Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.
Anonymous photograph ca. 1875, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
When a Tahitian sailor was denied his well-earned wages, the rumour got about that Granville Sharp was on the case.
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© Wojciech Migda, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.
A. A. Milne analyses the popularity of golf, and decides that it’s good to be bad.
By Carl Rudolf Huber (1839-1896), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
The tale of how a prim little English horse cleaned up his Continental stables.
© By William Hemsley (?1817-1906), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
Sir Thomas Smith, one of Elizabeth I’s diplomats, explains how in her day criminals were brought to trial.
© Trescastillos, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0.
The young Christian from ancient Northumbria was healed of a lame leg in a manner that reminded Bede of the archangel Rafael.
By Tom Roberts (1856-1931), via the Royal Collection and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
In 1890, Sir Henry Parkes reminded Australians that they had a natural kinship and declared them ready to manage their own affairs.