>>>  YOU ARE VIEWING A 200 LINE SAMPLE OF EBOOK# E06714  <<<

TITLE: HALF-PAST SEVEN STORIES
AUTHOR: ROBERT GORDON ANDERSON
EBOOK: E06714 (O'Briens Book Cellar)
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

[Illustration: "It wasn't like any other kind of travel in the
world."]

HALF-PAST SEVEN STORIES

BY

ROBERT GORDON ANDERSON

ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR
BY
DOROTHY HOPE SMITH

TO

SARAH DAVIS ANDERSON

Not that this dedication is in itself so great an honor, but because
the youngsters' choice, "Aunt Sally!" is indeed a tribute to the
loving heart which has made so many little ones happy.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION--"THE TOP O' THE MORNING"

I. THE LITTLE LOST FOX
II. THE BIG BOBSLED
III. THE JOLLY ROGER
IV. THE BLUE CROAKER, THE BRIGHT AGATE, AND
           THE LITTLE GRAY MIG
V. THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED ON THE CANAL
VI. TWO O' CAT
VII. THE FAIRY LAMP
VIII. THE ANIMALS' BIRTHDAY PARTY
IX. DR. PHILEMON PIPP, THE PATENT MEDICINE MAN
X. WHEN JEHOSOPHAT FORGOT HIS PIECE
XI. OLE MAN PUMPKIN
XII. THE NORWAY SPRUCE
XIII. WHEN THE DOOR OPENED
XIV. THE HOLE THAT RAN TO CHINA
XV. THE PEPPERMINT PAGODA
XVI. HE THAT TOOK THE CITY

ILLUSTRATIONS

"IT WASN'T LIKE ANY OTHER KIND OF TRAVEL IN THE
WORLD"

"WHEN THEY AREN'T RIDING ON THE HAY, OR TO TOWN
WITH THE TOYMAN AND OLE METHUSALEH"

"MARMADUKE STOOD ON THE FENCE AND SHOUTED:--
'HOORAY! GO IT, REDDY!'"

"'THEY'RE GRAPPLIN' IRONS AND MARLIN SPIKES,' EXPLAINED
CAPTAIN JEHOSOPHAT, 'AND VERY TERRIBLE
WEAPONS'"

"'BETTER THAN SLIPPING DUCKS' EGGS UNDER THE OLE
HEN, ISN'T IT?' WHISPERED JEHOSOPHAT TO HIS
BROTHER"

"THE BOAT WAS SHAPED LIKE A WOODEN SHOE, AND SHE
SURELY HAD SO MANY CHILDREN SHE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO"

"HE FORMED HIS HANDS IN THE SHAPE OF A CUP AND
WAITED"

"'WE MUST HURRY, FOR WAY OVER THERE, I SEE THE
SUN. HE'S STIRRING IN HIS SLEEP'"

"'I'LL TAKE IT ALL BACK,' MARMADUKE YELLED, 'YOU'RE
NO LADIES AN' GEN'LEMEN--AN' I WON'T EVER ASK
YOU TO MY PARTY AGAIN'"

"OUT OF THAT HAT HE DREW A RABBIT, A LIVE WHITE
RABBIT, AND HELD IT UP BY ITS EARS FOR ALL TO SEE"

"BUT THEN JEHOSOPHAT JUST HAD TO LOOK AT FATTY,
AND FATTY HAD JUST PUT A PEANUT UP TO HIS MOUTH
--AS A SORT OF SIGNAL, I GUESS--"

"'CUT A HOLE IN THE TOP OF HIS HEAD--JUST ENOUGH TO
SCOOP OUT HIS INSIDES,' SAID OLE MAN PUMPKIN"

"'STAND BACK, FELLOWS,' THE TOYMAN SHOUTED, 'AND
WATCH THE CHIPS FLY!'"

