Copyright
First published by William Collins Sons & Co Ltd. 1958
This edition published by HarperCollins Childrens Books 2016 HarperCollins Childrens Books is a division of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF
The HarperCollins Childrens Books website address is www.harpercollins.co.uk
Text copyright © The Trustees of the P.L. Travers Will Trust 1935
Illustrations copyright © Mary Shepard 1935
Cover design copyright © HarperCollins Childrens Books 2018 Cover design by Katie Everson
P.L. Travers and Mary Shepard assert the moral right
to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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Source ISBN: 9780008205751
Ebook Edition © 2016 ISBN: 9780007397792
Version: 2018-06-28
To PIP This Keepsake
CONTENTS
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One The Kite
Chapter Two Miss Andrews Lark
Chapter Three Bad Wednesday
Chapter Four Topsy Turvy
Chapter Five The New One
Chapter Six Robertson Ays Story
Chapter Seven The Evening Out
Chapter Eight Balloons and Balloons
Chapter Nine Nellie-Rubina
Chapter Ten Merry-go-round
Keep Reading
Have you read all the original Mary Poppins adventures?
About the Publisher
Chapter OneTHE KITE
In Cherry Tree Lane the houses blinked as their blinds went up, and the thin shadows of the Cherry Trees fell in dark stripes across the sunlight. But there was no sound anywhere, except for the tingling of the Ice Cream Mans bell as he wheeled his cart up and down.
STOP ME AND BUY ONE
The Ice Cream Man went tingling up to him.
Penny one, said the Sweep. And he stood leaning on his bundle of brushes as he licked out the Ice Cream with the tip of his tongue. When it was all gone, he gently wrapped the cone in his handkerchief and put it in his pocket.
Dont you eat cones? asked the Ice Cream Man, very surprised.
No. I collect them! said the Sweep. And he picked up his brushes and went in through Admiral Booms front gate, because there was no Tradesmans Entrance.
The Ice Cream Man wheeled his cart up the Lane again and tingled, and the stripes of shadow and sunlight fell on him as he went.
Never knew it so quiet before! he murmured, gazing from right to left, and looking out for customers.
At that very moment, a loud voice sounded from Number Seventeen. The Ice Cream Man cycled hurriedly up to the gate, hoping for an order.
I wont stand it! I simply will not stand any more! shouted Mr Banks, striding angrily from the front door to the foot of the stairs and back again.
What is it? said Mrs Banks anxiously, hurrying out of the Dining-room. And what is that you are kicking up and down the hall?
Mr Banks lunged out with his foot and something black flew halfway up the stairs.
My hat! he said between his teeth. My Best Bowler Hat!
He ran up the stairs and kicked it down again. It spun for a moment on the tiles and fell at Mrs Banks feet.
Is there anything wrong with it? said Mrs Banks nervously. But to herself she wondered whether there was not something wrong with Mr Banks.
Look and see! he roared at her.
Trembling, Mrs Banks stooped and picked up the hat. It was covered with large, shiny, sticky patches, and she noticed it had a peculiar smell.
She sniffed at the brim.
It smells like boot-polish, she said.
It is boot-polish, retorted Mr Banks. Robertson Ay has brushed my hat with the boot-brush in fact, he has polished it.
Mrs Banks mouth fell with horror.
I dont know whats come over this house! Mr Banks went on. Nothing ever goes right hasnt for ages! Shaving-Water too hot, Breakfast Coffee too cold. And now this!
He snatched his hat from Mrs Banks and
caught up his bag.
I am going! he said. And I dont know that I shall ever come back. I shall probably take a long sea-voyage.
Then he clapped the hat on his head, banged the front door behind him and went through the gate so quickly that he knocked over the Ice Cream Man, who had been listening to the conversation with interest.
Its your own fault! said Mr Banks crossly. Youd no right to be there! And he went striding off towards the City, his polished hat shining like a jewel in the sun.
The Ice Cream Man got up carefully, and, finding there were no bones broken, he sat down on the kerb and made it up to himself by eating a large Ice Cream
*
Oh, dear! said Mrs Banks as she heard the gate slam. It is quite true. Nothing does go right nowadays. First one thing and then another. Ever since Mary Poppins left without a Word of Warning everything has gone wrong.