Transcriber's note: Archaic and variable spelling preserved as printed. Author's punctuation style preserved. Hyphenation standardized. Passages in italics indicated by underscore _.

The Old Tobacco Shop

Also By WILLIAM BOWEN The Enchanted Forest The Old Tobacco Shop

The Old Tobacco Shop

_A True Account of What Befell a Little Boy in Search of Adventure_

By William Bowen

Though you believe it not, I care not much: but an honest man, and of good judgment, believeth still what is told him, and that which he finds written.--RABELAIS.

PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Set up and Electrotyped. Published October, 1921

FERRIS PRINTING COMPANY NEW YORK

To BILLY AND JOHN TWO LITTLE BOYS

PRINCIPAL PERSONS

Freddie Mr. Toby Aunt Amanda Mr. Punch The Churchwarden Mr. Hanlon The Sly Old Fox The Old Codger with the Wooden Leg Mr. Lemuel Mizzen The Cabin-Boy Marmaduke Captain Lingo Ketch the Practitioner The Third Vice-President Mr. Matthew Speak Shiraz the Rug-Merchant The King and Queen Robert, Jenny, and James Mr. Punch's Father

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. "Lord bless us!" cried the hunch back. "Look at that!" Frontispiece

2. "I'm Lemuel Mizzen, A.B., that's me!" 50

3. "L-l-Lem!" shrieked the parrot. "Who's your f-f-f-friends?" 86

4. Mr. Hanlon was standing on his feet by the log on which his head had been cut off 134

5. Shiraz the Rug-Merchant looked at his visitors with little beady black eyes 188

6. "Ah, yes," said Aunt Amanda, "there's no place like the Old Tobacco Shop after all" 235

CONTENTS