1930’s Pamphlets: 12 Short Stories and a Christmas Play

pamphlets excerpt

During the 1930’s, J.B. Lippincott released a series of small books in addition to Grace’s regularly published novels. They were called “Pamphlets” in Lippincott’s promotional brochures, but the inside cover of The Best Birthday lists the others as “Twelve Short Stories”. These little treasures are just 4 3/4 inches wide x 6 1/4 inches tall! Some can be found in hardback with dust jackets and others are simply paper.

 

Their color varies from edition to edition. Often the paper editions are found without the stiff cover. The jackets for a few are illustrated, while other jackets simply bear their title.

 

While difficult to locate in their first editions, the stories have been reprinted over the years in various collections for GLH readers to enjoy. Check out The Honeymoon House, The Short Stories of Grace Livingston Hill, or Christian Endeavor Stories to find them.

Beggarman

Beggarman
1932

Her Wedding Garment

Her Wedding Garment
1932

The House Across The Hedge

The House Across the Hedge
1932

The Story of The Lost Star

The Story of the Lost Star
1932

The Handmaid of The Lord

The Handmaid of the Lord
1935

Life Out of Death

Life Out of Death
1935

The Old Guard

The Old Guard
1935

The Strange God

The Strange God
1935

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The Divided Battle
1938

dwelling thumb

Dwelling
1938

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The Lost Message
1938

ministers son thumb

The Minister’s Son
1938

best birthday thumb

The Best Birthday
1938

The Best Birthday was a Christmas play written by Grace for the Sunday School she began at Leiper Church in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

 

From the Foreword: “One Christmas we decided that in place of the usual common-place Christmas tree, and the usual “pieces” recited and sung in honor of Christmas, it would be well to have something that would fix in all our minds the real meaning of Christmas, making plain the prophecies concerning Christ’s coming and their fulfillment, and making God’s plan of salvation the central thought…It grew as we began to practice it, and as other girls and boys came into it.

 

…So, for three successive Christmases we have given this story of “The Best Birthday” over again, with the same young actors taking the parts. The actual given names of our young people are used in the text…And we, the young people and I who have been giving it, send greetings and glad Christmas wishes to all who shall care to use it hereafter.” —Grace Livingston Hill