Little Baptiste. A Story of the Ottawa River
The story revolves around Little Baptiste, a young Algonquin boy who lives with his family near the Ottawa River. The narrative explores his daily life, struggles, and adventures in the wilderness. It delves into themes of cultural identity, community, and the clash between indigenous and European ways of life during the 19th century.
By Edward William Thomson · First published 1899 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Coming-of-Age · 5,307 words
First lines
Ma'ame Baptiste Larocque peered again into her cupboard and her flour barrel, as though she might have been mistaken in her inspection twenty minutes earlier.
"No, there is nothing, nothing at all! " said she to her old mother-in-law. "And no more trust at the store. Monsieur Conolly was too cross when I went for corn-meal yesterday. For sure, Baptiste stays very long at the shanty this year."
What this Textopian page supports
Little Baptiste. A Story of the Ottawa River is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edward William Thomson, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edward William Thomson
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Coming-of-Age, Cultural, Drama
- Length: 5,307 words
- Structure: 1 section, 87 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Little Baptiste. A Story of the Ottawa River by Edward William Thomson
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Little Baptiste. A Story of the Ottawa River?
- How does this short story by Edward William Thomson fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Pearl Of Lima by Jules Verne
- The Exploit Of Choolah The Chickasaw by Mary Noailles Murfree
- The Indian Chief by Gustave Aimard
- A Daughter Of The Snows by Jack London
- Padre Ignacio by Owen Wister
- Little Big Horn Medicine by Owen Wister
Genres
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical period with accurate historical details.
- Adventure — Focuses on exciting and risky experiences of the protagonist.
- Coming-of-Age — Centers on the growth and development of a young protagonist.
- Cultural — Explores the customs and traditions of the Ottawa River region.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Canadian Literature · Ottawa River · 19th Century · River Life · Fishing · Logging · Lumber Industry · French-Canadian Culture · Indigenous Peoples · Colonialism · Missionaries