Dinah declines Seth's proposal, which he bears meekly, and Adam finishes work his father, a drunk absent without explanation, has neglected.

Classics Narrated

Adam Bede, Chapters 3 and 4

Dinah, a beautiful young Methodist woman, preaches an outdoor sermon to the villagers of Hayslope. Not ordained, but saintly, she speaks as one of them, about their commonplace struggles and temptations, and the solace of their redemption in Christ.

Adam Bede, Chapter 2

We meet Adam and Seth Bede, and the other carpenters in Mr. Burge's shop as their work day ends. The time is late 18th century, in the rural English Midlands. They tease and quarrel over a young female Methodist who will preach on the green that evening.

Chapter 1: The Workshop

 Anticipating the concept of "frenemy," Poe gives us vanity, self-righteousness, and terrible cruelty in revenge, as stone-hearted Montresor lures credulous Fortunato to his doom. 

The Cask of Amontillado

 NOT recommended for children; Edgar Allan Poe's tale of increasing evil, alcoholism, and murder may haunt the listener as the cat haunted the protagonist. 

The Black Cat, by Edgar Allan Poe

  Tom learns how Injun Joe died, he and Huck search for treasure, and adjust to "respectability."  

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 33-35

 Lost in gloom, almost without food, the only person Tom and Becky see after wandering many hours in the trackless cavern means death. Leaving the exhausted Becky, Tom at last sees sunlight through a passage to safety. 

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 31 and 32

 The Thatchers return, so Becky and Tom with a large group go on a picnic and cave exploration. Huck spies on dangerous men and averts an attack against an innocent woman. The day following the picnic, Tom and Becky are missing! 

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 29 and 30

Tom & Huck set out to find treasure, first by digging, then looking into a haunted house, which holds danger and loot. What follows tests their courage still more...

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 25-28

Tom "reforms" for the sake of a gaudy uniform, falls ill for weeks, and returns to old habits with his chums. Muff Potter's trial approaches, Tom's testimony could keep him alive and free, but at risk of his own life from vengeful, violent Injun Joe.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 22-24

Back at home, Tom shows uncanny insight about events that took place while he was supposedly "away." Aunt Polly questions his good nature, Becky Thatcher rejects and accepts him, and school comes to a resounding close for the summer.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 18-21

Tom, Joe and Huck leave civilization behind, but notice a search for them. Tom spies on his family back home, but in spite of homesickness, storm, and trouble learning to smoke, the boys stay out until they have a chance to hear their own eulogies.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 14-17

Witness of a murder makes a heavy burden for Tom and Huck. This brings Tom very low, Aunt Polly tries to cure him, and Tom doses the cat. Rejected in love, Tom turns to "piracy" with Huck and Joe.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 10-13

Understanding between Becky and Tom is brief, driving Tom to consider life as an outlaw. When he and Huck visit the graveyard at midnight, drawbacks become all too clear.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 7-9

At church, Tom's mind wanders, and he lets his "pinch bug" out of the box, to wander and make exciting friends. Monday Tom avoids school, fakes illness, talks with the outcast Huck Finn, and confesses. Punishment? To sit next to the admired new girl!

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Chapters 5 and 6

Great stories from public domain: Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Christmas Carol, Kipling's Kim, Lorna Doone, A Room with a View, etc.

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Classics Narrated

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