When Mary Ann, an impoverished governess, rescues a child from the Yarra River, she sets in motion a train of events that she could never have foreseen. It is not a child she has saved but General Tom Thumb, star of a celebrated troupe of midgets on their 1870 tour of Australia. From the enchanting Queen of Beauty Lavinia Stratton to the brilliant pianist Franz Richardson, it seems that Mary Ann has fallen in among friends. She soon discovers, however, that relationships within the troupe and its entourage are far from harmonious. Jealousy is rife, and there are secrets aplenty: even Mary Ann has one of her own. Relief, however, gradually turns to fear as she realises that she may be a pawn in a more dangerous game than she imagined.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.

When life's journey takes us through deep valleys of darkness, it is there where we learn to trust God for everything in our life and we realize His awesome presence. After the murder of her son, in the darkest valley of despair, Jane found the true meaning of God's extraordinay love. A woman of faith, Jane understands that God is in control of every situation. "The more we understand Him the more He fills us with peace and joy." Her true story and heartfelt poems are both a gift and a lesson. It is her prayer that each reader will find God who, in reality, is always present to them if they but look through the eyes of faith.

This book is written to try to make people aware of the beauty that is around them. I've tried to put into words the pleasure I find in New England's changing seasons. There is nothing like the feeling of coming upon a covered bridge on a country road on a crisp Autumn day in New Hampshire or Vermont. If this book helps you to open the door of your imagination and see in your mind's-eye what could have taken place in these "Tales in Rhyme," you should find pleasure in it. Use your imagination - Follow the Lighthouse Keeper up the sandy road to his home; - see, through the eyes of a child, the parade with General Washington taking command of his troops; - Share the gratitude of "Dutch" the cat who found refuge from the cruel life of a stray. So, go ahead, - try it - It's been written to be shared.

From the author: "Angel With Redbird Wings is a collection of short stories that reflect my life in one way or another.
"In every story there is a Redbird; either by mention of it or by knowing the author is the Redbird. The symbolism of the Redbird has inspired me throughout my life."

Farm and ranch women are the heart of an important American institution, agriculture. Their strength is a critical resource for their families and communities. This book offers those women their own special prescription for health and well-being in one hundred small doses. Some "capsules" remind of care to be taken daily, some to be taken regularly, others to take as needed, several to give to family and friends and still more to apply to the community. Reading this book won't make you immediately "feel good" like a warm beverage or a serving of your mother's best meal. It won't always bring a tear of nostalgia to the eye or a longing for the good old days. But like a good tonic, these capsules of advice and encouragement will stimulate you. You'll find essays that will boost your morale. Others will prompt you to be grateful. Several instruct about health matters. And some will even make you laugh. There's no better prescription than that, is there? Teddy Jones, R.N., Ph.D., is a Family Nurse Practitioner. Before she and her husband began farming his family's land near Friona, Texas, she was a Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing, in Lubbock, Texas. Growing up in a rural town in central North Texas, she spent lots of happy times with cousins on their families' wheat and dairy farms. Those experiences and her admiration for those who farm and ranch prompted her to develop and teach elective courses in Rural Health Nursing. That same interest spurred her to develop the concept for her health promotion column, "In The Middle Of It All," which appears monthly in "The Farmer Stockman." She practices part-time as a Nurse Practitioner in New Mexico and writes when she's not helping with the farm work. Sue Jane Sullivan, B.S.Ed., teaches in the only school in the only town in Borden County, Texas. That rural school is not far from the area where she grew up, surrounded by ranches, farms and oil wells. Like most people in farming and ranching areas, she can and does fill many roles. She teaches English, Spanish, history and government and coaches Interscholastic League literary events including debate, journalism, and spelling. She's a free-lance newspaper writer and her newsletter, "A New Song," is a regular source of encouragement for the special group of friends for whom she publishes it. A major inspiration for her work is her maternal grandmother who was widowed at 41, during the Great Depression. She managed to keep and operate the family farm and raise five children long before the term single parent was invented.