By Charles Dickens I am a Cheap Jack, and my own father's name was Willum Marigold. It was in his lifetime supposed by some that his name was William, but my own father always consistently said, No, i...

By Daniel Defoe PREFACE The formality of a preface to this little book might have been very well omitted, if it were not to gratify the curiosity of some inquisitive people, who, I foresee, will be ap...

BY Howard R. Garis CHAPTER I THE FALLING BIPLANE "She sure is a fine boat, Dick." "And she can go some, too!" "Glad you like her, fellows," replied Dick Hamilton, to the remarks of his chums, Paul Dre...

by Bret Harte CHAPTER I It was a season of unequalled prosperity in Devil's Ford. The half a dozen cabins scattered along the banks of the North Fork, as if by some overflow of that capricious river, ...

By J. M. SYNGE PERSONS IN THE PLAY LAVARCHAM, Deirdre's nurse OLD WOMAN, Lavarcham's servant OWEN, Conchubor's attendant and spy CONCHUBOR, High King of Ulster FERGUS, Conchubor's friend DEIRDRE N...

By Jean Webster Judy: STONE GATE, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, December 27. Dear Your letter is here. I have read it twice, and with amazement. Do I understand that Jervis has given you, for a Christmas ...

by EDNA FERBER TO MY DEAR MOTHER WHO FREQUENTLY INTERRUPTS AND TO MY SISTER FANNIE WHO SAYS "SH-SH-SH!" OUTSIDE MY DOOR CHAPTER I THE SMASH-UP There are a number of things that are pleasanter than bei...

by Margaret Sherwood CHAPTER I "Her Excellency,--will she have the politeness," said Daphne slowly, reading from a tiny Italian-English phrase-book, "the politeness to"--She stopped helpless. Old Giac...

BY DON MARQUIS TO MY WIFE CHAPTER I HOW I come not to have a last name is a question that has always had more or less aggervation mixed up with it. I might of had one jest as well as not if Old Hank...

PART I At the little town of Vevey, in Switzerland, there is a particularly comfortable hotel. There are, indeed, many hotels, for the entertainment of tourists is the business of the place, which, as...