Project Gutenberg 2021-04-13 Public domain in the USA. 174 Francis, M. E. 1859 1930 Blundell, Mary E. Sweetman Blundell, Mrs. Francis Blundell, Mary Elizabeth Cooper, Claud C. Du Pré Cooper, Claud C. Du Pre Cooper, Claud Pastorals of Dorset Shepherd Robbins -- Private Griggs -- Up at the 'lotments -- The only soldier -- A rustic Argus -- The rosy plate -- Becky and Bithey -- The lover's wraith -- Johnny at Shroton Fair -- The rout of the conqueror -- How Granfer volunteered. Les Bowler "Pastorals of Dorset" by M. E. Francis is a collection of pastoral tales written in the early 20th century. The book captures the lives of rural characters in Dorset, showcasing themes of agrarian life, community interactions, and the passage of time through poignant, character-driven narratives. Among its central figures are Farmer Joyce and the aging shepherd Abel Robbins, who deal with the challenges of aging, work, and societal changes. The opening of the book introduces readers to Farmer Joyce and Shepherd Robbins, setting a vivid pastoral scene as they discuss the shepherd's failing health and the difficulties of managing the farm. The exchange highlights Robbins' reluctance to accept reduced wages, revealing both the economic pressures faced by the elderly and the bonds formed through years of service and loyalty. As Robbins grapples with the impending changes in his life, the narrative effortlessly immerses the reader in the struggles and stoicism of rural life, setting the tone for the stories to follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 79.4 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read. en Short stories Country life -- Fiction Dorset (England) -- Fiction PR Text Category: Short Stories Category: British Literature 448257 2025-06-26T03:55:18.017065 text/html 467956 2024-10-18T13:08:41 text/html 970570 2025-06-26T03:55:24.289046 application/epub+zip 968690 2025-06-26T03:55:19.071099 application/epub+zip 239566 2025-06-26T03:55:18.520034 application/epub+zip 1088193 2025-06-26T03:55:28.270999 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 1040794 2025-06-26T03:55:23.455038 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 320049 2022-09-29T09:53:20.476075 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 402945 2025-06-26T03:55:17.087042 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 383198 2024-10-18T13:08:41 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 17383 2025-06-26T03:55:28.412982 application/rdf+xml 11987 2025-06-26T03:55:18.615045 image/jpeg 2399 2025-06-26T03:55:18.568044 image/jpeg 940249 2025-06-26T03:55:18.081029 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