Nid and Nod by Ralph Henry Barbour
"Nid and Nod" by Ralph Henry Barbour is a story centered around the lives of two twin brothers, Ned and Laurie Turner, who attend Hillman's School. The narrative begins with a scene in a small shop where a character named Kewpie Proudtree indulges in sweets, despite being advised against it due to his involvement in sports. The twins, known as Nid and Nod, are introduced as they interact with their peers and navigate school life. The plot unfolds with a focus on the twins' involvement in school activities, particularly baseball. Laurie, who is trying to secure a position as a catcher on the team, becomes entangled in a boastful claim that Kewpie, who is not a skilled pitcher, will pitch for the team before the season ends. This sets off a series of events where Laurie and Ned, along with their friends, attempt to train Kewpie to become a competent pitcher, despite his lack of natural talent. Parallel to the baseball storyline is the subplot involving Miss Comfort, an elderly woman facing eviction from her home. The twins and their friends, including Polly and Mae, become involved in finding a solution to her predicament. Laurie comes up with the idea of converting an old ferry boat, the Pequot Queen, into a home for Miss Comfort. The group works together to refurbish the boat, overcoming various challenges and enlisting the help of others, including a local named Brose Wilkins. The story highlights themes of friendship, teamwork, and community support as the characters rally to help Miss Comfort and support each other in their endeavors. The narrative is filled with humorous exchanges, school life dynamics, and the challenges of adolescence. Ultimately, the story is about the power of collaboration and the impact of small acts of kindness.
By Ralph Henry Barbour · First published 1905 · Genre: Children's Literature, Humor, Adventure · 25 chapters · 82,947 words
First lines
A bell tinkled as the door of the little blue shop opened and closed, and continued to tinkle, although decreasingly, as the stout youth who had entered turned unhesitatingly but with a kind of impressive dignity toward where in the dimmer light of the store a recently installed soda-fountain, modest of size but brave with white marble and nickel, gleamed a welcome.
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is crafted for a young audience with simple language and themes that resonate with early readers.
- Humor — The playful tone and quirky character dynamics indicate a style geared toward entertaining and amusing its audience.
- Adventure — Elements of exploration and light escapade are interwoven, inviting readers into a world of gentle discovery.
- Coming-of-Age — Underlying themes of personal growth and learning through experiences reflect the journey of maturing, common in early literature.
Tags
adventure · humor · children · mischief · imagination · friendship · youth · escapade · playfulness · whimsy · quirky · fantasy
What this Textopian page supports
Nid and Nod is listed on Textopian as a novel by Ralph Henry Barbour, dated 1905 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Ralph Henry Barbour
- Date: 1905 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Humor, Adventure, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 82,947 words
- Structure: 25 chapters, 1,630 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Nid and Nod by Ralph Henry Barbour
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Contents
- At the Little Blue Shop
- Kewpie States his Case
- The "a. R. K. P. " is Formed
- Practice Makes Perfect
- Laurie to the Rescue
- Laurie Talks too Much
- Polly Approves
- Kewpie Agrees
- The Afternoon Call
- The Coach Makes a Promise
- On Little Crow
- On the Quarry Shelf
- The _pequot Queen_
- A Perfectly Gorgeous Idea
- Romance and Miss Comfort
- Mr. Brose Wilkins
- The Fund Grows
- Miss Comfort Comes Aboard
- Laurie is Cornered
- The Try-Out
- The Dead Letter
- The Form at the Window
- Suspended
- Mr. Goupil Calls
- The Marvelous Catch