On June 16, 1918, union leader Eugene Debs delivered this speech at the Ohio State Socialist Party Convention. In it, he famously criticized the USA’s involvement in World War I. Four days later, the federal grand jury condemned his speech by way of the Sedition Act of 1918, and he was sentenced to ten years in prison. Debs serves as an inspiration for all those who persistently advocate for the working class despite opposition.

Timothy Shay Arthur wrote many popular moral stories in the nineteenth century. In this tale, a family sends their son to a prestigious boarding school where he can academically prosper. Though things start off well, he soon falls in with the wrong crowd. The story mirrors the plot of the New Testament parable of the prodigal son, which shows the depth of forgiveness and the power of redemption.

When an American sea captain sees a Spanish slave ship in distress, he reaches out with an offer to help. Once on board, however, the odd behavior of the captain, crew, and slaves leave him with an uneasy feeling that something is not as it seems. Melville based the plot of this novella on real events that occurred off the coast of Chile in 1799. Though it is not Melville’s best-known work, it is favored among scholars as one of his most complex.

Oscar Wilde upholds his reputation for literary wit from the first line of this 1887 short story: “Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow.” The young Hugh Erskine wants to get married, but his bride’s father declares him too poor. Dejected, Erskine gives his last coin to a beggar who is posing for a portrait. This clever story takes a turn for the better at the end, proving that kindness to strangers reaps unexpected rewards.

“Jabberwocky” is one of the most well-known nonsense poems in the English language. Though full of playful made-up words like “brillig,” “mimsy,” and frumious,” the poem still tells a story. A young warrior faces up against the fearsome Jabberwock, armed with a “vorpal blade,” and comes out triumphant: “O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” This poem first appeared in the middle of Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, Carroll’s follow-up to the well-beloved children’...

Wandering the streets of Paris, the impoverished artist Severn happens upon a stray cat. He befriends the creature, who in turn reciprocates his affection. When Severn decides to return the cat to her owner, however, the story takes a macabre turn. This tale was originally published in Robert Chambers’ collection The King in Yellow.

Congregationalist minister Harvey Newcomb wrote countless volumes of spiritual advice for adults and children alike. He compiled this guide for young people seeking to develop a deeper understanding of the Bible. His advice spans general guidelines for when, where, and how, as well as a detailed guide to systematic study. “To a true child of God,” he writes, “nothing is so precious as the volume of inspiration.

This tale follows a group of art students roaming around the Latin Quarter of Paris. Bohemians with womanizing tendencies, they go through as many working-class girls as they can find. One girl, a pianist, stands out from the rest, but she will not be so easily won over. “Rue Baree” is the final story in Robert Chambers’ The King in Yellow.

In this story, the narrator is recovering from an illness in the company of Lucy Latimer, a local lady who loves to help the ailing. When he notes a look of sadness in her eyes, she tells him of the “one great sorrow” of her life. Her brush with tragedy reveals the fruits such experiences can have in our lives. Though relatively unknown today, Timothy Shay Arthur was a highly influential voice in nineteenth-century life.

John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion is over 1000 pages long. “Of Prayer” is a manageable excerpt from this monumental work highlighting the theologian’s views on the nature and benefits of prayer. Calvin describes why praying to an omniscient God is still a necessary practice for Christians. He provides some helpful guidelines for prayer, detailing how to invigorate one’s spiritual life through reverent communication with God.

George Keller’s case study of Elon University’s transformation from a struggling college with a limited endowment into a top regional university is now available in paperback.Ten years after the publication of Transforming a College, Elon University continues to thrive as a school that reinvented itself and its community around the idea of inspiring and guiding students. George Keller’s now-classic account has been used as an inspiration and playbook for m...

In a departure from traditional horror writing, “The Street of the First Shell” focuses on the inescapable horrors of war. The story follows a group of struggling artists in Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. The characters struggle to remain safe and together during the 1870 Siege of Paris, when Germans shelled the Latin Quarter. This nightmarish story is part of Robert Chambers’ collection The King in Yellow.