A Flat Iron for a Farthing

Flat Iron for a Farthing, by
Juliana Horatia Ewing

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Title: A Flat Iron for a Farthing or Some Passages in the Life of an only
Son
Author: Juliana Horatia Ewing
Illustrator: M. V. Wheelhouse
Release Date: November 18, 2006 [EBook #19859]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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IRON FOR A FARTHING ***

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[Illustration: Mrs. Bundle (see p. 3).]

A FLAT IRON FOR A FARTHING
or
Some Passages in the Life of an only Son

by
Juliana Horatia Ewing

Illustrated by
M. V. Wheelhouse

George Bell & Sons
London
1908.
* * * * *
Dedicated
TO MY DEAR FATHER,
AND TO HIS SISTER, MY DEAR AUNT MARY,
IN MEMORY OF
THEIR GOOD FRIEND AND NURSE,
E. B.
OBIT 3 MARCH, 1872, ÆT. 83.

J. H. E.
* * * * *

PREFACE
An apology is a sorry Preface to any book, however insignificant, and
yet I am anxious to apologise for the title of this little tale. The story
grew after the title had been (hastily) given, and so many other
incidents gathered round the incident of the purchase of the flat iron as
to make it no longer important enough to appear upon the title page. It
would, however, be dishonest to change the name of a tale which is
reprinted from a Magazine; and I can only apologise for an appearance
of affectation in it which was not intended.
As the Dedication may seem to suggest that the character of Mrs.
Bundle is a portrait, I may be allowed to say that, except in faithfulness,
and tenderness, and high principle, she bears no likeness to my father's
dear old nurse.
It may interest some of my child readers to know that the steep street
and the farthing wares are real remembrances out of my own childhood.
Though whether in these days of "advanced prices," the flat irons, the
gridirons with the three fish upon them, and all those other valuable
accessories to doll's housekeeping, which I once delighted to purchase,
can still be obtained for a farthing each, I have lived too long out of the
world of toys to be able to tell.
J. H. E.
* * * * *

CONTENTS
CHAP.

I. MOTHERLESS
II. "THE LOOK"--RUBENS--MRS. BUNDLE AGAIN
III. THE DARK LADY--TROUBLE IMPENDING--BEAUTIFUL,
GOLDEN MAMMA
IV. AUNT MARIA--THE ENEMY ROUTED--LONDON TOWN
V. MY COUSINS--MISS BLOMFIELD--THE BOY IN BLACK
VI. THE LITTLE BARONET--DOLLS--CINDER PARCELS--THE
OLD GENTLEMAN NEXT DOOR--THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS
VII. POLLY AND I RESOLVE TO BE "VERY RELIGIOUS"--DR.
PEPJOHN--THE ALMS-BOX--THE BLIND BEGGAR
VIII. VISITING THE SICK
IX. "PEACE BE TO THIS HOUSE"
X. CONVALESCENCE--MATRIMONIAL INTENTIONS--THE
JOURNEY TO OAKFORD--OUR WELCOME
XI. THE TINSMITH'S--THE BEAVER BONNETS--A FLAT IRON
FOR A FARTHING--I FAIL TO SECURE A SISTER--RUBENS
AND THE DOLL
XII. THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--THE MEADS--THE
DROWNED DOLL
XIII. POLLY--THE PEW AND THE PULPIT--THE FATE OF THE
FLAT IRON
XIV. RUBENS AND I "DROP IN" AT THE RECTORY--GARDENS
AND GARDENERS--MY FATHER COMES FOR ME
XV. NURSE BUNDLE IS MAGNANIMOUS--MR. GRAY--AN
EXPLANATION WITH MY FATHER

XVI. THE REAL MR. GRAY--NURSE BUNDLE REGARDS HIM
WITH DISFAVOUR
XVII. I FAIL TO TEACH LATIN TO MRS. BUNDLE--THE
RECTOR TEACHES ME
XVIII. THE ASTHMATIC OLD GENTLEMAN AND HIS
RIDDLES--I PLAY TRUANT AGAIN--IN THE BIG GARDEN
XIX. THE TUTOR--THE PARISH--A NEW CONTRIBUTOR TO
THE ALMS-BOX
XX. THE TUTOR'S PROPOSAL--A TEACHERS' MEETING
XXI. OAKFORD ONCE MORE--THE SATIN CHAIRS--THE
HOUSEKEEPER--THE LITTLE LADIES AGAIN--FAMILY
MONUMENTS
XXII. NURSE BUNDLE FINDS A VOCATION--RAGGED ROBIN'S
WIFE--MRS. BUNDLE'S IDEAS ON HUSBANDS AND
PUBLIC-HOUSES
XXIII. I GO TO ETON--MY MASTER--I SERVE HIM WELL
XXIV. COLLECTIONS--LEO'S LETTER--NURSE BUNDLE AND
SIR LIONEL
XXV. THE DEATH OF RUBENS--POLLY'S NEWS--LAST TIMES
XXVI. I HEAR FROM MR. JONATHAN
ANDREWES--YORKSHIRE--ALATHEA alias BETTY--WE BURY
OUR DEAD OUT OF OUR SIGHT--VOICES OF THE NORTH
XXVII. THE NEW RECTOR--AUNT MARIA TRIES TO FIND HIM
A WIFE--MY FATHER HAS A SIMILAR CARE FOR ME
XXVIII. I BELIEVE MYSELF TO BE
BROKEN-HEARTED--MARIA IN LOVE--I MAKE AN OFFER OF
MARRIAGE, WHICH IS NEITHER ACCEPTED NOR REFUSED

XXIX. THE FUTURE LADY DAMER--POLLY HAS A
SECRET--UNDER THE MULBERRY-TREE
XXX. I MEET THE HEIRESS--I FIND MYSELF MISTAKEN ON
MANY POINTS--A NEW KNOT IN THE FAMILY
COMPLICATIONS
XXXI. MY LADY FRANCES--THE FUTURE LADY DAMER--WE
UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AT LAST
XXXII. WE COME HOME--MRS. BUNDLE QUITS SERVICE
* * * * *

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
MRS. BUNDLE Frontispiece
THE LANK LAWYER WAGGED MY HAND OF A