
MR. WADDY’S RETURN
PUBLISHERS’ NOTE
CHAPTER I A REMARKABLE EPISODE, HITHERTO UNRECORDED, IN THE VOYAGE OF THE “MAYFLOWER”
CHAPTER II THE WADDYS OF DULLISH COURT, FROM WHITEGIFT TO OUR HERO
CHAPTER III IN WHICH MR. WADDY REACHES HALIFAX AND MEETS WITH A MISADVENTURE
CHAPTER IV A GENTLE LADY OF FORTUNE DECIDES TO FACE A STORM
CHAPTER V A WRECK AND A RESCUE
CHAPTER VI IN WHICH MISS SULLIVAN FINDS MANY REASONS FOR DEPARTURE
CHAPTER VII A PEPPERY INVALID WHO DREAMS DREAMS AND BRINGS BAD NEWS
CHAPTER VIII MR. WADDY MUSES UPON FATE AND UNDERTAKES A COMMISSION
In the bustling world of early America a lone family name has threaded itself through the rise of a nation. The Waddys have long been the quiet, dependable shopkeepers of Boston, their modest storefront a backdrop to the colony’s tumultuous birth. Yet one restless son, Ira, shatters that quiet legacy, stepping beyond the familiar streets of his ancestors onto the decks of the famed “Mayflower” and into the wider currents of trade, politics, and ambition. His daring spirit promises a fresh chapter for the once‑humble lineage, hinting at both opportunity and peril.
As Ira’s journey unfolds, listeners are drawn into the lively streets of Halifax, unexpected mishaps, and the colorful cast of characters—gentle ladies of fortune, peppery invalids, and charismatic friends—who shape his path. The novel balances witty social observation with vivid snapshots of a world in transition, offering a lively portrait of a man determined to rewrite his family’s story while the young nation finds its own voice.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (352K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by D A Alexander, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2020-09-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1828–1861
A restless traveler, sharp observer, and early Civil War casualty, this 19th-century writer left behind novels and sketches that were only widely discovered after his death. His work blends adventure, landscape, and a vivid feel for a country in motion.
View all books
by Theodore Winthrop

by Vinceslas-Eugène Dick

by Royall Tyler

by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé

by Abraham Cahan

by Abraham Cahan

by Pauline E. (Pauline Elizabeth) Hopkins