
\[p ii\]A BOY I KNEWAND FOUR DOGS
\[p vii\]ILLUSTRATIONS
\[p ix\]INTRODUCTORY NOTE
\[p 1\]A BOY I KNEW - \[p 3\]A BOY I KNEW
\[p 59\]FOUR DOGS
\[p 61\]FOUR DOGS
An observant, gently humorous portrait unfolds of a boy whose ordinary mischief and quiet generosity mark him as a recognizable figure from any childhood. The narrative weaves his everyday adventures with vivid glimpses of family life, especially his mother’s self‑less warmth and the simple, recurring question, “Who is to have it?” Through these small moments the author paints a tender, almost photographic, scene of a time when a child’s world is defined by the people and places he moves through.
Interlaced with the boy’s story are the lively escapades of four loyal dogs, each adding its own character and comic relief to the household. Their antics, from playful chases to devoted companionship, echo the timeless bond between children and their animal friends, offering both laughter and quiet reflection.
The book’s richly illustrated pages bring the era to life, while the author’s modest, earnest voice invites listeners to remember their own youthful days—full of innocent errors, family humor, and the enduring comfort of a faithful pet.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (115K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Brenda Lewis, David Wilson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2009-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1843–1904
An American essayist, critic, and editor remembered for lively literary writing and a remarkable passion for collecting masks, portraits, and literary memorabilia. His career moved from newspaper criticism to Harper’s Magazine and then to Princeton, where his love of books and culture left a lasting mark.
View all books
by Laurence Hutton

by Laurence Hutton

by Laurence Hutton

by John Gibson Paton

by S. O. Susag

by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jr. Joseph Smith

by Patrick MacGill

by Ralph Werther