
CHAPTER I - THE PERFECT BOARDING HOUSE
CHAPTER II - THE WANDERER'S RETURN
CHAPTER III - “FIXIN' OVER”
CHAPTER IV - BAILEY BANGS'S EXPERIMENT
CHAPTER V - A FRONT-DOOR CALLER
CHAPTER VI - ICICLES AND DUST
CHAPTER VII - CAPTAIN CY PROVES DELINQUENT
CHAPTER VIII - THE “COW LADY”
CHAPTER IX - POLITICS AND BIRTHDAYS
CHAPTER X - A LETTER AND A VISITOR
In the salty air of a late‑19th‑century New England port, a bustling boarding house serves as the town’s informal hub. Captain Cy, the ever‑absent proprietor, and his outspoken wife Keturah preside over a cast of characters whose daily routines are as tangled as the tides—board‑meeting minutes clash with memory of fried cod cheeks, and even the exact day of the week becomes a lively debate. The town clerk, Asaph Tidditt, and his friend Bailey Bangs add their own rough‑spoken charm, weaving humor into the ordinary concerns of Bayport life.
Beneath the chatter, a more pressing matter looms: the fate of a federal harbor appropriation that could reshape the community’s future. A mysterious letter from Congressman Heman Atkins arrives just as the selectmen convene, sparking speculation, rivalry, and a dash of political intrigue. Listeners are invited to step into this vivid tableau, where humor, local lore, and the promise of change mingle around the kitchen table of “the perfect boarding house.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (491K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Donald Lainson; David Widger Updated: 2023-01-08.
Release date
2006-06-03
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1870–1944
Known for warm, funny stories set in a fictionalized Cape Cod, this prolific American writer turned local speech, seaside routines, and small-town personalities into fiction readers loved for decades. His books capture everyday life with humor, affection, and a strong sense of place.
View all books
by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln

by Joseph Crosby Lincoln