
In this gentle collection, listeners are welcomed into a world of humble village life where hard work and modest ambition shape everyday choices. The opening tale follows John Wildgoose, a diligent farmhand who saves patiently, secures a cottage, and builds a future with his steadfast partner, Susan. Their shared thrift and community ties paint a vivid portrait of rural resilience.
When John decides to expand his prospects by taking on a risky cart‑driving trade, his determination is tested by a sudden, tragic accident on a bustling road. The narrative slows to capture the quiet compassion of the parish clergyman and the practical concerns of a man facing his mortality. As he confronts the need to settle his affairs, listeners hear the earnest discussions about family, fairness, and the simple wisdom of entrusting one’s loved ones.
The story’s tone remains warm and reflective, offering a timeless meditation on responsibility, generosity, and the quiet strength found in ordinary lives. It invites listeners to pause, consider their own values, and find comfort in the moral truths that echo through the countryside’s rolling fields.
Full title
Christmas Stories Containing John Wildgoose the Poacher, the Smuggler, and Good-nature, or Parish Matters
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (231K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Heather Clark, billyeiser and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.)
Release date
2011-02-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
d. 1859
Known today for a small handful of early 19th-century books, this little-known English writer left behind moral and seasonal tales including Christmas Stories and Advice to a Young Man upon First Going to Oxford. Reliable biographical details are scarce, which adds a bit of mystery to his work.
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