
In a sleepy mountain town, the locals know Bill Jones simply as “Lightnin’”—a gentle, slow‑moving man whose reputation rests on a quick wit rather than quick feet. With his shaggy gray hair, half‑shut eyes, and a pocket full of letters, he drifts from the post office to the tavern, delighting everyone with tall tales that feel almost true. His patient wife, steadfast and hard‑working, and their bright‑spirited adopted daughter, Millie, rely on his steady presence even as the family’s timber business falters.
When a summer of dwindling boarders threatens the Jones household, Lightnin’ finally faces the pressure he’s long avoided. He sets out on a leisurely walk to fetch the mail, yet his mind lingers on the looming decisions that could keep the farm afloat. Listeners are invited to share his easy‑going humor and watch as his unhurried charm becomes the unlikely catalyst for the family’s next move.
Full title
Lightnin' After the Play of the Same Name by Winchell Smith and Frank Bacon
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (307K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2010-11-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1864–1922
Best remembered for the hit play Lightnin', this late-blooming stage star went from years of small roles to one of Broadway's biggest successes. His warm, homespun comic style made him a favorite with theater audiences in the 1910s and early 1920s.
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