Wanted -- a Little Girl
The story revolves around a young orphan girl who answers an advertisement for a little girl to be adopted by a wealthy couple. The girl's innocence and kindness eventually win over the hearts of the couple, transforming their lives.
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox · First published 1889 · Genre: Poetry, Social Commentary, Children's Literature · 303 words
First lines
Where have they gone to -- the little girls With natural manners and natural curls; Who love their dollies and like their toys, And talk of something besides the boys?
Little old women in plenty I find, Mature in manners and old of mind; Little old flirts who talk of their "beaux," And vie with each other in stylish clothes.
What this Textopian page supports
Wanted -- a Little Girl is listed on Textopian as a poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, dated 1889 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox
- Date: 1889 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Social Commentary, Children's Literature, Satire, Nostalgia
- Length: 303 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Wanted -- a Little Girl by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The text is written in verse form with a rhythmic and rhyming structure.
- Social Commentary — The poem critiques contemporary societal norms and behaviors, particularly those of young girls.
- Children's Literature — The poem nostalgically references the innocence and simplicity of childhood.
- Satire — The poem uses irony and exaggeration to mock the premature sophistication of young girls.
Tags
Poetry · American Literature · 19th Century · Feminist · Motherhood · Childhood · Family · Relationships · Emotional · Introspective · Personal · Reflective