Good day, Sir and Madam.
You are most welcome to my humble establishment and, may I add, you are indeed my very first visitors, since the shop was only opened this morning. I had intended to be up and running at the end of last week, but unfortunately there was a problem obtaining leeches. As you see, though, there are now plenty in the jar, so all is well.
I have to say, I’m delighted with my small emporium. Don’t you just love the medicine cabinet? It was a generous gift from my dear friend Lady Grace and is ideally suited to my storage and display needs. Oh, pray do not touch the scales, Madam. They are most carefully balanced with a potion I was preparing for her ladyship when you arrived.
I’m very pleased, too, with my counter, which I put together myself from some iron and wood my cousin Amelia had left over from building a steam engine.
Now, how can I be of service to your good selves? I notice – if I may be so bold as to mention it – that you have a slightly windblown appearance and are both somewhat pale of countenance. Would I be correct in assuming that you have recently travelled in the dirigible just in from foreign parts?
Ah, I thought as much.
And would I also be right to suggest that Sir and Madam are perhaps feeling the effects of motion sickness? I understand that it was quite an eventful flight, one way and another.
Allow me to prepare you a tincture, Sir, which will have you restored to your accustomed vigour in no time. And for Madam – perhaps a small bottle of Mrs Mayhue’s Bitters. It is a most efficacious blood purifier and will return the bloom to your cheeks within a matter of hours.
No, no, the pleasure is all mine.
Is there anything else I can get for you?
Not wishing to alarm you in any way, my dear lady, but as you are newly arrived in this town, you may not yet be aware of the foul beast from the dark realms that roams the streets after nightfall. It can break through solid walls and seems quite unaffected by the weaponry our citizens have at hand.
I have concocted a rather powerful substance which, when sprinkled around your dwelling place, proves highly effective at repelling this monstrous apparition. It may be prudent to purchase a small vial for use during your stay. I certainly sleep easier knowing that I and my home are protected in this way.
Certainly. I’ll mix you a potion straight away. And perhaps some smelling salts for Madam?
Ralph Pettigrew’s compact apothecary’s shop folds into a small case, complete with carrying handle, measuring just 25cm by 17cm and only 9cm deep when closed. However there is ample room for customers when the front is folded down. (That’s 10 x 7 x 4 inches for those who use such measurements.)
Should you be in Glastonbury, Somerset on April 29th, do call into the Town Hall, where you can meet Ralph and inspect his premises for yourself.
Many of the advertisements and bottle labels displayed in the shop have been purchased from the excellent Chocolate Rabbit online shop, for which the link is here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/chocolaterabbit
As always, many other OOAK steampunk characters and accessories are available from: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SteampunkDollsHouse , including the delightful Lady Grace and Ralph’s cousin Amelia.
Steampunk - Shrunk! 