Red, White, Blue Socks, Part First / Being the First Book

The collection opens with a framing tale about a pair of socks and proceeds to a series of playful children's episodes in which a spirited leader organizes a mock Zouave regiment. Chapters follow the raising of the company, a noisy parade through neighborhood streets with admiring onlookers, embarkation on a steamboat, and lively camp routines. Adults watch with amusement while boys enact military drills, share provisions, and celebrate patriotic pageantry. Humorous descriptions of mishaps, camaraderie, and domestic affection create a lighthearted portrait of imaginative play and childhood sociability.