The story is highlighting the challenges immigrants face while celebrating their strength and kindness.
Here is the linl to the text of the story:
https://loa-shared.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Eaton_Spring_Fragrance.pdf
This story introduces us to Mariposa, a small Canadian town full of colorful characters and quirky charm. At the center is Mr. Smith, the owner of the local hotel, who faces trouble when his liquor license is threatened.
Instead of giving up, he cleverly builds a fancy cafĂ© to win over the town—complete with a French chef and absurdly cheap prices. Through humor and wit, the story pokes fun at small-town politics, pride, and the way people can be swayed by good food and grand gestures.
In the end, the story celebrates Mariposa’s quirks while gently mocking human nature—how easily people change their minds when it suits them.
Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://americanliterature.com/author/stephen-leacock/book/sunshine-sketches-of-a-little-town/one-the-hostelry-of-mr-smith
Nikolai Leskov’s Lefty (also known as The Tale of Cross-Eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea) is a satirical story that celebrates Russian ingenuity while critiquing the bureaucratic indifference of the state.
The plot follows a skilled Tula gunsmith, Lefty, who, along with his fellow craftsmen, takes on the challenge of outdoing British engineering by microscopically shoeing a mechanical flea gifted to Tsar Nicholas I. Their success becomes a symbol of Russian talent, yet the story takes a tragic turn when Lefty—despite his loyalty—returns from England.
Lefty endures as a classic not just for its wit and colorful language, but for its timeless warning about the cost of disregarding talent.
Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://library.land/nikolai-leskov/page,45,391851-the_enchanted_wanderer_and_other_stories.html
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The story "Self-Made Men" by Stephen Leacock is a humorous take on two wealthy businessmen who try to outdo each other by exaggerating their past struggles. At first, they boast about their difficult early days—sleeping in a tar barrel or a piano box and eating scraps. Their competition becomes funnier as they keep adding wild details, like playing games in a tiny space or eating hog’s food. The irony is clear: these men, now rich and comfortable, pretend to miss their "humble" past while ordering fancy food.
Leacock’s satire mocks people who romanticize poverty after achieving success. The characters’ ridiculous arguments and sudden shift to luxurious orders highlight their hypocrisy. The story is using humor to show how people often exaggerate their hardships to seem tougher or more self-made than they really are. It’s a clever and entertaining read that makes readers laugh while making a sharp point about human nature.
"The Maid of Thilouse" by Honore de Balzac is a humorous and somewhat satirical story about an old lord who tries to buy the innocence of a young, beautiful girl. The lord, who is wealthy but unattractive, offers the girl's poor mother money, food, and shelter in exchange for her daughter's service. The mother agrees due to their desperate situation. However, girl proves to be clever and strong-willed, resisting the lord's advances until he promises marriage. Even then, she outsmarts him, keeping a comfortable life for herself while the lord ends up looking foolish.
The story is both funny and thought-provoking. It highlights the resilience and wit of the underprivileged. Girls's character is particularly interesting because she uses her innocence and cleverness to gain control over her situation. Overall, it’s an entertaining reading with a subtle moral about the value of virtue and the consequences of trying to exploit others.
Here is the link to the text of the story:
https://short-stories.co/@honorebalzac/the-maid-of-thilouse-1knv78opl63e