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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[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, ?T. 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 MORNING, AND SAID, "AND HOW IS MISS ELIZA'S LITTLE BEAU?"
"BLESS ME, THERE'S THAT DOG!"
"MR. BUCKLE, I BELIEVE?"
SHE ROLLED ABRUPTLY OVER ON HER SEAT AND SCRAMBLED OFF BACKWARDS
POLLY AND REGIE IN THE "PULPIT" AND THE "PEW"
"ALL TOGETHER, IF YOU PLEASE!"
IT WAS ONLY A QUIET DINNER PARTY, AND MISS CHISLETT HAD BROUGHT OUT HER NEEDLEWORK
* * * * *

A FLAT IRON FOR A FARTHING
CHAPTER I
MOTHERLESS
When the children clamour for a story, my wife says to me, "Tell them how you