Little Folks (October 1884) / A Magazine for the Young

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27693

Title

Little Folks (October 1884) / A Magazine for the Young

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A Victorian magazine for young readers featuring moral tales, puzzles, and nature facts. The narrative follows Elsie, a Scottish girl who runs away from home, only to face terrifying hardships in a city attic while caring for her ill companion, Duncan. Themes of repentance, poverty, and the dangers of straying from guidance are woven with practical advice and games.

Summary up to 500 words

This October 1884 issue of *Little Folks*, a magazine dedicated to the young, blends moral instruction with entertainment through a collection of stories, puzzles, and practical advice. The central narrative, 'A Little Too Clever,' follows Elsie, a spirited Scottish girl who runs away from her loving guardians in search of a romanticized adventure. Her rebellion quickly unravels when she and her companion, Duncan, find themselves stranded in a dreadful attic atop a noisy city house. Duncan falls seriously ill with a fever, leaving Elsie to face hunger, fear, and the terrifying reality that her wilful ingratitude has led to genuine peril. Contrasting sharply with the 'running-away' stories she once read, Elsie realizes the dangers of straying from parental protection. She is aided by a rough but kind neighbor girl who reveals that Elsie and Duncan are being sought by the police and that their wealthy guardians are estranged but caring. The story explores themes of conscience, the consequences of disobedience, and the necessity of returning to the 'Shepherd's' care. Interspersed with this narrative are various educational and recreational sections designed to engage young readers. The issue features a 'Prize Puzzle Competition' offering books and medals for solving geographical acrostics, riddles, and proverb games. A 'Cookery' section provides recipes for oat-cakes and almond rock, while the 'Natural History' column answers inquiries about bird food and egg identification. The magazine also includes a poem by Palmer Cox titled 'The Brownies to the Rescue,' depicting helpful spirits bringing food to a poor widow, reinforcing the theme of community aid. The text concludes with a 'Questions and Answers' column addressing literary inquiries and practical advice, such as how to make a baby's woollen jacket or cure a dog's eye condition. Through these diverse elements, the issue maintains its dual purpose of providing amusement and moral guidance, encouraging children to value hard work, integrity, and the safety of their homes.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27693.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg27693.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-08 18:40 UTC

Categories

• Children's Literature
• Periodicals