The Significance of the "Hitching Post" in June and December Excerpts

What happened at the "hitching post" in June and December?

Can you detail the events that took place at the "hitching post" in both June and December excerpts?

Answer:

The term 'hitching post' metaphorically represents critical events in different stories. In June, it's from F. Scott Fitzgerald's tale where two characters witness an event, and in December, it reflects a character's internal reflection on life changes. Other excerpts, while not directly related to the 'hitching post,' depict suspenseful and dramatic scenes in various settings.

What happened at the "hitching post" in June and December? entails two separate events from different narratives. The June event refers to a peculiar sight at a shanty depot in the village of Fish from F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Diamond as Big as the Ritz," where the arrival of Percy Washington and John T. Unger off the Transcontinental Express is witnessed by a congregation of men in an almost ritualistic observation. They are then driven off to an opulent encounter with a grand automobile.

In December, from a different story by Fitzgerald, "Winter Dreams," there is an internal reflection by Dexter Green on his tranquility and past relationship with Judy Jones. His thoughts occur while the Minnesota winter thaws, marking a subtle but poignant event in his internal landscape.

Separately, the other excerpts do not seem to relate explicitly to the term "hitching post," but rather illustrate instances of suspense and social dynamics in distinct contexts. These include the supernatural speculation in Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," a dramatic capture in Frederick Douglass's autobiography, and a border patrol pursuit on the 30th of December from a likely contemporary source.