As Halloween approaches, here is a bonus scary Litreading from one of my favorite authors. It’s the story of a mysterious death in the 19th-century American wilderness.

Humans are rarely content with their lot in life. We long for something more and, all too often believe that, given the right opportunity, our lives can be made better in an instant through some fortunate event, like winning a lottery.

A young woman stumbles upon a drunk with whom she forms a bond until she learns more.

Every day we are bombarded by images of unattainable beauty, regaled with stories of fame, and envious of those who have attained great wealth. It’s easy to lose sight of our important contributions to the world and those around us. No matter how we have ended up , we all started as a figurative "handful of clay."

Henry van Dyke was a well-known clergyman, English professor, and author. He spent almost a quarter century teach English Literature at Princeton, while writing numerous short stories in his spare time. He also composed several verses of “My Country Tis of Thee,” America’s unofficial national anthem prior to the “Star Spangled Banner’s” gaining official anthem status in 1931.

We have every reason to love these people, yet we don't.

Record summer temperature’s take their toll on both our physical and mental health. Extreme weather has been known to bring about strange and often dangerous behavior among those suffering its effects. How strange, I’ll let you be the judge in our special summer tale, August Heat.

What happens when hate overwhelms love?

How can we tell the difference between benevolence and predation?

Mark Twain's first popular story of a hardcore gambler in a mining camp during the Gold Rush.

Clovis takes on an overly proud mother