54 Results in the "Non-Fiction" category


    • Chapter

      The Real Danger

      The Real Danger Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Real Danger is vividly depicted in this chapter, as the United States faces an escalating crisis with Abraham Lincoln on the verge of taking office. The tension surrounding the nation intensifies, particularly with the presence of Anderson at Fort Sumter, signaling the growing unrest in the South. As Lincoln prepares to step into a divided and volatile nation, his frustrations mount due to the political vacuum left by the outgoing President Buchanan, who fails to take any decisive action in the face of…
    • The Promise of Helen Cover
      by LovelyMay The Promise of Helen opens with the soft echo of a vow reaching beyond time, as a voice calls out not only to a woman once lost but to an entire era of romance thought buried. It speaks not just to Helen, the individual, but to a spirit once believed gone—of love unbound by death, of memory refusing silence. In this vision, the beloved rises again, not from the grave in sorrow, but in radiance, drawn back by the sheer strength of devotion. The passage is less concerned with realism than with the deep…
      History • Poetry
    • The Premier’s Advice Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Premier’s Advice delves into the final stages of Abraham Lincoln’s preparations for his inaugural address, a pivotal moment in American history. As tensions between the Union and the Southern states intensify, Lincoln seeks the counsel of key figures, including Francis P. Blair, Sr., and William Seward, who offer differing perspectives on the nation’s crisis. Blair is wholeheartedly supportive of Lincoln’s draft, believing it holds the potential to heal the nation’s divisions. However, Seward…
    • Chapter

      The Pooh Way

      The Pooh Way Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The chapter begins by illustrating a natural metaphor: a stream that has grown into a small river, slowing down as it matures and knowing its destination without rushing. This imagery introduces the core concept of Taoism in action, emphasizing a gentle, unhurried flow aligned with natural progress. The narrative highlights how the river’s calm, deliberate movement reflects a life lived with patience and trust in the natural order, setting the stage for understanding the deeper principles of effortless…
    • Chapter

      The Pleiades

      The Pleiades Cover
      by LovelyMay In the poem "A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass," the chapter consisting of "Wind" and "The Pleiades" presents a vivid, whimsical exploration of nature and the cosmos through the eyes of a child-like perspective. "Wind" personifies the wind as a playful, elusive force, engaging with the world in a dance of both creation and mild chaos. The wind's interactions are multifaceted; it shouts in the sails of ships, steals down from honeybees, causes forests to sing, and plays with a child's kite until it breaks.…
    • The Petrel’s Delight Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Petrel’s Delight reflected the tension that gripped Charleston in early April 1861, as both military forces and enslaved individuals in Confederate batteries prepared for an imminent confrontation. The anticipated evacuation of Fort Sumter, which many had hoped for, never occurred, raising the stakes for both sides. Cold temperatures and relentless winds plagued the region, with heavy rain throughout the weekend forcing many indoors, adding to the already uneasy atmosphere. The weather mirrored the…
    • The Paper Windmill Cover
      by LovelyMay In this chapter titled The Paper Windmill, the scene unfolds as a quiet exploration of a child’s inner world, shaped by longing, boredom, and vibrant imagination. Beginning in the early morning light, the story shifts from the eerie remnants of Mr. Spruggins’ grotesque nightmare to a new perspective—that of a young boy staring out from a quiet window. His surroundings are filled with silence, interrupted only by the stirrings of life outside. While the nightmare that opens the chapter is steeped in…
    • The Other Fellow Cover
      by LovelyMay "The Other Fellow" and "The Open Fire" are two reflective and poignant poems exploring the themes of envy, nostalgia, and contentment within human experience. "The Other Fellow" delves into the common human tendency to envy others, assuming their lives are more fortunate, joyful, and free from the burdens we bear. Through a series of rhetorical questions, the poem depicts a universal feeling of looking outward and perceiving others as living the ideal life we wish for ourselves. They seem to encounter…
      Fiction • Poetry
    • The Old, Old Story Cover
      by LovelyMay This poem touches on the theme of missed opportunities and the all-too-common human experience of being told, "You should have been here yesterday." The speaker reflects on his habit of going fishing, only to find that the fish were biting the day before. Despite not being prone to discontent and willing to wait for victory, he expresses a desire to experience success without being met with tales of yesterday’s successes. The poem encapsulates the feeling of always being a step behind, not just in…
      Fiction • Poetry
    • The Old Gentlemen Pay a Call Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin The Old Gentlemen Pay a Call begins with an important and symbolic moment on February 23, when President-elect Abraham Lincoln, newly arrived in Washington, hosted a reception at the Willard Hotel for delegates of the Washington Peace Convention. Among the distinguished guests was William Cabell Rives, a former congressman and senator from Virginia, known for his unionist beliefs despite being a slave owner with nearly a hundred slaves. Rives had long supported the preservation of the Union and believed…
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