= Partner SitePassages
The Book of Hallowe’en was published in 1919 and described Halloween customs around the world. This passage is about how the holiday was celebrated then. —————————————————- While the original customs of Hallowe’en are being forgotten more and more across the ocean, Americans have fostered them, and are making this an…
Naturalist John Muir went to Alaska in 1879 to explore the area. He was joined by Rev. Young who had a small black dog named Stickeen. Stickeen was a quiet, independent, and intelligent dog. Early one morning Muir went to explore a nearby glacier. Stickeen followed him, and together they…
Published in 1869, Mark Twain’s book The Innocents Abroad tells of his trip through Europe and the Mideast in 1867. In this passage, Twain has arrived in Gibraltar, gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. He is taking a tour of Rock of Gibraltar and has already heard the story of the…
Most babies’ first words are something like “Dada” or “Mama” or “ball.” Mine was “Ahoy!” But that was considered normal when you’re born and raised on a pirate ship. My father was the first mate on the fearsome sailing ship known as the Salty Dog. He was the trusted friend…
“Oh, no. Oh, no,” cried Thumbelina. “I don’t want to marry Mr. Mole.” Chipper the field mouse shook his head. “But, it’s your wedding day! There’s no way of getting out of it now.” SWWOOOOOCCCCHH. Bluebird swooped down. “Thumbelina, my dear friend. It’s been a long time. How have you…
Elena loved school. She woke up early every morning and ate her breakfast quickly so she would never be late. Kindergarten was fun! Elena also loved to play with her baby sister after school. Maria slept late because she was little, so Elena had to wait until the afternoon to…
Ethan sat on his bike. He held tight to the handlebars and pedaled fast. When he got to the end of the driveway, he turned around. He squeezed the brakes and stopped in front of Mom. “See? I never fall any more. Can I ride to the park on my…
When Aiden asked me to accompany him on a camping trip to the mountains, I envisioned a log cabin with a crackling fireplace, hot cocoa, and bunk beds. Imagine how my rustic, yet comfortable image of camping became a nightmare when Aiden and his older brother, Lebron, showed up with…
With great big brown eyes And a heart pure and true, She wagged her long tail, While she looked at you. Let’s go for a walk, She tried to say. But you stared at your phone, And the dog went away. She brought you a toy, Trying to get you…
On the afternoon of May 27, 1896, a Category 4 tornado hit St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois. It is the third deadliest tornado in U.S. history, and one of the rare ones to hit a large urban area. Below is a report from The Illinois State Journal…
