Under the Lilacs (Classic Reprint)

Under the Lilacs (Classic Reprint) Review

Vignettes of nostalgic town life reminiscent of Tom Sawyer or the Five Little Peppers. We first meet Babs and Betty Moss at a dolls' tea party in which they discover the clever show dog Sancho foraging for his master Ben, a runaway from the circus. Ben's father had left the circus for a more promising job, intending to send for his son once he was settled. With his father's protection gone, Ben is harshly treated by the circus master and runs away.

Arriving soon after the runaways are Celia and her young brother Thornton, returning to their old home after being gone for years. Thorny is weak from a long illness and is wheelchair-ridden and crabby although he admits that Celia is "the best sister that ever was". She hires Ben to amuse her brother during his convalescence while allowing Babs and Betty, whose mother takes care of the premises, to continue to play house on the porch and path. The kids occupy themselves with botanical expeditions, ship-building, water wheels and other waterworks play, picnics, baseball and archery. Babs loses Sancho at a circus and Betty finds him again in pitiful shape after accompanying Thorny to the dentist. Celia breaks her arm after a fall from her horse and is rescued by Ben. He is gradually weaned away from the roving circus life although Celia invites the school to a splendid birthday party for him where he shows himself in his former circus glory as Cupid on a galloping horse. There is a little trouble with missing money and false accusations but Ben, who is honest and true, gradually endears himself to the two families. Several joyous unions and reunions take place at the end as well as one intended for the future, although in the midst of preparing for one, the incorrigible Babs almost burns down the house under the lilacs. The tone is quaint and old-fashioned but the simple pleasures of life shine through and Ben is both boy-like and engaging.

Under the Lilacs (Classic Reprint) Overview

T HE clm-tree avenue 'Was all overgrown, the great
gatc was neyer unlocked, and the old house had
been shut up for scycrnl years. Yet voices were heard
about the place, the lilacs nodded over the high wall
as if they said, "1Ye could tell fine secrets if we chose,"
and the mullein outside the gate made baste to reach
the keyhole, that it might peep in and see what was
going on.
lf it llad suddenly grown up like a magic bennsta1k,
and looked in on 3 certain June day, it would haye seen
a droll but pleasant sight, for somebody cyidently was
going to hs.Ye a party.
From the gate to the porch went a wille walle, paved
with smooth slabs of dark stone, and bo!derccl with the
tall bushes which met overhead, making a green roof.
All sorts of neglected flowers and wild weeds grew
between their stems, covering the walls of this summer
parlor with the prettiest tapestry. A board, propped on
two blocks of wood, stood in the middle of the walk,
covered with a little plaid shaw

Table of Contents

CRAFTY-It; 1 A MYSTFPIOUS DOG; II "YnERJ: THFY FOU~D HlS 1JASTER; III BEN ?; IV HIs STQHY; ,~ REX GETS A IlLACE; VI A CmcULATl~G LIBUARY; YII NEW FRlE~DS TROT IX ?; TII! !hss CELIA'S lIA~ ?; IX A HAPPY TI::A ?; X A IlEA VY TROUnLE; XI SU~D_-Y; XII GOOD TIMES; XIII SO:IEBODY RUSS AWAY ?; XIV SOMEBODY GETS LOST; XV BEX'S RIDE; XVI DETl::CTlVE TRORNTO~; XVII BETTY'S BRAVERY; XYlII Bows AND ARROWS; XIX SPFAKIXG PIECES; XX REX'S BIRTHDAY; XXI CUPID'S LAST ApPEARAXCE; XXII A Boy's BARGAIN; xX n r SO::lIEIlODY CO:lIES ?; XXIV THE GREAT GATE IS OPENED; f'AGP; 1; 12; 2(); 29; 37; 46; 53; 63; 73; Sf); 94; 117; 132; H7; 167; l8i; · 200; 217; · 220; ? ? 243; ? 255; 268; · 280; 292

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