Dick and Dolly by Carolyn Wells

Carolyn Wells's Dick and Dolly follows nine-year-old twins Dick and Dolly, orphaned children sent from Chicago to live with their stern but affectionate aunts, Miss Rachel and Miss Abbie Dana, at the old family home in Connecticut. Their arrival instantly unsettles the household, for the twins are neat in spirit but hopelessly unable to resist a brook, a wood, or any tempting adventure that leaves them muddy, delighted, and gloriously out of order. Yet their open hearts, quick wit, and irresistible charm soon soften even the most disciplined adults, turning Dana Dene into a place where rules, laughter, and mischief must learn to coexist. As the twins explore gardens, woods, town errands, and unexpected curiosities, ordinary moments become games of imagination. They buy a wax mannequin named Lady Eliza Dusenbury, transform her into the center of practical jokes, and enlist the whole household in their comic schemes. Later, they plan a party for Lady Eliza and the twins' new companion Saskatchewan, a cigar-store Indian figure, blending social excitement with make-believe. Warm, humorous, and nostalgic, the novel celebrates childhood freedom, family affection, and the pleasures of everyday adventure. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.