
In the sun‑drenched village of Bienville, a bright‑eyed ten‑year‑old named Toni lives a life of sweet privilege. As the only child of the town’s candy‑shop owner, he spends his days wandering fields, watching butterflies, and indulging in treats that most of his peers can only dream of. His world is anchored by two unlikely companions: Paul Verney, the diligent son of a local lawyer whose disciplined ways clash with Toni’s carefree spirit, and Jacques, a tin soldier who lives literally in Toni’s pocket and becomes his confidant for secret fantasies.
Through the lens of his vivid imagination, Toni embarks on whispered adventures that stretch far beyond the quiet streets of his hometown. Jacques spins tales of distant lands—frosty Russia, scorching Algeria—fueling Toni’s curiosity and planting the seeds of a mystery that will soon tug at the edges of his carefree existence. As friendships deepen and the line between reality and make‑believe blurs, Toni begins to sense that the sweet life he knows may hold a secret waiting to be uncovered.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (378K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: D. Appleton and Company, 1907.
Credits
D A Alexander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2021-12-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1860–1916
A Virginia-born writer with a sharp eye for history and adventure, she built a wide-ranging career that included novels, short stories, and popular historical writing. Her books often drew on naval life and the American past, giving readers lively stories rooted in strong research and vivid scene-setting.
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