Little Brown Jug

"Little Brown Jug" by George M. Baker is a drama written in the late 19th century. The play revolves around the lives of the Nutter family, particularly focusing on John Nutter, a shoemaker, and his tumultuous relationship with his son Will who is eager to leave for the city. As family dynamics are tested by external influences—especially from Henry Douglas, the son of a wealthy family—the narrative explores themes of temptation, loyalty, and the dangers of drinking, embodied in the titular jug that holds significant symbolic weight. The opening of "Little Brown Jug" introduces the Nutter family's shoemaking shop where John Nutter discusses the merits of hard work and traditional values against the aspirations of his son Will, who dreams of a more glamorous life in the city. The tension escalates with the arrival of various characters, including Jarius Jordan, who encourages Will's ambitions, and Ned Hartshorn, who serves as a contrast to Will's reckless desires. As the scene unfolds, family dynamics and moral dilemmas emerge with Will's struggle against his father's authority and societal temptations, establishing a foundation for the conflicts that will drive the narrative forward. Will's eventual intoxication with ambition and drink foreshadows the challenges he is likely to face as the plot progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

George Melville Baker (1832–1890) was a playwright and publisher in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 19th century. He worked for Lee & Shepard publishers, then opened his own imprint. "George M. Baker & Co." issued works by authors such as Henry M. Baker, F.E. Chase, and Herbert Pelham Curtis. Baker's company ceased in 1885, succeeded by his brother's "Walter H. Baker & Co." George Baker also performed with comedian Henry C. Barnabee, appearing in "lyceum entertainments" in New England. He belonged to the Mercantile Library Association. He married Emily Bowles in 1858; children included novelist Emilie Loring, playwright Rachel Baker Gale, and screenwriter Robert Melville Baker.