The Water Babies: A Fairy Tale for Land Babies

Akron, Ohio - Chicago - New York: The Saalfield Publishing Company, 1905. 1905 at copyright; no other dates, indications. Brick red cloth boards, bold black cover titles and border, moderate shelf wear. Front board features cover illustration in green, gold, red, and black of a water baby. Pages very good, clean. Illustrated with eight full and partial-page vignettes by Carll B. Williams. Written for beginning readers and slightly abridged by G. Mercer Adam. Words are presented in single syllables with hyphenation between. Tells the tale of Tom, a poor orphan employed by the villainous chimney-sweep, Grimes, to climb up inside flues to clear away the soot. While engaged in this dreadful task, he loses his way and emerges in the bedroom of Ellie, the young daughter of the house who mistakes him for a thief. He runs away and slips into a cooling stream, falls fast asleep, and becomes a water baby. In this new life, he meets all sorts of aquatic creatures, including an engaging old lobster, other water babies, and at last reaches St Branden's Isle where he encounters the fierce Mrs. Bedonbyasyoudid and the motherly Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby. After a long and arduous quest to the Other-end-of-Nowhere young Tom achieves his heart's desire. Large 7" x 8 1/2" design. Advert at back for other titles from The Saalfield Company. 104 pages. Insured post.. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good. Illus. by Williams, Carll B.. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.