Table of Contents
by George Ade

My Book of Fun Stories
Hello, little reader! Do you like stories? I have a special book for you. This book is full of story ideas. It is not a book with long stories. It is a book to help you think. You can make your own stories. This book gives you fun ideas. You can imagine many things.
This book shows many story ideas. Each idea is a little title. The titles are short and easy. They tell you about a fun story. You can think about what happens next. The ideas are for you to play. You can make a story in your head. It is fun to think of stories.
Each story idea starts the same. It says, "The Story of the..." Then it tells you what the friend did. Like: a bear loved honey. A ball rolled. See? It is very simple. A little bird sang. A big dog played. A tiny mouse ran fast. A happy cat jumped high. You can use these ideas. They help you start.
These story ideas are happy. They are not sad. They are not tricky. They are about good things. They are about silly things. You can think of a happy ending. You can think of a fun adventure. Like: a blue bird sang. A big dog found. A small fish swam. A brave knight rode. A funny clown smiled. You can make them happy.
There are many, many story ideas here. So many ideas for you to explore. You will find many friends. A clever fox. A sleepy bear. A shiny star. A lost toy. A brave knight. A tiny mouse. A fast car. A silly clown. A friendly robot. A talking tree. Many ideas for you to pick. Each one is a new start.
This book does not tell you the stories. It only gives you the ideas. You can make up the rest. What happens to the little bear? Did the red ball roll far? What did the blue bird sing? You can imagine it all. This book helps you dream. You can tell your own stories. You can draw them too. Or tell them to a friend. Your stories are special.
Original Story
Table *of* Contents
[***The* Fable *of the* Visitor *Who* Got *a* Lot *for* Three Dollars**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_VISITOR_WHO_GOT_A_LOT_FOR_THREE_DOLLARS) [***The* Fable *of the* Slim Girl *Who* Tried to Keep a Date that was Never Made**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_SLIM_GIRL_WHO_TRIED_TO_KEEP_A_DATE_THAT_WAS) [***The* Fable *of the* New York Person *Who* Gave *the* Stage Fright *to* Fostoria, Ohio**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_NEW_YORK_PERSON_WHO_GAVE_THE_STAGE_FRIGHT_TO) [***The* Fable *of the* Kid *Who* Shifted *His* Ideal**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_KID_WHO_SHIFTED_HIS_IDEAL) [***The* Fable *of the* Base Ball Fan *Who* Took *the* Only Known Cure**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_BASE_BALL_FAN_WHO_TOOK_THE_ONLY_KNOWN_CURE) [***The* Fable *of the* Good Fairy *with the* Lorgnette, *and why* She Got *It* Good**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_GOOD_FAIRY_WITH_THE_LORGNETTE_AND_WHY_SHE_GOT) [***The* Fable *of the* Unintentional Heroes *of* Centreville**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_UNINTENTIONAL_HEROES_OF_CENTREVILLE) [***The* Fable *of the* Parents *Who* Tinkered *with the* Offspring**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_PARENTS_WHO_TINKERED_WITH_THE_OFFSPRING) [***The* Fable *of* How *He* Never Touched George**](#THE_FABLE_OF_HOW_HE_NEVER_TOUCHED_GEORGE) [***The* Fable *of the* Preacher *Who* Flew *His* Kite, *but* not Because *He* Wished *to* Do *So***](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_PREACHER_WHO_FLEW_HIS_KITE_BUT_NOT_BECAUSE) [***The* Fable *of* Handsome Jethro, *Who was* Simply Cut Out *to* be *a* Merchant**](#THE_FABLE_OF_HANDSOME_JETHRO_WHO_WAS_SIMPLY_CUT_OUT_TO_BE_A) [***The* Fable *of* Paducah's Favorite Comedians *and the* Mildewed Stunt**](#THE_FABLE_OF_PADUCAHS_FAVORITE_COMEDIANS_AND_THE_MILDEWED_STUNT) [***The* Fable *of* Flora *and* Adolph *and a* Home Gone Wrong**](#THE_FABLE_OF_FLORA_AND_ADOLPH_AND_A_HOME_GONE_WRONG) [***The* Fable *of the* Copper *and the* Jovial