The Entertaining History of Jobson & Nell

Near the sign of the Bell live Jobson, a good-natured cobbler, and Nell, his patient wife. Their household is usually harmonious, but Jobson’s fondness for whiskey sends him into mischievous high spirits, leaving customers—and especially the local parson—waiting for their shoes.

When Sunday arrives and the parson’s footwear remains unrepaired, Jobson and Nell go without dinner while the parson prepares a tempting feast of roast beef, pudding, and strong beer. Drawn by the savory smell, Jobson sets off in a fit of hunger and impudence, beginning a lively chain of comic trouble involving an anxious cook, a breathless pursuit, and an unexpectedly forgiving meal. Told in bouncy rhymes with a playful, theatrical tone, this amusing juvenile tale turns everyday quarrels, appetite, and laziness into a lighthearted adventure.