If this was a series and some of the stories were similar to some of Mark Twain's work, then I think I may have read those.
The things I remember from it (or if not it... something) are brothers, a small town, a cave, a swimming hole, candy (I think licorice specifically), and one brother trying (successfully) to get the mumps from the other brother.
There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.