was tanned and dark; …