New Treasure Seekers; Or, The Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

25496

Title

New Treasure Seekers; Or, The Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this spirited sequel to The Treasure Seekers, the Bastable children face a series of misadventures following their uncle's wedding to a Roman-bound bride. The narrative blends slapstick comedy with poignant moments of conscience, as the siblings navigate pranks, poverty, and moral dilemmas while exploring the countryside and beyond.

Summary up to 500 words

In E. Nesbit's *New Treasure Seekers*, the Bastable children face a series of moral trials that test their sense of justice and empathy. The narrative opens with the family preparing for their uncle's wedding to Miss Ashleigh, an event marked by excessive preparations for a trip to Rome. The festivities are disrupted when the youngest brother, Dicky, is accidentally left behind at the station after a prank involving a porter. Enraged, Dicky hatches a plan for revenge. With his siblings' help, he constructs an elaborate hoax hamper filled with fake goods and a list of expected delicacies, intending to deliver it to the porter's address. However, the prank backfires when the recipient turns out to be an elderly, impoverished man who recognizes the items as his own lost property. The children are forced to confront the consequences of their actions, learning a harsh lesson about empathy and responsibility. The narrative then shifts to Lymchurch, where the children encounter a boy whose father is in prison. While playing, Oswald feels compelled to console the outcast boy, despite the other children's refusal to include him. This interaction highlights the theme of judging others based on their circumstances rather than their actions. The tension escalates when Dora, feeling guilty for having previously embezzled money belonging to Miss Sandal, decides to give the entire sum to the boy's family to help them survive. Her act of charity is initially met with anger and accusations of theft from her siblings, but it is ultimately vindicated when Mrs. Bax reveals that the family was indeed in desperate need. The story concludes with the children making amends, repaying the money, and finding a deeper understanding of kindness and justice.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25496.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg25496.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-05 02:36 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Family