The Fat Boy

McLoughlin Brothers published this children's book in the 1800's. Illustrated by famous cartoonist and characaturist Thomas Nast, best known for his political cartoons and depiction of Santa Claus, the rhyming story is a clever and hilarious ode to one of the supporting characters in Charles Dickens' first novel, The Pickwick Papers. The subject is Joe, servant of Samuel Pickwick's friend Mr Wardle, who owns a farm in Dingley Dell. Joe likes to eat. And sleep. "Poor Joe was too fond of both eating and drinking - Of beef and plum pudding he always was thinking - Till over-indulgenceat length made him drop Fast asleep the first moment he came to a stop."