
ILLUSTRATIONS
FOREWORD
“CHARGE IT”
I. IN WHICH HARRY SWIFTLY PASSES FROM ONE STAGE OF HIS CAREER TO ANOTHER
II. WHICH BEGINS THE STORY OF THE BISHOP’S HEAD
III. WHICH IS THE STORY OF THE PIMPLED QUEEN AND THE BLACK SPOT
IV. IN WHICH SOCRATES ENCOUNTERS “NEW THOUGHT” AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HAIR
V. IN WHICH SOCRATES DISCUSSES THE OVER-PRODUCTION OF TALK
VI. IN WHICH BETSEY COMMITS AN INDISCRETION
VII. IN WHICH SOCRATES ATTACKS THE WORST DOERS AND BEST SELLERS
A brisk, witty narrator watches his friend Harry barrel through a bustling New England town, turning every errand into a blur of “charge it” and daring speed. In a single, breath‑less drive, they dart past storefronts, dodge a bulldog, scatter chickens, and race a bicycle‑towing greyhound, all while Harry insists on making a bridge‑party appointment that cannot wait. The scene crackles with the clang of gears, the hiss of dust, and the rapid‑fire banter that paints Harry as a charismatic, almost superhuman whirlwind of activity.
The story captures the humor of early‑twentieth‑century life, from the polished shop windows to the rustic farms that line the road, while hinting at a larger business dispute waiting in Chesterville. As the narrator balances admiration for Harry’s relentless energy with his own desire for a quieter ride, the stage is set for a lively clash of personalities and the inevitable scramble to keep time on their side.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (156K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2009-08-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1859–1950
A bestselling novelist and pioneering journalist, this upstate New York writer helped shape both American newspapers and popular historical fiction. His stories are remembered for their warmth, humor, and affection for rural life.
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