The Wig and the Shoulder of Mutton; or, The Folly of Juvenile Fears: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Wig and the Shoulder of Mutton; or, The Folly of Juvenile Fears: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Wig and the Shoulder of Mutton; or, The Folly of Juvenile Fears is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Anonymous.
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Wig and the Shoulder of Mutton; or, The Folly of Juvenile Fears" by Anonymous is a children's story written during the early 19th century. This book presents a cautionary tale focused on the irrational fears often experienced by children, particularly in the dark. It uses humor and relatable characters to explore how such fears can be easily magnified by imagination. In the narrative, Mr. Friendly and his children encounter a series of amusing and frightening events that arise from their fear of the unknown. The story kicks off with the children panicking at a strange noise, only to discover it is simply the barber's boy searching for a lost wig. As the evening unfolds, the tale delves into their father's lesson about confronting fears and distinguishing between reality and imagination. The central anecdote recounts a real-life incident where a child, frightened by a prank, suffers severe consequences. This emphasizes the dangers of instilling fear in others and encourages rational understanding. Overall, the book serves as both an entertaining read and a moral lesson for young readers about overcoming childish fears.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Wig and the Shoulder of Mutton; or, The Folly of Juvenile Fears
- Author credits: Anonymous
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Apparitions -- Juvenile fiction
- Children -- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
- Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
- Fear in children -- Juvenile fiction
- Siblings -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Children & Young Adult Reading
- Category: Humour
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.



