Half-Past Seven Stories

Half-Past Seven Stories

Project Gutenberg's Half-Past Seven Stories, by Robert Gordon
Anderson Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to
check the copyright laws for your country before downloading or
redistributing this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the
header without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is
important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how
the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a
donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since
1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of
Volunteers!*****
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