There is a book from my childhood, which had a title like, “The Happy Hobo” or “The Happy Baker”. In it, a down-at-the-heels tramp arrives in a small village. He first visits the keepers of the General Store and asks for help, food or money. They rebuke him and send him running. Then he visits a small bakery. The baker offers him a few crusty rolls and some warm beverage. The tramp is magical and offers the blessing that whatever the baker would do, would be successful and happy all day. The baker gets to work baking and soon the whole town was lined up for his baked goods.
Across the street, the General Store keepers look on enviously. They lure the tramp over and offer him money or food. Then they set about clearing room in there store for all of the money they would rake in from the magical tramp. They spend the whole day cleaning their store (no additional money appears to come in). Do you know this book’s title and author?
I have been trying to remember this book forever as well
I have been searching for this forever as well!
I have been searching for this book as well. I remember it being a small children’s book with a bright blue hard cover and beautiful watercolor illustrations. My guess is it was from 1940s-1950s but I read it in the late 1970s-early 1980s. My mum got a lot of my books through a subscription with Parents magazine. The magical man that comes to town is described as “the shabby old man and his shabby old dog”. The baker doesn’t have much ingredients left but uses the last of his flour and sugar to make the shabby old man something to eat and gives his dog a bone. When the shabby old man leaves, he tells him whatever you do tomorrow you will do all day long. The baker starts the day trying to use the little ingredients he has to bake. And then he finds that the jar of flour and sugar keeps replenishing and he can’t stop. His bakery is soon filled with customers. As the OG post noted, the selfish woman that runs the general store and tries to help the shabby old man, ends up just sweeping all day. Great lesson on helping people for unselfish reasons. I would love to track this book down for my own children. Such a beautiful book in my memory.
Solved!
Mr. Snitzel’s Cookies by Jane Flory
1950
Rand McMally Junior Elf Book
Solved!
Mr. Snitzel’s Cookies by Jane Flory
1950
Rand McNally Junior Elf Book