"LITTLE JOHNNY CRICKET TRIED TO REACH FOR HIS
CRUTCHES, BUT SANTA JUST PICKED HIM UP IN HIS
ARMS AND KISSED HIM"

"THEN THE QUEEN CLAPPED HER HANDS AND THE SERVANTS
CAME RUNNING IN WITH TRAYS PILED HIGH
WITH WONDERFUL FOODS"

"SO, FOR A LITTLE WHILE, THEY WATCHED THAT GREAT
CLOUD CITY, WITH ALL ITS TOWERS AND FLAGS AND
BANNERS WAVING IN THE WIND"

HALF-PAST SEVEN STORIES

"THE TOP OF THE MORNING"

"The top o' the morning!"

That's what the Toyman used to say. And I am sure if you ever go to
the White House with the Green Blinds by the Side of the Road the
Toyman will say it still, whatever the weather.

And when you hear him call that over the fence so cheerily, from his
smile you will know at once what he means,--that he wishes for you the
_very_ top of the morning, not only the finest of weather, but
the best of happiness and fun, in whatever you do and wherever you go.

If you have read all about him in the _Seven O'Clock Stories_ you
will remember his name. Of course, it won't matter whether you've read
them or not--you can make his acquaintance at any time--but the sooner
the better, for, as all who know him will tell you, he's worth
knowing.

His name is Frank Clarke, but his real name isn't really as real as
the one the children gave him,--"the Toyman." For he is forever making
them things,--kites and tops, and sleds and boats, and jokes and
happiness and laughter.

His face is as brown as saddle leather, with a touch of apple red in
it from the sun. There are creases in it, too, because he laughs and
jokes so much. Sometimes when he appears to be solemn you want to
laugh most, for he's only pretending to be solemn. And, best of all,
if you hurt yourself, or if your pet doggie hurts himself, the Toyman
will know how to fix it, to "make it all well" again.

The Three Happy Children love him. That's what we always call them,
though they, too, have other names--funny ones, you will
think,--Jehosophat, Marmaduke, and Hepzebiah Green, but they are
family names and came from some very old uncles and aunts.

They still live in the White House with the Green Blinds by the Side
of the Road--that is, when they aren't sliding down hill, or fishing
in the Pond, or riding on the hay, or to town with the Toyman and Ole
Methusaleh. Mother and Father are still there. Home wouldn't be home
without them. And they have many playmates and friends--of all sorts
--two-legged and four-legged, in serge and corduroy, in feathers and fur.

[Illustration: "When they aren't riding on the hay, or to town with
the Toyman and Ole Methusaleh."]

What they all did, the fun they had, and the trouble they got in and
out of, you'll find if you turn these pages.

One thing more--a secret--in _absolute_ confidence,
though.--After all, it isn't really so _very_ necessary to read
these stories at _Half-Past Seven_. You can read them, or be read
to, "any ole time," as the Toyman used to say--Monday morning,
Thursday noon, or Saturday night--as long as it doesn't interfere with
those lessons.

Still, the very best time is at twilight in summer when the lights and
the fireflies begin to twinkle through the dusk, or in the winter
around the fire just before you go to bed--with Father or Mother--or
the Toyman.

       *       *       *       *       *

P.S.--

  The Toyman says to send his love and
 "The Top o' the Morning."

I

THE LITTLE LOST FOX

Marmaduke was sitting on the fence. He wasn't thinking of anything in
particular, just looking around. Jehosophat called to him from the
barnyard,--

"Come'n an' play 'I spy.'"

But Marmaduke only grumbled,--

"Don't want to."

"Well, let's play 'Cross Tag' then," Jehosophat suggested.

"Don't want to," repeated his brother again, not very politely.

Jehosophat thought for a moment, then he suggested something
worth-while:

"I'll tell you what, let's play 'Duck-on-the-Rock.'"

Now as every boy in the world--at least in America--knows, that is a
wonderful game, but Marmaduke only said very crossly,--

<<<  END OF SAMPLE... (THE FULL EBOOK HAS 269357 TOTAL CHARACTERS)  >>>