Short Story by M. R. James. A university don is shocked when the image on a mezzotint depicting an early 1800s manor house changes several times over a day, finally revealing a heinous crime. Intrigued, he feels duty-bound to find the location of the house and discover its secret.
Short Story by Alphonse Daudet. Following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, the Berlin government ordered that only German could be taught in Alsace schools. The story explores the disheartened reactions of local villagers, children and their teacher to this attempt to wipe out the French language in the region.
Short Story by Morley Callaghan. A young man is invited to visit the home of a woman he has never spoken to. When he gets there, she encourages him to “make out”. The woman is married, and this is her way of fulfilling a basic need without being unfaithful.
Short Story by Anton Chekhov. A persistent, shrew-like woman wears down a sickly banker. The exasperated man finally pays money the woman claims is owing to her husband out of his own pocket, even though the alleged debt has nothing to do with his bank.
Quick Read by Will Stanton. A scientist conducts a bizarre experiment to increase the intelligence of a very special rat. The animal becomes increasingly humanized (it even enjoys flipping through books in the scientist’s library!) until one day, a poorly controlled scientific experiment threatens the world.