Harper's Young People, May 31, 1881 An Illustrated Weekly

A lively picture of small‑town life unfolds as the gravel‑road storyteller Slack Limestone spins the tale of “Two Kinds of Courage.” While he levels a turf for the village tennis court, Slack recounts the legend of young Philip, a hunchbacked boy who earns his straight back not on a battlefield but through the steady toil of a water‑driven mill. The narrative blends gentle humor, regional dialect and a quiet moral about true grit, inviting listeners to savor the warm, earthy world of a bygone rural community.

The issue also offers a variety of short sketches—a witty fable for clever boys, a comic glimpse of an African slipper‑maker, an illustrated look at historic American trees, and a breezy tale of a bird’s simple quest. Each piece is concise yet vivid, making the collection an enjoyable listening experience for anyone who loves quick, spirited stories that spark the imagination.