Showing results by narrator "MIke Vendetti" in All Categories

It's a horror story. The fear of premature burial. It's also a love story. A young man and his beautiful bride move to Paris for new start. They arrive at their lodgings after a 15 hour train trip. He falls into a catatonic state, which is mistaken for death. Two other lodgers are only two anxious to help the new widow. An old woman, and the handsome young man who has just inherited a fortune. We travel with the unfortunate from his "deathbed" to his burial.

Do you believe in ghosts? You might reconsider if you don't after listening to this story of a man haunted by a longtime enemy.

Sitka Charley had achieved the impossible. Other Indians might have known as much of the wisdom of the trail as did he; but he alone knew the white man's wisdom, the honor of the trail, and the law.

Wilkie Collins may have had issues with women, and it becomes apparent in this short story by Collins when Isaac Scatchard, not the brightest bulb on the tree, an itinerant ostler, wakes on the night of his birthday to see the apparition of a woman trying to stab him with a clasp knife. Seven years later he marries Rebecca Murdoch, against the wishes of his mother who recognizes her from Isaac's description as the dream woman. Rebecca takes to drink and fulfills the prophecy by attacking him on his birthday.

"The Monkey's Paw" is a supernatural short story by author W. W. Jacobs first published in England in 1902. Three wishes are granted to the owner of the monkey's paw, but the wishes come with an enormous price for interfering with fate.

"Abolish Language," said the vizier, "And man will return to primal simplicity and happiness."

Hawthorne presents several ideas which form the very core of the conservative critique: that man's sinfulness is an immutable part of his character; that rationalists, reformers, and progressives delude themselves with their utopian notions of the perfectibility of man; that in their delusion they do incalculable damage to the culture, while leaving human nature untouched; and that, no matter the "progress" they make, evil lurks, waiting to rear its ugly head and shatter their dreams.

It is said that the observance of Memorial Day grew originally out of the custom of the widows, mothers, and children of the Confederate dead in the South strewing the soldiers' graves with flowers, including the unmarked graves of the Union soldiers. There was no settled date for this in the North until 1868, when General John A. Logan, as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, designated May 30. A touching poem in commemoration of Memorial Day narrated by Mike Vendetti.

Christmas hadn't been celebrated in this old New England Puritan Church for years. Not until Nathan Stoddard arrived at work one morning, Christmas morning, to see an old man knock upon the door and have the door of the empty church flung open. Nathan rushes to a window at the rear of the church only to peer in to see the interior of the church filled with people dressed from a bygone era decorating the church. A lovely ghost story by Anna Wales Abbot.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson corresponded regularly, and although they had a deep respect for each other, as you will soon learn from this missive written on July 13, 1813, by John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, they didn't always agree.

"Paul Revere's Ride" written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, has long been a staple in the classroom, and an inspiration to many. Now a part of Core State Standards, the student can listen to this poem read by professional narrator Mike Vendetti.

"The Thing in the Hall", by E.F. Benson, is a rather macabre and strange story - retold by Mike Vendetti - of two friends living in London, one of whom tempts fate by inviting a spirit to visit without limiting what type of spirit he is inviting. As we know, there are "evil" spirits just awaiting a home or a victim.

The Bill of Rights and Amendments to the Constitution, the foundation and cornerstone of our democracy, read by Mike Vendetti. A must-listen for every citizen of our Republic and a requirement in Appendix B of Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in history/social studies, science, and technical subjects.

A very short story by Ambrose Bierce, that as Bierce is so prone to do ends with quite a surprise.

Grief. An emotion we all experience at one time or another, but there is no grief greater then the loss of a loved one. In this short poem by William Hope Hodgson, the narrator is alone with his grief and the realization that what had been will never be again.

Robert Hugh Benson, a Catholic priest wrote this short story of the taking the life of a songbird, and the vision that accompanied it.

William Hope Hodgson began his working career as a seaman, where he learned to fear and hate the sea. This short story takes place in the laboratory of a scientist who is in contact by one-way wireless telegraph with an unnamed friend who is on a ship trapped in a terrible storm. The sea becomes an evil thing, and the entity is determined to destroy the living, and the ship they came on. But before death comes to those aboard the doomed vessel, it brings out the very worst in the passengers.

A shadow of forbidden mystery hangs over the New England town of Innsmouth. The narrator in this novella by H.P. Lovecraft, a college student touring the detaining berg, discovers far more then he bargained for. Normal citizens tend to disappear, while the indigenous residents are taking on a fish-like appearance. Strangers are definitely not welcome in this rotting town. And could it be that the narrator is starting to resemble his grandmother and dead uncle Douglas?

A beautiful woman imagines she is married below her station. In an effort to make her happy, her husband brings home an invitation to a ball attended by the upper crust of Paris society. To his chagrin, she is only disappointed, and explains she has nothing to wear to the ball. The husband sacrifices his savings to buy her a dress. She has no jewelry, but she has a wealthy friend who will lend her a beautiful accoutrement to accompany the beautiful dress.

A traveler takes refuge in a château where he finds he is surrounded by fine paintings. Unable to sleep he takes refuge in a book. He moves the candelabrum to shed better light upon the book, but when he does so he discovers in the corner of the room and amazingly lifelike painting of a young woman. It is so real, and he is first so startled that he must close his eyes to gather his wits. After contemplating this painting for nearly an hour he discovers a catalog that describes the painting.