"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo,
lying on the rug.

"Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo,
lying on the rug.

The new church of St. John's, on Fifth Avenue, was thronged the
morning of the last Sunday of October, read more

The new church of St. John's, on Fifth Avenue, was thronged the
morning of the last Sunday of October, in the year 1880. Sitting
in the gallery, beneath the unfinished frescoes, and looking down
the nave, one caught an effect of autumn gardens, a suggestion of
chrysanthemums and geraniums, or of October woods, dashed with
scarlet oaks and yellow maples.

The primroses were over.

The primroses were over.

According to the tapes, my father, then about as run-of-the-mill
as Joe Blow himself, didn't want to see the read more

According to the tapes, my father, then about as run-of-the-mill
as Joe Blow himself, didn't want to see the thing.

In 1846 the prairie town of Oak River existed only in a settler's
dream.

In 1846 the prairie town of Oak River existed only in a settler's
dream.

It was the first Tuesday in August. The Nebraska heat rolled in
upon one like the engulfing waves of read more

It was the first Tuesday in August. The Nebraska heat rolled in
upon one like the engulfing waves of a dry sea,--a thick material
substance against which one seemed to push when moving about.

To stretch his legs between consultations, Maclean escorted his
last patient to Baker Street station.

To stretch his legs between consultations, Maclean escorted his
last patient to Baker Street station.

It was a cold winter Sunday afternoon.

It was a cold winter Sunday afternoon.

At about six in the morning of July 3, 1860, while I was watering
my petunias, and thinking of read more

At about six in the morning of July 3, 1860, while I was watering
my petunias, and thinking of nothing in particular, I perceived
coming towards me, a tall, beardless, fair-haired young fellow,
wearing a German cap and gold-rimmed spectacles.