The Silver Spoon of Solomon Snow

the long version

A comic story set in mock-Victorian times. Solomon Snow discovers, to his amazement, that he is a foundling. A silver spoon was left with him as a baby, but Pa has pawned it. Solomon leaves home in high dudgeon to seek his spoon and his real parents. He joins up with Prudence Pridy, a very bossy girl, and a very irritating child called the Infant Prodigy, who can wind any adult round her little finger. Together they reach Town and promptly meet a glorious cast of assorted larger-than-life characters including a villainous pawnbroker, kidnappers, a child farmer, an awful orphanage and a cheery chimney-sweep's boy. Solly does find his spoon eventually - but the ending takes everyone by surprise.