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In a Little Town

by Rupert Hughes (1872–1956)

  • Free to read
  • 6 hours to read
  • 61 chapters
  • Reading level: 6th grade

"In a Little Town" by Rupert Hughes is a collection of stories written in the early 20th century. The book explores the lives and complexities of small-town residents, particularly centering around characters like Eddie Pouch and Ellaphine Govers as they navigate personal and societal challenges. Through their experiences, Hughes seems to delve into themes of identity, love, and the often-frustrating realities of small-town life. At the start of the story, we are introduced to Mrs. Govers, who reflects on the birth of her daughter, Ellaphine, and her dreams for her future. The narrative progresses to show the childhood of Ellaphine, dealing with her perceived ugliness and the aspirations of her mother. As she unexpectedly becomes the first to marry among her peers, the story hints at deeper explorations of connection, futility, and the comedic quirks of life in a small town. The opening sets a tone of irony and heartfelt reflections on expectation versus reality, establishing a foundation for the unfolding tales of the town’s residents.

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  • Short stories
  • Middle West

Read the opening

Chapter I

When she was told it was a girl, Mrs. Govers sighed. "Well, I never did have any luck, anyway; so I d' know's I'm supprised."

Later she wept feebly:

"Girls are easier to raise, I suppose; but I kind of had my heart set on namin' him Launcelot." After another interval she rallied to a smile: "I was prepared for the worst, though; so I picked out Ellaphine for a name in case he was a her. It's an awful pirty name, Ellaphine is. Don't you think so?"

"Yes, yes," said the nurse, who would have agreed to anything then.

After a time Mrs. Govers resumed: "She'll be an awful pirty girl, I hope. Is that her makin' all that noise? Give me a glimpse of her, will you? I got a right, I guess, to see my own baby. Oh, Goshen! Is that how she looks?" A kind of swoon; then more meditation, followed by a courageous philosophy: "Children always look funny at first. She'll outgrow it, I expect. Ellaphine is such an elegant name. It ought to be a kind of inducement to grow up to. Don't you think so?"

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Contents

Show all 61 chapters
  1. Foreword
  2. Chapter I
  3. Chapter II
  4. Chapter III
  5. Chapter IV
  6. Chapter V
  7. Chapter VI
  8. Chapter VII
  9. Chapter VIII
  10. Chapter IX
  11. Chapter X
  12. Chapter XI
  13. Chapter XII
  14. Chapter XIII
  15. Chapter XIV
  16. Chapter I
  17. Chapter II
  18. Chapter III
  19. Chapter IV
  20. Chapter I
  21. Chapter II
  22. Chapter III
  23. Chapter IV
  24. Chapter V
  25. Chapter VI
  26. Chapter I
  27. Chapter II
  28. Chapter III
  29. Chapter IV
  30. Chapter I
  31. Chapter II
  32. Chapter III
  33. Chapter IV
  34. Chapter I
  35. Chapter I
  36. Chapter II
  37. Chapter III
  38. Chapter I
  39. Chapter I
  40. Chapter II
  41. Chapter III
  42. Chapter IV
  43. Chapter V
  44. Chapter VI
  45. Chapter VII
  46. Chapter VIII
  47. Chapter IX
  48. Chapter X
  49. Chapter XI
  50. Chapter XII
  51. Chapter XIII
  52. Chapter XIV
  53. Chapter XV
  54. Chapter XVI
  55. Chapter XVII
  56. Chapter XVIII
  57. Chapter I
  58. Chapter II
  59. Chapter III
  60. Chapter IV
  61. Chapter V

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About this edition

This free edition of In a Little Town by Rupert Hughes comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #29561, released 2009-08-01. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Short Stories, American Literature.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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