The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh and Other Tales

Bret Harte grew up in California, and based many of his stories on the pioneering spirit that was ever-present in the early days of Californian history. He was very well known in his time, and many an editor requested his short stories for their magazines.

In "The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh," siblings Maggie and Jim Culpepper live in a modest home in Dedlow Marsh. Not far from their home is a Fort in which government soldiers are stationed. One evening, a deserter from the Fort approaches Maggie late in the evening asking for supplies. Reluctantly, she gives the man some of her brother's clothes and a bit of food. She doesn't tell her brother because she's afraid of his wrath. But when the deserter is caught, Jim tells them that the deserter stole his clothes. Maggie must now reveal her secret or allow this man to receive a fate he does not deserve.

Also included in this volume are "A Knight-Errant of the Foothills," "A Secret of Telegraph Hill," and "Captain Jim's Friend" -- the four stories taken together are very representative of Hart's body of work.