
Two spirited boys perch on the old garden wall, the summer sun bathing the English countryside in a lazy glow. Roy, a frail but determined youngster with unruly curls, debates the nature of “opportunity” with his sturdy cousin Dudley, whose handsome looks mask a quieter intellect. Their banter, full of youthful idealism, hints at a longing for adventure beyond the tidy rows of roses and the sleepy village beyond.
When a lone traveler wanders into view, the boys seize what they see as a chance to put their philosophy into practice. They offer the stranger a hard‑won sixpence and a few kind words, hoping to turn a fleeting encounter into something meaningful. Their earnest generosity sets the stage for a modest but heartfelt quest, where the line between chance and purpose begins to blur.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (204K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Joel Erickson, Michael Ciesielski, Amy Petri and PG Distributed Proofreaders
Release date
2004-03-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

d. 1929
Best remembered for lively children's stories with a strong Christian message, this late Victorian and Edwardian writer produced a long stream of popular books that stayed in print for decades. Her fiction often blends adventure, family life, and gentle moral lessons in a way that still feels warm and readable.
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