Project Gutenberg 2014-01-30 Public domain in the USA. 139 Bacheller, Irving 1859 1950 Bacheller, Addison Irving 20021481 The Prodigal Village: A Christmas Tale Produced by Charlene Taylor, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) "The Prodigal Village: A Christmas Tale" by Irving Bacheller is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds in the seemingly tranquil village of Bingville, focusing on characters like Henry Smix, a well-meaning but slow-witted individual, and young Bob Moran, affectionately referred to as the Shepherd of the Birds, who finds joy and purpose despite his physical limitations. The book addresses themes of community, innocence, and the contrasting realities of wealth and poverty during the Christmas season. At the start of the novel, we witness the chaos brought on by Henry Smix's encounter with a gasoline-powered vehicle, leading to unintended consequences for the town and establishing its whimsical tone. Bob Moran, a young boy confined to his home, finds solace in nature, painting, and caring for birds, embodying a spirit of cheer and creativity that captivates the community. As the narrative progresses, it hints at deeper societal issues, such as the disparity between wealth and the struggles of the less fortunate, with Bob's heartfelt desire to help those in need serving as a poignant contrast to the indifference of the wealthy, highlighted by Mr. J. Patterson Bing's aloof charitable acts. This opening portion sets the stage for a story rich in human connection, moral lessons, and the festive spirit of Christmas. (This is an automatically generated summary.) file:///public/vhost/g/gutenberg/html/files/44796/44796-h/images/cover.jpg Reading ease score: 82.8 (6th grade). Easy to read. en Fiction Christmas stories PS Text Christmas Category: Novels Category: American Literature 191444 2025-08-18T07:54:09.031385 text/html 171947 2024-10-24T01:19:50 text/html 126662 2025-08-18T07:54:12.325357 application/epub+zip 127442 2025-08-18T07:54:09.539405 application/epub+zip 127442 2025-08-18T07:54:09.264422 application/epub+zip 202115 2025-08-18T07:54:14.586339 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 180347 2025-08-18T07:54:11.999387 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 180539 2022-09-20T12:50:13.140800 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 168991 2025-08-18T07:54:08.743366 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 148969 2024-10-24T01:19:50 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17026 2025-08-18T07:54:14.735343 application/rdf+xml 25299 2025-08-18T07:54:09.341541 image/jpeg 4312 2025-08-18T07:54:09.304377 image/jpeg 121461 2025-08-18T07:54:09.049374 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