The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

853

© MSMRE, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Abba John and the Lost Guide Clay Lane

A guide loses his way on the edge of the merciless Egyptian desert, but Abba John is too kind-hearted to tell him.

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854

© Mostafameraji, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Rose and Thorn William H. Sleeman

William Sleeman passes on an anecdote from one of the Persian classics, to show that truth should not be used for evil ends.

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855

From the Utrecht University Library, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

King Alfred’s Lyre Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens explains how King Alfred the Great overcame the Great Heathen Army in 878, with the help of a little music.

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856

© Steve Partridge, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Waters of Strife Charles Kingsley

Master-sweep Grimes meets a woman who knows more about him than he feels comfortable with.

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857

© Giovanni, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Bag of the Three Winds Clay Lane

A weary King Odysseus dozes off on his voyage home to Ithaca, but his crew are wide awake, wondering what is in his bag.

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858

© Lewis Clarke, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Bass, Bat and Bull John Nyren

John Nyren tells us about one of cricket’s truly great batsmen, John Small.

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