The children of Old Park's Tavern

"The children of Old Park's Tavern : A story of the South Shore" by Humphrey is a children's novel written in the late 19th century. Set along Massachusetts’ South Shore before railroads, it follows spirited city girl Dolly Winslow and her cousin Ned Park through tavern life, salt marsh work, and small-town politics, blending wholesome adventure with regional color and a hint of mystery. Cameos by Daniel Webster and the enigma of a shipwrecked woman called the Little Madam give the tale both historical texture and intrigue. The opening of the novel introduces Dolly’s visit to Park’s Tavern in Byfield during a bustling Whig convention, where her secret peek into the meeting-house leads to an overnight misadventure and a brave, clever ruse that scares off would‑be robbers. When news arrives that her parents must sail for Europe, Dolly stays on and is cheered by a salt‑haying sojourn to the Marshfield marshes, where Skipper Joe spins sea tales, she learns to swim, and she and Ned roam in their punt, the Daisy. Lost at dusk among the creeks, they are found by Daniel Webster, who hosts them warmly and shows them his library, farm, and famed hospitality. Back home, they befriend the Little Madam—a tiny, gentle amnesiac rescued at sea who lives simply on Hemlock “Island” with her cockatoo—and Dolly is quietly charged with watching over her as local teasing stirs concern. Inspired by reading Ivanhoe, the children dream up a tournament, and as Dolly’s thirteenth birthday dawns, a carefully kept household secret culminates in a joyous surprise.

The children of Old Park's Tavern, by Frances A. Humphrey. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #76562.