{"product_id":"2940013265097","title":"Charlie To The Rescue","description":"CHAPTER ONE.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eINTRODUCES THE HERO.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo be generally helpful was one of the chief points in the character of\u003cbr\u003eCharlie Brooke.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe was evidently born to aid mankind.  He began by helping himself to\u003cbr\u003eeverything in life that seemed at all desirable.  This was natural, not\u003cbr\u003eselfish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt first there were few things, apparently, that did seem to his infant\u003cbr\u003emind desirable, for his earliest days were marked by a sort of chronic\u003cbr\u003ecrossness that seemed quite unaccountable in one so healthy; but this\u003cbr\u003ewas eventually traced to the influence of pins injudiciously disposed\u003cbr\u003eabout the person by nurse.  Possibly this experience may have tended to\u003cbr\u003edevelop a spirit of brave endurance, and might perhaps account for the\u003cbr\u003ebeautiful modifications of character that were subsequently observed in\u003cbr\u003ehim.  At all events, sweet, patient amiability was a prevailing feature\u003cbr\u003ein the boy long before the years of infancy were over, and this heavenly\u003cbr\u003easpect of him was pleasantly diversified, in course of time, by\u003cbr\u003eoccasional displays of resolute--we might almost say heroic--self-will,\u003cbr\u003ewhich proved a constant source of mingled pride and alarm to his widowed\u003cbr\u003emother.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom a very early period of life little Charlie manifested an intense\u003cbr\u003edesire, purpose, and capacity for what may be called his life-work of\u003cbr\u003erescuing human beings from trouble and danger.  It became a passion with\u003cbr\u003ehim as years rolled on, and was among the chief means that brought about\u003cbr\u003ethe changes in his chequered career.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAppropriately enough he began--almost in babyhood--by rescuing himself!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt happened thus.  One day, when he had reached the immature age of\u003cbr\u003efive, he was left in the nursery for a few moments in company with a\u003cbr\u003ewash-tub, in which his mother had been cleansing the household linen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMrs Brooke, it may be remarked, although in the middle ranks of life,\u003cbr\u003ewas very much below the middle ranks in financial prosperity, and had\u003cbr\u003etherefore to perform much household drudgery.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCharlie's earnest desire to please and obey his mother constantly came\u003cbr\u003einto collision with that self-will to which we have referred.\u003cbr\u003eSeparately, these qualities may perhaps work quietly, at least as\u003cbr\u003eregards their possessor, but unitedly they form a mixture which is apt\u003cbr\u003eto become explosive in early youth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Don't touch the tub, Charlie; I'll be back directly,\" said Mrs Brooke,\u003cbr\u003eas she was leaving the nursery.  \"Don't even go near it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"No, muvver, I won't.\"","brand":"SAP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47082462413040,"sku":"2940013265097","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013265097_p0.jpg?v=1763578926","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013265097","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}