Project Gutenberg 2000-05-01 Public domain in the USA. 163 Harte, Bret 1836 1902 Harte, Francis Bret By Shore and Sedge An apostle of the Tules -- Sarah Walker -- A ship of '49. "By Shore and Sedge" by Bret Harte is a novel written during the mid-19th century, capturing the essence of life during the California Gold Rush era. The narrative opens with a vivid scene of a religious camp meeting in Tasajara Valley, California, where a diverse group of individuals has gathered, not for prosperity or comfort, but for spiritual revival amid harsh and bleak surroundings. Through the initial characters, particularly a young preacher named Gideon, the story begins to explore themes of faith, struggle, and community in the face of adversity. The opening of the novel intricately sets the scene at the camp meeting, depicting the desolation surrounding the congregation and the hardships they endure. As the young preacher Gideon attempts to inspire the people, he experiences a mix of hesitation and fervor that reflects his inner turmoil. The gathering is marked by raw emotions, as both he and the worshipers seek connection with the divine amidst their struggles. Following this, Gideon's character is further developed through his interactions with Sister Hiler and her family, setting a stage for themes of compassion and sacrifice as he navigates his calling. Overall, the beginning establishes a rich atmosphere of hardship and hope that invites readers to delve into the complexities of human existence during a transformative period in American history. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 70.1 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. en American fiction -- 19th century Manners and customs -- Fiction PS Text Contemporary Reviews Category: Novels Category: American Literature Category: History - American 275856 2025-08-01T12:33:17.966281 text/html 270893 2020-12-31T15:36:34 text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 102939 2020-12-31T15:36:34 text/html; charset=iso-8859-1 application/zip 169818 2025-08-01T12:33:23.403266 application/epub+zip 173901 2025-08-01T12:33:19.721271 application/epub+zip 173901 2025-08-01T12:33:18.544289 application/epub+zip 306632 2025-08-01T12:33:26.361307 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 295203 2025-08-01T12:33:22.651301 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 270931 2022-09-01T14:08:52.865772 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 259733 2025-08-01T12:33:17.446329 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 259642 2020-12-31T15:36:34 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 101059 2020-12-31T15:36:34 text/plain; charset=us-ascii application/zip 19201 2025-08-01T12:33:26.494234 application/rdf+xml 12149 2025-08-01T12:33:19.125276 image/jpeg 3306 2025-08-01T12:33:18.798283 image/jpeg 166244 2025-08-01T12:33:17.988294 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia