Little Folks (July 1884)

The story opens on a sweeping Scottish moor, a canvas of crimson heather, gold gorse and azure sky that seems painted by nature herself. Though the hills blaze with colour, the lonely landscape is rarely visited beyond a few farm cows and scattered cottages. In this vivid backdrop live the MacDougall children, Elsie and Duncan, who must trek across the moor each day to fetch milk and butter for their home.

Elsie, stubborn and quick‑tempered, refuses to move, while Duncan, eager yet anxious, begs her to hurry. Their banter reveals a familiar sibling rivalry, flavored with the rough Scottish dialect of their rural life. As they argue over who will carry the milk, the reader senses that the simple journey may hold more than chores, hinting at the small adventures and lessons that await these two spirited youngsters.