In 1860, Billy Costello and his wife, Thalia, have firmly settled into the rapidly growing town of Sacramento. Thalia becomes a part-time news reporter and Billy continues his work as a prominent lawyer and town councilman.

The first story is about Thalia’s news reports on two young men who are starting a business by acquiring “runts of the litter”. They visit local farmers and take away their misfits, paying nothing for the animals, but relieving the farmer of giving the required extra care that would be needed for these animals. Soon, the two young men have pigs, sheep, cows, horses, and other unwanted animals that will now constitute their own livestock business. Thalia offers them a tip on expanding their business.

In another story, a big, blustery fellow appears in town. He has a charismatic character and is capable of winning everyone to his side. Except for a few, led by Billy, who doubt the newcomer’s sincerity. The newcomer convinces some townsmen to invest in a mining scheme. Billy and his friends eventually show the man’s true character. He leaves town and peace reigns again.

Another tale finds Thalia interviewing a modern employer who operates differently from the usual factory boss. This man actually employs women to work in production. He pays a bonus for new babies and for students’ good grades. Picnics and parties are paid for and employees are given a half-day with pay at Christmas time, an unusual bonus in 1860. In winter, among other novel help to his workers, he provides hot, baked potatoes as going-home pocket warmers.

There is a story about a steady, hardworking bank clerk, fraudulently convicted of bank theft, who is released after three years in prison. He returns to his hometown, ashamed about his prison time. He is hesitant about visiting his former girl friend and is undecided about what to do. Before he leaves town forever, he decides to walk by her place just to view the roses in her garden. As he does that, she sees him and comes forth to greet him.

In another story, a baby is born to a young couple who are thrilled with their first child. But the baby is terribly mal-formed and they are devastated. A few days later, the mother’s uncle comes to visit. The uncle leaves during the early morning hours to go back to his gold-mining. A little later, the parents awake to discover that the baby is missing. Did the uncle take away the baby? The uncle is questioned but denies all knowledge of the missing baby. There is a deepening mystery to be solved.

Another story involves Thalia, again as a news reporter. A science teacher reveals simple knowledge about everyday agricultural food crops. Thalia interviews him and learns about the amazing journey involved with corn silk. She later visits his classroom where this wizard explains about abscission layers and the ripening of fruits. Even though tomatoes (in 1860) are considered poisonous by most people, he dares to eat one right there in the classroom. He eats the tomato and he doesn’t die.

An unusual story involves a widow and five children. She counts her money on hand. It totals seventeen cents! As she was contemplating her poor condition, a stranger rides up and stops. He asks for a cup of coffee, which she, as a good neighbor, supplies to him. Seeing that her children are barefoot, he gives her fifty dollars for the cup of coffee! - and rides off. She quickly spends the money on clothes and food for her children. The next day she learns that the stranger had just robbed a bank and she now has to return the fifty dollars. This is devastating news since her housekeeping jobs pay only about sixty cents for a twelve-hour day. She contacts Billy and he works out a surprising, happy solution to her troubles. He charges her only a cup of coffee for his services.

A happy-family story involves Billy, Thalia, Doctor Bon and his new bride. A first-born baby arrives for Thalia and Billy. Dr. Marcel Bon brings his new bride to town. Eventually, Billy and Marcel become the fathers of a boy and a girl each. The two men decide to lead a project for a new children’s park in town. They plan it and raise funds. Soon after, they see their children, along with others, happily playing in the new Children’s Park.

Another story involves a belligerent man, Nick Turner, who always insists on getting his own way. He and his rival, Fred Smith, the bank clerk, are interested in the same young lady, Lois Walls. Lois prefers Fred and tells Nick to take a hike. Angry Nick decides to sue the bank because Fred had turned him down for a loan, hoping that a suit would embarrass Fred. Billy works out a compromise to this situation whereby everyone is happy with the outcome, at Nick’s expense.

The final story is about the town Jubilee. It features an out-of-town team called “Jam and Jelly” and a local team named “Hen and Rooster”. These two acts intermingle with poetry readings, local choruses, violinists, banjo players, and others, all supplying entertainment for the community. A bricklayer tells his story about an unfortunate accident that he had when he was trying to move a quantity of bricks from the third level to ground level. And, Peter Oh relates how he set out to put up a shelf in his back room without success. Each time he prepared to put up the shelf, something else got in the way. But he was determined! The outcome proves that they may be mysterious forces in our lives.

These stories, while dubbed as fiction, are representative of real-life adventures in a newly-forming frontier town in the just-born state of California in 1860.