Undergrads**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_COPPER_AND_THE_JOVIAL_UNDERGRADS) [***The* Fable *of the* Professor *Who* Wanted *to be* Alone**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_PROFESSOR_WHO_WANTED_TO_BE_ALONE) [***The* Fable *of a* Statesman *Who* Couldn't Make Good**](#THE_FABLE_OF_A_STATESMAN_WHO_COULDNT_MAKE_GOOD) [***The* Fable *of the* Brash Drummer *and the* Peach *Who* Learned *that* There Were Others**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_BRASH_DRUMMER_AND_THE_PEACH_WHO_LEARNED_THAT) [***The* Fable *of* Sister Mae, *Who* Did *as* Well *as* Could Be Expected**](#THE_FABLE_OF_SISTER_MAE_WHO_DID_AS_WELL_AS_COULD_BE_EXPECTED) [***The* Fable *of* How *the* Fool-Killer Backed Out *of a* Contract**](#THE_FABLE_OF_HOW_THE_FOOL-KILLER_BACKED_OUT_OF_A_CONTRACT) [***The* Fable *of the* Caddy *Who* Hurt His Head while Thinking**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_CADDY_WHO_HURT_HIS_HEAD_WHILE_THINKING) [***The* Fable *of the* Martyr *Who* Liked *the* Job**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_MARTYR_WHO_LIKED_THE_JOB) [***The* Fable *of the* Bohemian *Who* had Hard Luck**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_BOHEMIAN_WHO_HAD_HARD_LUCK) [***The* Fable *of the* Coming Champion *Who was* Delayed**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_COMING_CHAMPION_WHO_WAS_DELAYED) [***The* Fable *of the* Lawyer *Who* Brought in *a* Minority Report**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_LAWYER_WHO_BROUGHT_IN_A_MINORITY_REPORT) [***The* Fable *of the Two* Mandolin Players *and the* Willing Performer**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_TWO_MANDOLIN_PLAYERS_AND_THE_WILLING_PERFORMER) [***The* Fable *of the* Man *Who* Didn't Care *for* Story-Books**](#THE_FABLE_OF_THE_MAN_WHO_DIDNT_CARE_FOR_STORYBOOKS)
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Moral of the Story
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Characters
The Visitor ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, likely appearing somewhat unassuming or eager, as he is a tourist looking for a good deal.
Attire: A dark wool suit, possibly a three-piece suit, with a starched white shirt and a conservative tie. He would wear a fedora or bowler hat when outdoors, and polished leather shoes.
Wants: To get the most value for his money, to experience new things, to feel he has made a smart purchase.
Flaw: Susceptible to sales pitches and the allure of a 'good deal', potentially overlooking quality for quantity.
He believes he has found a great deal, but the story implies the quality or true value might be questionable, suggesting a subtle shift from initial excitement to potential future realization.
Thrifty, opportunistic, easily impressed, somewhat naive.
The Slim Girl ★ protagonist
A slender young woman, likely of average height, with a delicate frame, emphasizing her 'slim' characteristic.
Attire: A fashionable, yet modest, day dress made of light cotton or linen, possibly in a pastel color like lavender or pale blue, with a high collar and long sleeves, cinched at the waist. She might wear small, delicate lace-up boots.
Wants: To meet someone, to experience romance, to fulfill an imagined social engagement.
Flaw: Over-imagination, clinging to non-existent possibilities, vulnerability to disappointment.
Starts with hopeful anticipation, progresses through persistent waiting, and ends in quiet, unfulfilled disappointment, learning a lesson about managing expectations.
Hopeful, persistent, perhaps a bit romantic or prone to wishful thinking, ultimately disappointed.
The New York Person ⚔ antagonist
Likely tall and self-assured, with a commanding presence that suggests urban sophistication and a certain air of superiority.
Attire: Extremely fashionable and expensive clothing, likely a tailored dark suit for a man or an elaborate, high-fashion gown for a woman, made of fine wool or silk, with accessories that scream 'New York sophistication' – perhaps a monocle, a feathered hat, or elaborate jewelry.
