The Magic of the Horse-Shoe by Robert Means Lawrence (1847 - 1935) Genre(s): Early Modern Read by: ToddHW, Dodi, JCzekaj, docdlmartin, mlcui, Christine Rottger, czandra, ShrubDryad, Katina Papadakis, Lee Vogler in English Cover design by Annise. Parts: Part 1 https://youtu.be/zkC4O4p3OvI Chapters: 00:00:00 - 15 - Superstitious Dealings with Animals -Part 2 00:22:58 - 16 - The Luck of Odd Numbers -Part 1 00:48:33 - 17 - The Luck of Odd Numbers -Part 2 The study of the origin and history of popular customs and beliefs affords an insight, otherwise unattainable, into the operations of the human mind in early times. Superstitions, however trivial in themselves, relics of paganism though they be, and oftentimes comparable to baneful weeds, are now considered proper subjects for scientific research. While the ignorant savage is a slave to many superstitious fancies which dominate his every action, the educated man strives to be free from such a bondage, yet recognizes as profitable the study of those same beliefs. The heterogeneous character of the material drawn from so many sources has rendered it difficult, if not impossible, to follow any distinctly systematic treatment of the subject. However, the development in recent years of a widespread interest in all branches of folk-lore warrants the hope that any volume devoted to this subject, and representing somewhat diligent research, may have a certain value, in spite of its imperfections. The expert folklorist may find much to criticize; but this book, treating of popular beliefs, is intended for popular reading. It has been the writer's aim to make the chapter on the Horse-Shoe as exhaustive as possible, as this attractive symbol of superstition does not appear to have received hitherto the attention which it merits. - Summary by Robert Means Lawrence More information: https://librivox.org/the-magic-of-the-horse-shoe-by-robert-means-lawrence/ LibriVox - free public domain audiobooks (https://librivox.org/)

Cobwebs from a Library Corner by John Kendrick BANGS (1862 - 1922) Genre(s): Single author Read by: April6090, Larry Wilson, oogiesragdoll, Kirill D, Sarah Brown, nighthawks, B L Newman, ChadH94, Tasniim, Caroline Kiley, thestorygirl, Pseudonymous Nerd, Rachel Marie, Austin Heath, KevinS, Kathleen Moore in English Chapters: 00:00:00 - 01 - A Pessimistic View 00:01:28 - 02 - The Master's Pen—A Confession 00:02:52 - 03 - Bookworm Ballads (a Literary Feast) 00:04:52 - 04 - Ideas for Sale 00:07:18 - 05 - The Author's Boomerang 00:08:01 - 06 - To an Egotistical Biographer 00:08:35 - 07 - No Copyright Needed 00:09:23 - 08 - Ingredients of Greatness 00:10:10 - 09 - A Common Favorite 00:11:42 - 10 - Their Pens 00:12:11 - 11 - An Unsolved Problem 00:12:39 - 12 - The Bibliophile's Threat 00:13:06 - 13 - My Treasures 00:13:39 - 14 - A Poet's Fad 00:14:04 - 15 - The Poet Undone 00:14:33 - 16 - A Waning Muse 00:15:04 - 17 - Modesty 00:15:32 - 18 - My Lord the Book 00:16:06 - 19 - The Bibliomiser 00:16:45 - 20 - The ''Collector'' 00:17:32 - 21 - A Reader 00:18:31 - 22 - Fate! 00:19:28 - 23 - A Pleasing Thought 00:20:15 - 24 - Books vs. ''Books,'' by a Bibliomaniac 00:21:35 - 25 - A Confession 00:23:07 - 26 - The Edition de Looks 00:25:01 - 27 - Napolini's Error 00:27:42 - 28 - My Color 00:29:37 - 29 - Contentment in Nature 00:31:22 - 30 - The Heroic Gunner 00:33:18 - 31 - The Pathetic Tale of the Caddy Boy 00:36:32 - 32 - Garrulous Wisdom 00:37:51 - 33 - The Perjury of a Rejected Lover 00:38:50 - 34 - Maid of Culture 00:39:54 - 35 - Not Perfect 00:40:54 - 36 - A City Dweller's Wish 00:41:55 - 37 - Where are They? 00:43:20 - 38 - Memories 00:43:56 - 39 - A Sad State 00:44:26 - 40 - Ad Astra per Otium. 00:45:12 - 41 - Consolation 00:46:03 - 42 - Satisfaction on Reading ''Not One Dissatisfied,'' by Walt Whitman 00:47:59 - 43 - To a Withered Rose 00:48:52 - 44 - The Worst of Enemies 00:49:33 - 45 - Jokes of the Night 00:51:10 - 46 - An Autumnal Romance 00:51:41 - 47 - The Country in July 00:52:50 - 48 - May 30, 1893 00:53:39 - 49 - The Curse of Wealth 00:56:09 - 50 - The Rhyme of the Ancient Populist 00:58:37 - 51 - One of the Nameless Great 00:59:22 - 52 - In February Days 01:00:26 - 53 - A Change of Ambition 01:01:54 - 54 - Message from Mahatmas 01:05:09 - 55 - The Gold-seekers 01:07:23 - 56 - Ode to a Politician 01:09:55 - 57 - Some are Amateurs This is a book of 57 sections divided into 2 parts. The first part is comprised of 26 poems & the second part concludes with 31 assorted stories & otherwise. John Kendrick Bangs had been known as a jokester & prankster; was also known to be the editor of Puck, perhaps the foremost American humor magazine. Take a peak and see how you end up with a grin on your face and in your heart as well. That is honest Bangsian writing. - Summary by AR More information: https://librivox.org/cobwebs-from-a-library-corner-by-john-kendrick-bangs/ LibriVox - free public domain audiobooks (https://librivox.org/)

