The sad fact of rural life in "the gilded era" was that most folks, especially after the children were grown up and gone, werepoor and lonely, and often caring for the elders. Mary E.Wilkins (thats how she signed her books) was a good storyteller in this genre- and the people were often siomple and honest and hardworking.

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A man makes a vow to take care of his three sisters and life is changed

When a rag-tag little girl named Joan, the down-and-out minister's daughter, knocks on Sarah's door to sell her some very familiar-looking handiwork just before Christmas, Sarah finds more compassion and generosity than she knew she had. SUPPORT OUR SHOW BY BECOMING A PATRON! www.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork. Its time I started asking for support! Thank you. Its a few dollars a month OR a one time. (Any amount is appreciated).

A young actress, convalescing at the beach in the company of her doctor and his wife, is hounded by a young girl who idolizes her. An unusual series of events occur which reveal that they have more in common than they knew.

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A tight knit community finds they have something to learn about forgiveness and kindness when a 20 year old widow brings her baby to town to visit with the one friend she has there.

This story gives you a seat on a Halifax to Boston train circa 1915 where you will catch a very interesting conversation between a salesman of women's wear, an electrician, and a young lady, who,tired of traveling for the past 3 days, and desirous of some conversation, asks if she can join in. The subject eventually turns to the fact she has written "an indiscreet letter", which , by the terms of the times, means any letter written to a one time acquaintance that bares the soul. In her case, its not a love letter but a heartfelt request to meet the man whose voice comforted her during the long, dark hours she and he waited for rescuers after their train wrecked.

Its is a masterfully written short story that typifies the gilded age.

A young man from a prairie town comes to the Big City and finds a job in a discount shoe store where works a young woman who has been working for starving wages. They become working friends to the point where , when he screws up enough courage, he advises her against wearing a deep V dress, saying that his mother back home would never allow it.

Edna Ferber's excellent characterization of both makes them come alive and the story becomes a "moment in time" look back to Chicago of 1912.

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A man running for governor shocks his peers by giving an unsual speech at a boy's reformitory by baring his soul and admitting that he, too, as a boy and a young man, was a bad actor. He explained what he had done, and told the boys that they could turn themselves around by taking control of their actions and finding the good within their souls- that all of us have to make that struggle- some have it easy, and some have it hard to do. But winning that battle is the only true path to happiness. Then he told them they could come to him any time for support and he would be there.