Chapter I: Front Matter

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Transcriber’s note:

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

THE HOUSE OF DELIGHT

THE HOUSE OF DELIGHT

by

GERTRUDE CHANDLER WARNER

With illustrations arranged by the author and photographed by

John A. Carpenter Warner

The Pilgrim Press Boston New York Chicago

Copyright 1916 By Gertrude C. Warner

The Pilgrim Press Boston

THIS LITTLE BOOK IS LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO MY GRANDFATHER

John A. Carpenter

WHO WAS MY “BEST” PLAYMATE

------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I THE NEW HOUSE 3

II AT THE SEASHORE 24

III MR. DELIGHT’S SURPRISE 45

IV THE PICNIC 64

V THE CHRISTMAS TREE 83

PERSONS IN THE BOOK

BETSEY, a real little girl, who takes the parts of

MADAME BETTINA, the French dressmaker

MR. BETTS, the carpenter, and

DR. BETSON, the family physician]

WILLIAM DELIGHT, a bisque doll, just as long as Betsey’s hand]

EDITH DELIGHT, his wife, a five-inch bisque doll]

DINAH MCGINTY, the colored cook, a rag doll]

DUMPLING DELIGHT, the china dog]

PRUDENCE DARLING, Edith Delight’s married sister]

JOHN DARLING, Prudence’s husband]

MR. and MRS. AVERY Betsey’s Father and Mother
TOM AVERY Betsey’s Brother
MARGARET AVERY Betsey’s Cousin
DR. LAWRENCE Betsey’s Doctor
NORAH Betsey’s Mother’s Cook

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

“WILL YOU HAVE ALICE-BLUE SUITS?” _Frontispiece_

PERSONS IN THE BOOK

“WILL YOU HAVE A BREADED CHOP, MY DEAR?” 4

“THAT IS QUITE SATISFACTORY TO ME” 14

SHE ALWAYS STOOD MR. DELIGHT UP IN HIS SHIRT-SLEEVES 22

SOON MR. DELIGHT CAME STRIDING BACK 34

“REMEMBER DE FISH, MR. JOHN” 38

“DON’T STIR UP THE WATER SO MUCH DOWN THERE” 42

SO MRS. DELIGHT WENT DOWN IN GREAT ASTONISHMENT 62

“HE SURE DO LOOK MIGHTY STYLISH A-DRIVING DAT KERRIDGE” 68

“TAKE UP A SANDWICH, MRS. D. AND LOOK PLEASANT!” 76

HE LEFT A PRINT OF EACH TINY FOOTSTEP 90

“DINNER AM SERVED, SAH” 96