Wants: To impress, to assert superiority, to maintain an image of urban grandeur.
Flaw: Underestimates others, perhaps secretly insecure despite outward bravado.
Their arrival causes a stir, and they successfully intimidate the local populace, reinforcing their perceived superiority.
Arrogant, sophisticated (or perceived as such), dismissive of provincial life, intimidating.
The Kid ★ protagonist
A young boy, likely slender and energetic, with the typical boundless energy of a child. His height would be appropriate for his age.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing for a child of the early 20th century: knickerbockers (short trousers that gather below the knee) in a sturdy fabric like tweed or corduroy, a plain cotton shirt, and sturdy leather boots or high-top shoes. Perhaps a cap.
Wants: To find a hero, to emulate greatness, to discover what he wants to be when he grows up.
Flaw: Lack of steadfastness, easily swayed by new ideas or figures, superficial understanding of ideals.
His ideal hero changes multiple times throughout the story, reflecting the common childhood experience of shifting aspirations and the influence of different role models.
Impressionable, easily influenced, enthusiastic, prone to hero-worship, fickle.
The Base Ball Fan ★ protagonist
A man of average build, perhaps a bit disheveled from his intense dedication to baseball. His features might show signs of stress or excitement from following the sport.
Attire: Casual, comfortable clothing suitable for attending games: a simple collared shirt (perhaps plaid or striped), suspenders over trousers, and a cap (often a flat cap or a baseball cap, if available in the era).
Wants: To see his team win, to experience the thrill of the game, to be part of the baseball community.
Flaw: His emotional well-being is entirely tied to the success of his team, leading to significant distress and distraction.
His obsession reaches a peak, and he seeks a 'cure' for his all-consuming passion, implying a desire to regain balance in his life.
Passionate, obsessive, excitable, prone to extreme highs and lows based on game outcomes, dedicated.
The Good Fairy ★ protagonist
A delicate and ethereal figure, perhaps slightly taller than a human, with an otherworldly grace. Her form would be slender and luminous.
Attire: A flowing gown made of shimmering, translucent fabric, perhaps in shades of pearl white, silver, or pale blue, adorned with subtle glitter or tiny embedded lights. It would appear to float around her, not constrained by earthly gravity. She would have large, iridescent wings, like those of a dragonfly or butterfly.
Wants: To help others, to observe human nature, to intervene when she deems it necessary.
Flaw: Can be out of touch with human realities, leading to her 'getting it good' (implying she faces consequences or misunderstandings).
She attempts to use her powers or wisdom to help, but her efforts backfire or are misunderstood, leading to her own discomfort or a lesson learned about intervention.
Benevolent, observant, well-intentioned, but perhaps a bit detached or prone to misjudgment due to her elevated perspective.
Locations

A Table of Contents
A list of fables, each with a descriptive title, presented as a table of contents.
Mood: Organized, introductory, slightly whimsical due to the fable titles.
This is the entire story, serving as an index to a collection of fables.
Story DNA
Moral
null
Plot Summary
This 'story' is a meta-fictional piece presented as a table of contents for a collection of fables. It consists solely of a list of elaborate, ironic titles for fables that are never actually told. Each title hints at a distinct narrative involving various human types and their foibles, following a consistent naming convention. The piece serves as a humorous commentary on the nature of storytelling and reader expectations, ending without delivering any of the implied narratives.
Themes
Emotional Arc
amusement to reflection
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
George Ade was known for his 'fables in slang,' which satirized American society and manners at the turn of the 20th century. This piece is a meta-fable, a joke about the format itself.
Plot Beats (6)
- The 'story' begins with a title: 'Table of Contents'.
- A list of distinct 'fables' is presented, each with an elaborate, descriptive title.
- Each title follows a specific pattern: 'The Fable of the [Character/Situation] Who [Action/Outcome]'.
- The titles hint at various human foibles, social situations, and ironic outcomes.
- The list continues for several entries, suggesting a substantial collection of stories.
- The 'story' ends abruptly after the last title, without any actual fable content.





