Mr. Stubbs's Brother / A Sequel to 'Toby Tyler'

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27702

Title

Mr. Stubbs's Brother / A Sequel to 'Toby Tyler'

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this sequel to 'Toby Tyler', the protagonist returns from a previous circus adventure to help friends launch an amateur show. Despite initial enthusiasm and a cast of eccentric local characters, the enterprise faces chaos when a mischievous monkey and a blind horse disrupt the proceedings. The story blends humor with poignant moments, culminating in a tragic accident involving a young friend and the eventual dissolution of the circus dream.

Summary up to 500 words

In James Otis's *Mr. Stubbs's Brother*, a sequel to *Toby Tyler*, the protagonist returns home after a ten-week stint with a real circus, deeply affected by the memory of his late pet monkey, Mr. Stubbs. Despite his reluctance, Toby agrees to help his friends, Reddy Grant and Bob Atwood, launch an amateur circus in Guilford. The boys assemble a motley crew of local talent, including acrobat Ben Cushing and a makeshift tent provided by Reddy. Their animal roster is equally eclectic: it features Jack Douglass's blind horse, Uncle Daniel's lame white pony, and a new monkey gifted by the Treat family, whom Toby names Mr. Stubbs's Brother. The troupe also recruits a crowing hen, a three-legged cat, mice, squirrels, and lambs to pose as bears. The planning phase highlights the town's resourcefulness, with plans for a clown, a band, and food sales. However, the first performance at Uncle Daniel's barn devolves into chaos. Mr. Stubbs's Brother escapes his cage, causing destruction by plucking the hen, releasing other animals, and tearing a hole in the tent canvas. A calf also escapes, wrecking part of the structure, leading to the show's abrupt end. Following the disaster, the narrative shifts to a somber tone. While waiting near the circus grounds, Toby's friend Abner, a crippled boy cared for by Uncle Daniel, is accidentally injured by a falling tent pole. Although initially recovering, Abner later falls ill. The story concludes with Abner's tragic death, which Uncle Daniel interprets as a transition to a better place. Grieving the loss of his friend and the failure of his dream, Toby abandons the circus project for the summer, leaving him to mourn both the ruined enterprise and the death of his beloved companion.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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data/epubs/pg27702.epub

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Categories

• Juvenile Fiction
• Circus