
FOREWORD
CHAPTER I ALF HIGGINS, RUNNER
CHAPTER II ALF CLEANS HIS BUTTONS
CHAPTER III THE MIRACLE OF THE PLANES
CHAPTER IV THE MISGUIDED ZEAL OF EUSTACE
CHAPTER V EUSTACE FETCHES BEER
CHAPTER VI ISOBEL'S "DREAM"
CHAPTER VII EUSTACE ORDERS A BATH
CHAPTER VIII BLIGHTY FOR TWO
CHAPTER IX LIEUTENANT DONALDSON BECOMES SUSPICIOUS
A weary trench in the bitter winter of 1917 becomes the backdrop for an unlikely hero. Alf Higgins, a simple but dependable runner in the Middlesex Fusiliers, is summoned for a special task that promises more than the usual courier duties. While the senior officers fuss over strategy and morale, Alf’s plain‑spoken honesty and steadfastness make him the perfect candidate for a mission that hinges on a curious artifact—an old button said to have once been part of Aladdin’s legendary lamp.
The story blends the grim realities of the Great War with a whimsical twist of ancient legend. As Alf is handed the mysterious button, its hidden powers begin to surface, offering a chance for miracles amid the mud and artillery. The early chapters set up a charming clash between military routine and magical mischief, inviting listeners to follow Alf’s modest bravery as he navigates both the front lines and the unexpected wonders that the button may unleash.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (363K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Tim Lindell, Martin Pettit and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2019-06-18
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1890–1979
A witty British journalist and drama critic, he is best remembered for the comic fantasy Alf's Button and for decades of sharp-eyed writing about the theater. His career moved easily between fiction, criticism, and memoir, giving his work both polish and personality.
View all books
by Vinceslas-Eugène Dick

by Royall Tyler

by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé

by Abraham Cahan

by Dion Boucicault

by Maria Edgeworth

by Ben Jonson