Have you ever seen a "maiden"? I am referring to what the road pavers call a "maiden," a thing used for ramming down the paving stones.

There was a rich and happy house. All those in it -- the owners, and servants, and friends, too -- were happy and cheerful, for on this day, a son and heir had been born, and mother and child were doing well.

Yes, thousands of years from now, men will fly on wings of steam through the air, across the ocean.

The mayor was standing at his open window; he was wearing a dress shirt with a dainty dress pin in its frill.

There were five peas in one pod; the peas were green and the pod was green, and so they believed the whole world was green -- and that was absolutely right!

The country around the town of Koege is very bare. The town itself lies by the seashore, which is always beautiful, although it might be more beautiful than it is, because all around are flat fields, and a forest a long way off.

There was a student, who lived in the garret and didn't own anything. There was also a grocer, who kept the shop on the ground floor and owned the whole house.

It was over a hundred years ago. By the great lake behind the wood there stood an old mansion.

The story we have for you here is really divided into two parts.

The most solemn of all the days of our life is the day we die.