The Book of the Little Past

audiobook

The Book of the Little Past

by Josephine Preston Peabody

EN·~23 minutes·38 chapters

Chapters

38 total

The Book of the Little Past - by Josephine Preston Peabody - Illustrated by Elizabeth Shippen Green - Houghton Mifflin Company Boston 1910 New York

0:15

COPYRIGHT 1903 BY JOSEPHINE PRESTON PEABODY COPYRIGHT 1908 BY JOSEPHINE PEABODY MARKS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

0:27

Illustrations

0:00

Making a house

0:21

The Busy Child

0:47

Sunset

0:08

Wind

0:23

Late

0:21

Cakes and Ale

0:22

The Journey

1:01

Description

A gentle chorus of childhood moments unfolds in this lively collection of verses, where everyday scenes become tiny adventures. From drawing smoke trails before a house to watching rain race down a windowpane, each poem captures the wonder of a curious mind celebrating the ordinary. The narrator’s voice darts from building imaginary cities on carpet squares to sailing far‑off seas in a single sunset, turning simple observations into bright, rhythmic snapshots. Playful sketches of pigeons, clouds, and wind weave through the words, reminding listeners that even the smallest details can hold an entire world.

The work’s tone is warm and unhurried, inviting listeners to pause and listen to the music of a child’s imagination. Lighthearted humor peeks through musings on curls, kittens, and secret “little pasts,” while a subtle undercurrent of awe gives each piece lasting resonance. Together, the poems create a tapestry of wonder that feels both nostalgic and fresh, perfect for anyone who remembers—or wishes to rediscover—the magic of looking at life through youthful eyes.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~23 minutes (22K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Jennifer Sahmoun, Suzanne Shell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

Release date

2012-03-13

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

About the author

Josephine Preston Peabody

Josephine Preston Peabody

1874–1922

An American poet and dramatist whose writing moved between fairy-tale wonder and sharp social feeling, she brought lyric beauty to both children’s stories and the stage. Her best-known work, The Piper, won major recognition in its day and helped secure her place in early 20th-century American literature.

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