# Dandelion Cottage

Considered a regional classic in the Midwest, it tells of four young girls who negotiate the use of a derelict cottage belonging to a church as a playhouse by pulling dandelions for the senior warden of the church, prosperous Mr. Black.
| “ | "Good!" said Mr. Black. "Now, we'll all sit down on the steps and I'll tell you what we'll do. It happens that the Village Improvement Society has just notified the vestry that the weeds on this lot must be removed before they go to seed—the neighbours have complained about them. It would cost the parish several dollars to hire a man to do the work, and we're short of funds just now. Now, if you four girls will pull up every weed in this place before the end of next week you shall have the use of the cottage for all the rest of the summer in return for your services. How does that strike you?" "Oh!" cried Bettie, throwing her arms about Mr. Black's neck. "Do let me hug you. Oh, I'm glad—glad!" "There, there!" cried stout Mr. Black, shaking Bettie off and dropping her where the dandelions grew thickest, "I didn't say I was to be strangled as part of the bargain." | ” |
[An audiobook is available at Librivox.]
Layout 4
Dandelion Cottage
BY
CARROLL WATSON RANKIN
With Illustrations by Florence Scovel Shinn and Elizabeth R. Finley
NEW YORK
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
Copyright, 1904
BY
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
October, 1934
N. R. A.
PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. BY
QUINN & BODEN COMPANY. INC.
RAHWAY, N. J.
TO
RHODA, FRANCES AND ELEANOR,
Whose lively interest made the writing
of this little book a joyful task.
THE PERSONS OF THE STORY
The Tucker Family:—Mostly boys.
The Mapes Family:—Two parents, two boys.
Dr. and Mrs. Bennett:— Merely Parents.
Aunty Jane:—A Parental Substitute.
Mrs. Crane:—The Pleasantest Neighbour.
Mr. Black:—The Senior Warden.
Mr. Downing:—The Junior Warden.
Miss Blossom:—The Lodger.
Mr. Blossom:—The Organ Tuner.
Grandma Pike:—Another Neighbour.
CONTENTS
* Chapterpage
* I.Mr. Black's Terms ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
* II.Paying the Rent ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................16
* III.The Tenants take Possession ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................28
* IV.Furnishing the Cottage ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................44
* V.Poverty in the Cottage ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................58
* VI.A Lodger to the Rescue ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................68
* VII.Making the Lodger Comfortable ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................77
* VIII.The Girls Disclose a Plan ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................85
* IX.An Unexpected Crop of Dandelions ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................98
* X.Changes in the Neighbourhood ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................110
* XI.Plans for Mrs. Crane's Old Age ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................119
* Chapterpage
* XII.The Coming of the Milligans ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................130
* XIII.The Unpleasantness of Laura ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................138
* XIV.An Embarrassing Visitor ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................150
* XV.More Trouble with Laura ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................162
* XVI.A Lively Afternoon ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................171
* XVII.Laura's Version of the Story ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................182
* XVIII.The Junior Warden ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................193
* XIX.An Unexpected Letter ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................204
* XX.An Obdurate Landlord ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................214
* XXI.Submitting to the Inevitable ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................221
* XXII.Mabel Plans a Surprise ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................231
* XXIII.Several Surprises Take Effect ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................239
* XXIV.A Hurried Retreat ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................250
* XXV.The Response to Mabel's Telegram ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................260
* XXVI.Mr. Downing's Apology ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................269
* Chapterpage
* XXVII.The Odd Behaviour of the Grown-ups ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................277
* XXVIII.Just before Dinner ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................289
* XXIX.A Bewildering Silence Explained ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................299
ILLUSTRATIONS
* PAGE
* "Yes," said Bettie, "We're Looking for a House." By Florence Scovel Shinn. ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Frontispiece
* A Middle-aged Young Lady Stood on the Door-step. By Elizabeth R. Finley ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................69
* Laura, Perched High on the Fence, Began to Sing. By Elizabeth R. Finley ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................173
* " 'We're the People that have been Deceived,' said Mrs. Mulligan." By Florence Scovel Shinn ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................247
* "Holding Each Other's Middle-aged Hands. By Florence Scovel Shinn ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................305
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in 1904, before the cutoff of January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1945, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 78 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse