Apples, Ripe and Rosy, Sir: And Other Stories for Boys and Girls

In Short

This collection of short stories by Mary Catherine Crowley portrays the everyday lives, moral dilemmas, and quiet triumphs of children and families. Ranging from city streets to lonely western ranches, the narratives follow youngsters navigating temptations, misunderstandings, and accidental hardships. Whether a boy struggles with the temptation of petty theft, a girl labors to buy her invalid sister a Christmas gift, or a little wanderer seeks her lost family, the tales emphasize enduring faith, family loyalty, and the formation of character. The book survives as a window into period domestic values and children's literature.

The Story

The collection opens with the boisterous arrival of March weather, setting a scene of children flooding out of schools in the garden-like city of E------ to build snow-forts. Amid this seasonal chill, young Tom yields to temptation by taking money from a home mantelpiece to buy apples and peanuts from Mrs. Barry, only to be stopped by the old woman's searching questions and his own rising shame. In another narrative, young Katy, a store employee, schemes to acquire a ninety-seven-cent doll for her lonely, housebound sister Ellie by pooling her wages and stray pennies.

In the countryside, boys like Jack and Rob seek Uncle Gerald's permission to use tools and lumber to build a boat, eventually fashioning the Jolly Pioneer and the Merry-go-Round, which survive pranks from local rivals and afford long summer days on the creek. Meanwhile, in city homes, young Abby and Larry attempt to set up a private oratory and practice their devotions, though Abby's loud singing draws amused correction from Father Dominic.

Farther west in the Indian Territory, a little girl named Tilderee—known for her endless mishaps and loving nature—gets lost in the wilderness with her terrier Fudge, ending her day by praying under a cliffside shelter before falling asleep beneath the stars. Back in more settled towns, schoolgirl rivalries emerge over fine clothing, such as Eugenia Dillon's display of wealth, while other children wrestle with disobedience, like Annie Conwell repeatedly lingering at Lucy Caryl's house against her mother's strict injunctions.

Domestic fortunes shift dramatically when Emily Mahon breaks a looking-glass only to discover her uncle's long-lost will hidden behind it, reversing a period of financial hardship caused by a dissipated cousin. Elsewhere, a refugee child from a captured southern town is taken in by simple, kind-hearted country folk during the war, suffering from a raging fever and having forgotten her own name and people. Finally, the book moves toward gentle community celebrations, such as May-day traditions where children leave floral baskets for friends and at the village church altar, closing on notes of quiet reconciliation, familial warmth, and steadfast moral growth.

How It Unfolds

The wild heir sets the scene as a fierce March wind brings lingering snow, driving children from school into city parks to complete a snow-fort.

The hidden coin follows Tom as he attempts to buy apples with stolen money, facing the sharp, maternal reproof of Mrs. Barry.

The shared bargain traces Katy's longing for an inexpensive doll at the store, which she plans to gift to her lonely sister Ellie.

The timber yard shows Jack and Rob securing wood from Uncle Gerald to construct a clumsy but serviceable boat on the nearby creek.

The secret oratory finds Abby and Larry draping a table for an altar, only to have their loud prayers overheard and gently teased by Father Dominic.

The lonely refuge strands little Tilderee and her terrier Fudge in the wilderness, where she says her evening prayers and falls asleep beneath a meteor-lit sky.

The hidden document brings an unexpected change in fortune when Emily Mahon uncovers her uncle's missing will behind a mirror.

The May-day surprise concludes with children placing floral baskets at the village church altar, discovering their independent offerings have all met in the same sacred spot.

The People

Tom is a boy who takes money from home to buy treats, but under Mrs. Barry's steady gaze, his self-justifications fall away, leaving him deeply ashamed. Katy is a working girl who sacrifices her own desires to buy a Christmas doll for her invalid sister Ellie, displaying deep sibling affection. Abby is an eager, vocal girl who attempts to set up a religious shrine and lead devotions, learning through Father Dominic's amused reaction that her show of piety has made her slightly ridiculous. Tilderee Prentiss is a mischievous six-year-old ranch child whose constant mishaps and loving nature endear her to her family, though she eventually finds herself lost and frightened in the wilderness. Annie Conwell is a bright schoolgirl who repeatedly disobeys her mother by lingering at a friend's house, learning through a regretful encounter that small acts of disobedience lead further than intended. Emily Mahon is a sensible girl whose accidental discovery of a long-lost will restores her family's fortunes after years of hardship caused by a reckless relative.

In Its Own Voice

"The old woman bent forward and peered anxiously into his face; her kind but searching eyes seemed to look down into his very soul, as, in a voice trembling with emotion, she replied: 'Yes: but tell me, asthore, where did ye get the money?'"

Mrs. Barry questions Tom after suspecting the coins he used to purchase her goods were acquired improperly.

"Oh, not to Elfie! And, you know, she'll be sure to let me hold it sometimes' was the ingenuous reply."

Katy explains to a salesgirl why she intends to give away the doll she worked so hard to purchase.

"The quick tensors sprang to the salesgirl's eyes, and she turned abruptly away, to arrange some dolls upon the shelves behind her."

The store clerk reacts with sudden emotion to Katy's selfless devotion to her disabled sister.

What It's Really About

The stories examine the friction between childhood impulse and moral accountability. They ask how young minds distinguish between rationalized mischief and genuine wrongdoing, and how conscience awakens under the guidance of elders. Another central theme is the redemptive power of self-sacrifice, seen when characters give up personal desires for the happiness of siblings or family members. The narratives also explore the tension between worldly vanity—such as wealth displayed through fine clothes or showy social status—and the quiet contentment found in simple domestic virtue, honest labor, and religious faith.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate classic nineteenth-century moral tales, sentimental domestic realism, and old-fashioned children's literature will find much to enjoy here. Reading it feels akin to opening a faded, leather-bound album of family memories, offering a gentle, unhurried window into a bygone era of domestic life. Modern readers, however, must be prepared for the distinct limitations of the period: the language occasionally relies on heavy period dialect, dated idioms, and class or cultural attitudes typical of late-nineteenth-century didactic writing. Furthermore, its episodic nature and overt moralizing lack the fast pacing of contemporary children's fiction. Yet for those patient enough to tune into its rhythm, the book leaves behind a lingering warmth, celebrating the simple resilience of children who manage to keep afloat despite their troubles.