Bluff Crag; or, A Good Word Costs Nothing

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21636

Title

Bluff Crag; or, A Good Word Costs Nothing

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A heartwarming tale for young readers set in a coastal village, this story follows the Lincoln children as they encounter the Berkley family and their neighbors. Through a series of adventures involving a sea rescue, a broken leg, and the recovery of a lost father, the narrative explores themes of kindness, courage, and the importance of helping others, all delivered in a gentle, Victorian-era style.

Summary up to 500 words

In Mrs. George Cupples' *Bluff Crag; or, A Good Word Costs Nothing*, the narrative begins with a family gathering where Mr. Lincoln falls asleep while attempting to tell a story, prompting his wife, Mrs. Lincoln, to recount a tale from her own childhood. As a young girl, Mrs. Lincoln lived with her widowed uncle, the rector, and his housekeeper, Dolly. Her uncle takes her to visit wealthy neighbor Mrs. Berkley, introducing her to the lively Vivian 'Vea' Berkley and her mischievous but kind-hearted brother, Patrick. Their first outing ends in disaster when Patrick falls from rocks while climbing. The children, aided by a local boy named Dick and his grandfather, row a boat to rescue him. While Patrick recovers under Dr. Blyth's care, the girls encounter three other children on the beach. One, Polly, suffers under the harsh rule of her stepmother, who favors her own children and neglects Polly and her gentle brother, Willie. Polly's father was presumed lost at sea during a storm, but news eventually arrives that he survived, living on shellfish in a cave before being rescued by a bird collector. He is happily reunited with his daughter, and the rector gently corrects the cruel stepmother. Meanwhile, Patrick's leg heals, and he continues to help the poor, famously leaving his boots behind to assist a widow who had lost her husband and children. The story concludes with the Lincoln children returning home to a new baby sister, having learned valuable lessons about compassion and resilience. The tale ends with a promise of further adventures involving Vea's cousins from India, highlighting themes of kindness, resilience, and the transformative power of good deeds.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21636.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21636.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-07 21:17 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Juvenile Fiction
• Family Relationships
• Moral Lessons