Edith Nesbit’s "The Wouldbegoods" is the delightful sequel to "The Story of the Treasure Seekers," continuing the adventures of the irrepressible Bastable children. Now living in the countryside at the Moat House, the six siblings—Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel, and H.O.—form a society with their visiting friends, Daisy and Denny. The aim of "The Wouldbegoods" is to perform acts of kindness and virtue to become better people. However, their good intentions, narrated with the same charmingly boastful and unreliable voice by Oswald, consistently lead to catastrophic and hilarious results. Each chapter details a new well-meant project: they attempt to console a grieving old gentleman by giving him a multitude of pets, help a "poor Indian" they mistake for a cannibal, play at being Romans and accidentally dam a river, and try to teach a neighbor a lesson by making a "jungle" in his garden. Their efforts invariably result in flooded rooms, angry adults, and general chaos. Despite the disasters, the children’s essential goodness, their unwavering loyalty to one another, and their boundless creativity shine through every misadventure. Edith Nesbit perfectly captures the logic and spirit of childhood, showing how the path to hell can be paved with the very best of intentions, and that the journey is far more entertaining than the destination. It is a timeless and warm-hearted comedy of errors.

Table of Contents:

• The Wouldbegoods. Part 1

• The Wouldbegoods. Part 2

• The Wouldbegoods. Part 3

• The Wouldbegoods. Part 4