Half-Past Seven Stories

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Half-Past Seven Stories

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Title: Half-Past Seven Stories
Author: Robert Gordon Anderson
Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7505] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on May 11, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HALF-PAST SEVEN STORIES ***

Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Camilla Venezuela and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team

[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