How Deacon Tubman and Parson Whitney Kept New Year's / And Other Stories

The collection presents four short, character-driven tales that mix humor, pathos, and local color. One recounts a boisterous New Year sled contest that revives the parson's youthful spirit and community good humor. Another follows an itinerant old man and his devoted dog, evoking compassion and quiet observation of marginal life. A third depicts an evening ball where music animates guests and transforms the atmosphere. The final story traces a brief, enigmatic encounter near a riverside fire that raises questions about identity and memory. Together the pieces emphasize companionship, reminiscence, and small-town rituals rendered in lively, anecdotal prose.