Charles Dickens 200th Anniversary Collection Vol. 1 by Charles DICKENS (1812 - 1870) Genre(s): Poetry, Short Stories, Short non-fiction Read by: Carl Manchester, Michele Eaton, Laurie Anne Walden, Andy Minter (1934-2017), ToddHW, NoelBadrian, Elizabeth Klett, Ruth Golding, TriciaG, Jason Mills, Mary Schneider, K.G.Cross, Arielle Lipshaw in English Chapters: 00:00:00 - 01 - Prince Bull: A Fairy Tale from 'Reprinted Pieces' 00:16:22 - 02 - The Poor Relation's Story from 'Some Christmas Stories' 00:41:28 - 03 - Speech: February 1842, Boston 00:52:59 - 04 - Barbox Brothers from 'Mugby Junction' 01:53:41 - 05 - Barbox Brothers & Co. from 'Mugby Junction' 02:35:41 - 06 - Main Line: The Boy at Mugby from 'Mugby Junction' 02:58:35 - 07 - Frauds on the Fairies from Household Words Vol. VIII No. 184 03:20:19 - 08 - Introductory Romance From the Pen of William Tinkling, Esq. (Aged Eight) from 'Holiday Romance' 03:38:06 - 09 - Old Lamps for New Ones 03:55:25 - 10 - A Tale of the Good Old Times 04:18:25 - 11 - Some Particulars Concerning a Lion from 'Mudfog and Other Sketches' 04:30:58 - 12 - To be Read at Dusk 04:59:41 - 13 - The Ghost of the Late Mr. James Barber 05:17:00 - 14 - The Amusements of the People I 05:35:07 - 15 - A Walk In A Workhouse from 'Reprinted Pieces' 05:53:50 - 16 - The Hymn of the Wiltshire Labourers 05:56:17 - 17 - Speech: London, June 5 1867 to the Railway Benevolent Society 06:07:20 - 18 - The Holly Tree, First Branch - Myself The Charles Dickens 200th Anniversary Collection comprises short works previously unrecorded for LibriVox - fiction, essays, poetry, letters, magazine articles and speeches - and each volume will be a pot pourri of all genres and periods of his writing. This first volume was released on Dickens' 200th birthday, February 7th 2012 and further volumes followed during the anniversary year.Volume 1 includes short stories including, amongst others, The Holly Tree, the first part of Holiday Romance and three pieces from Mugby Junction.Some items requiring a little further explanation are Prince Bull, written as a fairy tale, but in reality a scathing attack on the Government's handling of supplies to the troops in the Crimean War; Old Lamps for New Ones in which Dickens makes clear his low opinion of the ethos of the Pre-Raphaelite school of painting; and Frauds on the Fairies, a polemic against George Cruikshank's bowdlerisation of fairy tales for moralistic purposes, and the interesting revelation that 'product placement' is by no means a new phenomenon. (Introduction by Ruth Golding) More information: http://librivox.org/charles-dickens-200th-anniversary-collection-vol-1-by-charles-dickens/ LibriVox - free public domain audiobooks (https://librivox.org/)

The Divine Enchantment by John NEIHARDT (1881 - 1973) Genre(s): Poetry Read by: Nathan in English Chapters: 00:00:00 - 00 - 00 Prefatory 00:04:16 - 01 - 01 Prelude 00:05:58 - 02 - 02 Enchantment 00:25:25 - 03 - 03 Interlude 00:28:52 - 04 - 04 Birth of Brahm 00:35:48 - 05 - 05 Procreation 00:55:16 - 06 - 06 Preservation 01:06:28 - 07 - 07 Dissolution 01:18:09 - 08 - 08 Nirvana 01:23:06 - 09 - 09 Dissenchantment 01:28:00 - 10 - 10 Postlude When the princess Devanaguy falls into a deep trance-like sleep, she is visited by the god Vishnu: who causes her to fall pregnant with his holy child, Christna.Devanaguy's sleep is prolonged supernaturally by Vishnu: allowing the god to relate to her his divine secrets through a series of ecstatic visions. Among the mysteries revealed to Devanaguy, she is shown how the gods will shortly powerfully intervene directly in human affairs. When the princess finally re-awakens: she is awestruck by her experiences, and bursts into a spontaneous rhapsody of praise.Throughout her rapturous intercourse with Vishnu, Devanaguy boldly continues to desire answers to mankind's profoundest questionings:- is it possible for mere mortals to comprehend the divine wisdom of the gods?- can be it really be true that divine beings care enough for mankind to want to intervene in human affairs: to do them good?(Introduction by Godsend) More information: http://librivox.org/the-divine-enchantment-by-john-neihardt/