Marmaduke trudged up the road. And the road went up, up, up the hill. First he thought that road was like a great worm, always squirming ahead of him, but then he decided that, although it twisted, it didn’t squirm, it was too still for that. After all, it was more like a ribbon, a […]

The Three Happy Children were looking at the calendar. It was a large one which had been given to Father by Silas Drown who kept the Hardware Store. On it was a picture of a meadow, with a green brook running through it; and people were haying in the meadow. It was undoubtedly a beautiful […]

And of course Tomorrow came, as it always does–only to become Today. Jehosophat didn’t climb on the chair that morning. There was no need of making black marks with his pencil, when that red number, 25, stood out above all the others, so bright in its scarlet splendor. As a matter of fact, the children […]

By this time you should have noticed, if you ever stop to think, that Marmaduke was quite a traveller. It was really remarkable the trips and voyages that boy took–not only to the town, and Apgar’s Woods, and the Leaning Mill on Wally’s Creek, but to the South Seas, The Cave of the Winds, the […]

After Marmaduke and Wienerwurst, Ping Pong, Sing Song, and Ah See, had scooted down the long hole for a few thousand miles or so, they began to see light below them, a little circle of blue, just at the other end, on the other side of the world. When their long journey was over, they […]

In front of the White House with the Green Blinds by the Side of the Road was the Canal; and beyond the Canal the River. They always flowed along side by side, and Marmaduke thought they were like two brothers. The Canal was the older brother, it was always so sure and steady and ready […]

It was hard to be called a “kid”–harder still to be left out of the game. And, besides, it wasn’t fair. Marmaduke knew he could catch that ball as well, and hit it as often as any of them. This is the way it began:– That morning Jehosophat had gone with the Toyman to Sawyer’s […]

Once in about every so often, it seems, little boys just have to get sick. Sometimes it is their own fault; sometimes the fault of the weather; and sometimes there doesn’t seem to be any reason at all–except maybe germs. And who ever saw a real live germ walking around, except, perhaps, doctors looking through […]

Birthdays are always important events, but some are more important than others. The most important of all, of course, is one you can’t remember at all–the zero birthday, when you were born. After that, the fifth, I suppose, is the red letter day. A boy certainly begins to appreciate life when he gets to be […]

Uncle Roger lived in town, quite a distance from the home of the Three Happy Children. When they walked, Marmaduke’s short legs took one whole hour to reach it; Jehosophat’s, forty-five minutes; though the Toyman’s long shanks could cover the ground in fifteen. But then he could go ever so fast. However, they usually rode, […]

There was much excitement in the Red Schoolhouse. Examinations were over; books laid aside. And the walls re-echoed to thrilling sounds,–to happy voices and shuffling feet, to poetry, marches, and songs. They were practising for Commencement, for Closing Day. And at home the parents were busy, too, making white dresses and sashes for the girls, […]

It was October, and the cornfield was deserted and bare. Jehosophat and Marmaduke could remember it as a more beautiful picture. For there, in the Summer, an army had camped, the great army of the corn, with tassels and tall yellow spears, and bright green banners waving and tossing in the wind. But when Fall […]

Mr. Sun must have known that it was Jehosophat’s birthday, he made it so bright, not too sunny nor yet too cool. The three children, Mother, Father, and the Toyman, were all crowding about something which stood in front of the barn. The three tails of three doggies wagged as if they thought it was […]

By the fire sat the Toyman. He must have been seeing things in the flames, for he kept looking, looking all the time. He was all alone, for Father and Mother Green had gone to town to see a fine wedding. It was not often that they stayed out so late, but this was a […]

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 […]

Marmaduke thought he knew now what it meant to be in jail. For three whole days he had had to stay in the house. For three whole days and nights, too, it had rained–“rained pitchforks.” That is what Father said, but Marmaduke could see nothing but prongs. There were thousands of them, coming down through […]

Teddy the Buckskin Horse and Hal the Red Roan had just come in the yard. They were drawing a big load of lumber from the mill which stood in the woods on the north branch of the River. Just before he unloaded the boards and planks back by the barn, the Toyman picked out a […]

It is odd about Grownups–how mistaken they can be, how sadly mistaken. Now for instance, they will insist there are only four seasons when, as every one who has lived in Boyland knows, there are scores more than that. There’s Sled-time;Ball-time;Marble-time;Top-time;Kite-time;Garden-time;Hay-time;Harvest-time;Grape-time;Nut-time;Pumpkin-Pie-time;anda timefor Hunting strawberries, elderberries, or red rasps; for orioles to move, for shad to […]

It was the first snowfall. The grey sky was filled with little white feathers dancing down–down–down. “Look at the snowflakes,” exclaimed the three happy children, all in one breath. “Yes,” said their Mother, “the snow has come. In the spring and summer Mother Earth works very hard. It takes so much of her strength, feeding […]

Marmaduke had played too long in the snow. He was very wet. He was very cold. And he felt very funny and hot all over. “Mother, my throat’s got a rubber ball stuck in it,” he said. Mother looked at it. “No, dear, there’s no rubber ball there, but your throat’s all swollen and there […]