Plain Tales, Chiefly Intended for the Use of Cha
The work consists of a series of interrelated stories centered on the experiences of poor children who attend a charity school. In each narrative, the children demonstrate diligence, thrift, honesty, and a sense of duty toward their families. Their actions, though small and seemingly trivial, collectively illustrate the importance of moral virtue and practicality in everyday life. One narrative follows two girls who, after a day at school, set out to collect wood chips to help their families with heating. Their resourcefulness is tested when misfortune strikes and one girl’s ragged apron fails, causing the wood chips to spill. The episode underscores that even minor accidents must be remedied through careful thought and perseverance. The characters’ immediate problem-solving and eventual success reinforce that industrious behavior and preparedness are essential, even among the hardships of poverty. Another episode presents a dialogue between a mother and her child regarding the value of frugality. The discussion contrasts the expense and limited nourishment provided by tea with the economical benefits of spending carefully to secure lasting necessities such as garments and food. This exchange conveys that sacrificing trivial luxuries leads to improved long-term comfort and health. The parents’ rationale, emphasizing that the money saved can secure durable and beneficial supplies, serves as a model for prudent financial management. A further narrative focuses on a responsible schoolgirl who, by saving her small earnings rather than squandering them on fleeting pleasures, is able to purchase and make useful items for her family. Her frugality is contrasted sharply with that of another child who wastes money on confections, illustrating that immediate gratification can lead to missed opportunities to provide meaningful help. The emphasis on self-restraint and the worth of accumulated small savings is a recurring theme that underlines the value of long-term rewards over momentary indulgence. Additional episodes delve into similar moral lessons: one child is cautioned against shopping at rag shops, where the lure of cheap, inferior goods leads to wasteful spending and the inability to secure high-quality, lasting clothing. The narrative warns that money should be spent wisely and only on goods that provide enduring value, reinforcing the idea that careful planning and self-control are critical traits for those with limited means. A later story recounts a young girl’s failure to uphold her duty when tempted by friends to abandon a task. Having been entrusted with delivering a nourishing broth to a relative, she is led astray by peers, resulting in both a loss of the brood and her own inner turmoil. Her subsequent confession and the stern reprimand she receives from her mother serve to illustrate that dishonesty and deviation from one’s responsibilities incur personal misery and erode trust within the family. The narrative drives home the idea that only through truthfulness and steadfast adherence to duty can one maintain both personal integrity and the confidence of those who depend on you. A brief vignette also addresses the disruptive effects of idle talk and inattentiveness. A girl who is habitually chatty disrupts her work, highlighting that distractions and carelessness undermine the achievement of one’s tasks. In contrast, her more diligent peers are portrayed as models of efficient work and reliable conduct. Overall, the work teaches that a virtuous life is built on small, consistent actions of industry, thrift, and honesty. The stories collectively affirm that personal happiness and social respect are attained not by seeking luxury or immediate gratification, but by making wise, practical decisions that support oneself and one’s family. The recurring rhyming couplets at the end of each episode reinforce the moral lessons, ensuring that the principles of prudence, reliability, and integrity remain clear and memorable for the intended audience.
By Anonymous · First published 1704 · Genre: Didactic Fiction, Children's Literature, Moral Tales · 7 chapters · 5,940 words
First lines
Sukey Dawkins and Polly Wood had been some time in the charity-school. They had behaved very well, and could do a good deal of work: they were regular in going at the exact time, and so soon as school hours were over, they went strait home to see what they could do to assist their mothers. As they were diligent, they sometimes got a spare half hour to take a walk in the fields. This was of great service to their health, and helped to make them strong, active, and cheerful. One evening, after they had been working very hard, their mothers gave them leave to go. Out they set, as brisk as larks; they tripped over the stile very nimbly, and had soon gathered a handful of primroses and violets. Presently they heard a loud noise at a little distance, and away they ran to find out what it was. In a wood, not far off, they observed a man felling a large tree, and around lay a great number of chips. I wonder, said Sukey Dawkins, if any body makes use of these: how glad my mother would be to have some to light her fires with; let us ask the carpenter. Pray, said she, do you think the person who owns these, would give me leave to take a few home to my mother? ――Yes, said the man, I think he would: they belong to Mr. Ownoak, who is walking in the next field, and you may ask him, if you will. O, said Polly Wood, do not let us go, I cannot abide to ask: her companion replied, what is there to be ashamed of, I am not a going to do any thing wrong; and, unless I was, I do not see what reason I have to be ashamed.
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Plain Tales, Chiefly Intended for the Use of Charity Schools is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anonymous, dated 1704 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Anonymous
- Date: 1704 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Didactic Fiction, Children's Literature, Moral Tales, Social Realism, Domestic Fiction
- Length: 5,940 words
- Structure: 7 chapters, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Plain Tales, Chiefly Intended for the Use of Charity Schools by Anonymous
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Didactic Fiction — The work is primarily focused on teaching moral lessons and proper behavior through narrative and verse.
- Children's Literature — The stories and language are tailored to a young, educational audience, particularly those in charity schools.
- Moral Tales — Each story emphasizes virtues such as thrift, honesty, and diligence, serving as clear moral instruction.
- Social Realism — The narratives depict the everyday struggles and social conditions of impoverished families realistically.
Tags
didactic literature · moral instruction · educational narratives · charity education · short stories · British literature · 19th century · religious themes · social commentary · pedagogical texts · moral lessons · ethical instruction