Two For Three Farthings

by Mary Jane Staples

Horace was ten, Ethel seven, when Jim Cooper, home from the trenches, minus an arm and just about managing on his own, found them huddled in a doorway on a wet night in Walworth. Slightly against his better judgement he took them in, fed them cocoa, and put them to sleep in his bed. A few days later he found that - somehow - he had become the unofficial guardian of Horace and Ethel. It was him, the orphanage, or separation for the gutsy little pair who would have to be farmed out to anyone who would take them, and Jim felt a sudden affinity for the two cheeky cockney kids. The first thing he had to do was find fresh lodgings for them all.Miss Rebecca Pilgrim was a woman of strict Victorian principles, eminently respectable, and determined to keep her privacy intact. She had reckoned without her new lodgers - Horace, Ethel and, above all, the irrepressible Jim Cooper. And thus began the humanizing of Miss Pilgrim, who turned out to be younger, prettier, and far gentler than any of them had suspected.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Family Saga, Fiction

Paperback

First published August 1, 1990

About the author

Mary Jane Staples is a pseudonym used by British author Reginald Thomas Staples (1911-2005). He is also published under the name Robert Tyler Stevens, R.T. Stevens, and James Sinclair.

Reviews

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all)]

Oh, yummy--Orrice and Effel get a whole book to themselves after playing supporting roles in the Adams Family series. I do love Effel! She's a scrapper who knows what she wants in life and intends to get it if she can. Orrice is the typical responsible eldest who feels he must look after everyone within reach. At first I was surprised that he was quite so efficient, but then I remembered that at that time in England kids grew up much faster than they do now, particularly slum kids. You either coped or croaked.

The dialogue is familiar to anyone who has read On Mother Brown's Doorstep, the young boy dealing with his "best mate" girl who is now his sister, and often complains of his lot. This novel was written first, so perhaps Orrice was a dry run for Master Brown, not the other way round.

[Sherry Crane]

I founds this book on the "honor" shelf at the Peoria Heights Library. This is a wonderful fictional story of the cockney life. It is refreshing to read a story from a child's point of view.

[michelle jane evans]

Lovely heart warming story

Easy to read book with a happy ending just the way to pass a rainy afternoon with a mug of hot chocolate

[Rhona Connor]

A good book.

This is the story of Horace and Ethel seen a couple of times in the Adams books. Their parents die of flu. Their aunt and uncle are crowded already and thinking about an orphanage. Horace and Ethel run off thinking to find somewhere to go. Jim Cooper, a disabled man from the war, finds them seeking shelter on his doorstep and invites them in.
And so begins the tale. Ethel loving her brother, never letting him go anywhere alone, but also I think because he's all she has left. Like a beloved toy she can't let go. This is how they find a home again. The story is also humorous with Horace and Ethel's fights against the local boys.
Highly recommended.

[janice kordek]

Two for three farthings

S really wonderful story of two children who had lost their parents and was found by Jim a man who had just lost his arm in the war he took them under his wing and met miss pilgrim whose house they lodged in i will day no more about the story but it is well worth a read there is so many funny bits to this story

[Denise Spicer]

The author of the Adams Family saga series tells this delightful tale of two orphans in Cockney London post Great War. Engaging characters, great descriptions of Cockney life, sweet wholesome romance, good dialogue, some humor. Fine as a stand-alone it doesn’t need to be read with other books in series.

[Jennsie]

This story features the lives of two orphans which appear in the “Adams Family” series as well. The book is a feel-good story where the orphans are taken in by a war hero. I enjoyed the story, but it was a little bit slow in places too.

[Sheila]

Not the usual sort of book I’d read but delightful story about two orphaned children in 1920s London who stumble upon a one armed war veteran who becomes their guardian and change their lives . Such a feel good story.

[Bernadette Firth]

Really good read

Loved the story very heart warming and that times funny. Well worth reading, would really love to see a follow up to this book.

[Mrs Josephine]

Throughly enjoyed

This was an excellent read. Well worth recommending. I loved all the characters and lots of fun even in sad times .

[Cheri Smallwood-ellerker]

Loved the story of Effiel and Horace and how they were taken care of by a total stranger.

[julie ashton]

Good

What a brilliant read I wanted this book to go on and on
A lovely book to curl up with

[Michelle Jedrzejowska]

Audio book
I really liked this book the characters are entertaining and I cared what happened to them.
I enjoyed the narrator as well she bought the characters to life.

[Linda Leedham]

It was a humours book funny at times but a little far fetched the 2 children are what made it funny with there cockney slang. The book was a little slow reading not really my style of book

[MRS SE TITMARSH]

Memories

A truly wonderful read of childhood and the world around us. Memories of my grandparents during their childhood and courtship

[Khadijah Nayeem]

Was soo happy for Jack and Rebecca aah

[Jeanette Smith]

Again, Mary Jane Staples has created characters that feel like dear friends by the end of the book.

Her writing style is incredibly readable. The detail and description are presented as an integral part of the story, allowing you to 'be there', whilst not being overloaded in a way that feels like a chore to get through.

Highly recommended!

This is the second of her books I have read, and I cannot wait to meet the characters in another of her novels . . .

[Mary]

A charming story set just after the great war. The first half of the book is taken up with the plight of the two orphans Horace and Ethel, who lose there parents under tragic circumstances. Once they meet Jim Cooper the book for me really picks up, and even more so when they go to live with Miss Rebecca Pilgrim. Not wishing to spoil anything as the ending is usually predictable. But they have a bit of a struggle to get there. And its worth it.

[Louise Green]

This is in the top few books that I have ever read. Glad that I found it by chance.
I have tried a few of the author's other books, but did not like them at all. Glad I picked this one up 'on the run', before I realised that I didn't like any other Mary Jane Staples' books.

[Lynn Smith]

I really loved this novel. A fantastic stand alone novel with links into the Adams Family when the Cooper children grow up. A heart warming tale of a wounded veteran and an older single lady into whose lives the Cooper children come to live and they all become a family to one another.