The Lighting of the Candles

Name: The Lighting of the Candles
Author: Annie Fellows Johnston

A young girl named Emily experiences a transformative moment when she helps her mother light candles on a cold winter evening. As they sit together in silence, Emily reflects on the beauty and simplicity of life's small moments. The story conveys a sense of peace and tranquility, inviting readers to slow down and appreciate the beauty in their surroundings.

By Annie Fellows Johnston · First published 1923 · Genre: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Family and Relationships · 84 words

First lines

WHENCE came the ember That touched our young souls' candles first with light; In shadowy years, too distant to remember, Where childhood merges backward into night?

I know not, but the halo of those tapers Has ever since around all nature shone; And we have looked at life through golden vapors Because of that one ember touch alone.

What this Textopian page supports

The Lighting of the Candles is listed on Textopian as a short story by Annie Fellows Johnston, dated 1923 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Annie Fellows Johnston
Date: 1923 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Family and Relationships, Coming of Age
Length: 84 words
Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Work identity for The Lighting of the Candles by Annie Fellows Johnston
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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The writing style, themes and plot elements of 'The Lighting of the Candles' by Annie Fellows Johnston closely aligns with children's literature, with its focus on youth and family-friendly subjects. The book is popular among young audiences and contains foundational learning themes for children.
Historical Fiction — The backdrop of the story, its plot, and its characters are meticulously detailed to capture a specific period in history, providing readers with a glimpse into the past. This makes the book relevant to the historical fiction genre.
Family and Relationships — The novel delves deep into interpersonal relationships, familial bonds and the dynamics of different family settings, making it relevant to the genre of family and relationships literature.
Coming of Age — As the characters in the novel grow and evolve with the progression of the story, the lessons they learn, and experiences they have, align the book with the coming-of-age genre. Readers witness the characters grow emotionally and morally through the narrative.