Timothy's Quest Read online

  Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Janet Blenkinship and theOnline Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net(This book was produced from scanned images of publicdomain material from the Google Print project)

  By Mrs. Wiggin.

  THE BIRDS' CHRISTMAS CAROL. Illustrated. Square 12mo, boards, 50 cents.

  THE STORY OF PATSY, Illustrated. Square 12mo, boards, 60 cents.

  A SUMMER IN A CANON. A California Story. Illustrated. New Edition. 16mo, $1.25.

  TIMOTHY'S QUEST. A Story for Anybody, Young or Old, who cares to read it. 16mo, $1.00.

  THE STORY HOUR. A Book for the Home and Kindergarten. By Mrs. Wiggin and Nora A. Smith. Illustrated. 16mo, $1.00.

  CHILDREN'S RIGHTS. A Book of Nursery Logic. 16mo, $1.00.

  A CATHEDRAL COURTSHIP, and PENELOPE'S ENGLISH EXPERIENCES. Illustrated. 16mo, $1.00.

  POLLY OLIVER'S PROBLEM. Illustrated, 16mo, $1.00.

  HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO. BOSTON AND NEW YORK.

  TIMOTHY'S QUEST

  _A STORY FOR ANYBODY, YOUNG OR OLD, WHO CARES TO READ IT_

  BY

  KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN

  AUTHOR OF "BIRDS' CHRISTMAS CAROL," "THE STORY OF PATSY," "A SUMMER IN A CANON," ETC.

  The Riverside Press logo.]

  BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY The Riverside Press, Cambridge 1894

  Copyright, 1890,

  BY KATE DOUGLAS WIGGIN

  _All rights reserved._

  THIRTY-SEVENTH THOUSAND

  _The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A._ Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Company.

  To

  NORA

  DEAREST SISTER, STERNEST CRITIC,

  BEST FRIEND.

  CONTENTS.

  SCENE I. PAGE

  FLOSSY MORRISON LEARNS THE SECRET OF DEATH WITHOUT EVER HAVING LEARNED THE SECRET OF LIFE 7

  SCENE II.

  LITTLE TIMOTHY JESSUP ASSUMES PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES 17

  SCENE III.

  TIMOTHY PLANS A CAMPAIGN, AND PROVIDENCE MATERIALLY ASSISTS IN CARRYING IT OUT, OR VICE VERSA 26

  SCENE IV.

  JABE SLOCUM ASSUMES THE ROLE OF GUARDIAN ANGEL 39

  SCENE V.

  TIMOTHY FINDS A HOUSE IN WHICH HE THINKS A BABY IS NEEDED, BUT THE INMATES DO NOT ENTIRELY AGREE WITH HIM 51

  SCENE VI.

  TIMOTHY, LADY GAY, AND RAGS PROVE FAITHFUL TO EACH OTHER 63

  SCENE VII.

  MISTRESS AND MAID FIND TO THEIR AMAZEMENT THAT A CHILD, MORE THAN ALL OTHER GIFTS, BRINGS HOPE WITH IT, AND FORWARD LOOKING THOUGHTS 74

  SCENE VIII.

  JABE AND SAMANTHA EXCHANGE HOSTILITIES, AND THE FORMER SAYS A GOOD WORD FOR THE LITTLE WANDERERS 87

  SCENE IX.

  "NOW THE END OF THE COMMANDMENT IS CHARITY, OUT OF A PURE HEART" 100

  SCENE X.

  AUNT HITTY COMES TO "MAKE OVER," AND SUPPLIES BACK NUMBERS TO ALL THE VILLAGE HISTORIES 112

  SCENE XI.

  MISS VILDA DECIDES THAT TWO IS ONE TOO MANY, AND TIMOTHY BREAKS A HUMMING-BIRD'S EGG 126

  SCENE XII.

  LYDDY PETTIGROVE'S FUNERAL 143

  SCENE XIII.

  PLEASANT RIVER IS BAPTIZED WITH THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION 152

  SCENE XIV.

  TIMOTHY JESSUP RUNS AWAY A SECOND TIME, AND, LIKE OTHER BLESSINGS, BRIGHTENS AS HE TAKES HIS FLIGHT 166

  SCENE XV.

  LIKE ALL DOGS IN FICTION, THE FAITHFUL RAGS GUIDES MISS VILDA TO HIS LITTLE MASTER 179

  SCENE XVI.

  TIMOTHY'S QUEST IS ENDED, AND SAMANTHA SAYS, "COME ALONG, DAVE" 189

  TIMOTHY'S QUEST.