Book details
The Cheerful Smugglers
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Stored record
Metadata
- Gutenberg ID
- 27317
- Title
- The Cheerful Smugglers
- Language
- en
- Book source
- Project Gutenberg
- Description max 80 words
-
In this lighthearted domestic comedy, Mr. Fenelby invents a 'Domestic Tariff' to save money for his son Bobberts' college fund, treating every household item as a taxable import. The premise quickly spirals into chaos as children and servants attempt to smuggle goods, leading to a humorous exploration of family dynamics, the absurdity of bureaucracy, and the true value of love over strict rules.
- Summary up to 500 words
-
In Ellis Parker Butler's *The Cheerful Smugglers*, Mr. Fenelby, an enthusiastic father, devises the 'Fenelby Tariff' to save money for his infant son, Bobberts. He conceptualizes the home as the 'Commonwealth of Bobberts,' where every imported item incurs a tax contributing to Bobberts' future education fund. Initially, the family embraces this whimsical system, treating household economics like a nation's government. However, the scheme soon unravels as the children, Kitty and Billy, begin smuggling clothes and goods to avoid duties, while the Irish maid, Bridget, struggles with the new regulations. Tensions escalate when Kitty admits to smuggling a collar and Bridget is discovered drinking, leading Mrs. Fenelby to fire her. The situation turns critical when Bridget returns, claiming she was legally hired by the children themselves, effectively seizing control of the household. Realizing that the tariff has driven a wedge between the parents and their children, the family convenes a 'congress' to address the crisis. During this meeting, the children and parents acknowledge that their unity and love for Bobberts are far more important than the financial scheme. They decide to abolish the tariff, accepting that a happy home is superior to a perfect budget. The story concludes with the children growing closer and the parents realizing that the rigid adherence to the tariff had nearly destroyed their family's harmony. Ultimately, the 'Commonwealth' dissolves into a united family, proving that love and cooperation outweigh the need for strict, artificial financial controls.
- LLM editorial rating
- 4.2/5
- Download URL
- https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27317.epub.noimages
- Local file path
-
data/epubs/pg27317.epub - Downloaded at
- 2026-07-04 19:11 UTC
People
Authors
- Ellis Parker Butler
Classification
Categories
- Family Life
- Humor
- Finance