I've always been obsessed with time, so naturally I'm fascinated with stories of time travel or actual artifacts from the past. While I'm more accustomed to tangible artifacts like old coins or books or photographs, these recordings are definitely artifacts of the past, too. I clicked here to hear the Gettysburg Address eyewitness speak, but also found myself drawn into the "Cigar Stories" about "El Lector" who would read to the working people.

This piece was my "Lector" tonight. It occupied my mind while I performed the semi-mindless data entry portion of my overnight job. Thanks to the producers, and to this PRX site in general, which keeps me awake and thinking throughout the night.