
A five‑year‑old girl named Fanny receives a new picture book on her birthday and vows not to be called a dunce. She reads aloud, mixing playful scenes with the comforting Bible stories her mother shares about kings and distant lands. Her curiosity sparks gentle lessons on kindness and learning.
In the next story, little James watches a cold, stray dog shivering on a rainy bank. With his mother's help he convinces a neighbor to give the animal shelter, water, and a bit of food, showing how small acts of care can change a creature's fate. James’s earnest perspective invites listeners to feel his compassion.
Together these simple vignettes celebrate curiosity, generosity, and the joy of discovering the world through books. The gentle language and warm illustrations make them perfect for early listeners, offering timeless moral messages without heavy drama. Ideal for bedtime or quiet moments, they encourage children to read and care.
Language
en
Duration
~46 minutes (44K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was made using scans of public domain works in the International Children's Digital Library.)
Release date
2008-05-14
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Known today for a single surviving Victorian children’s book, this little-known writer created gentle moral tales for young readers. Her work has endured through public-domain archives, even though biographical details about her life are now hard to trace.
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