Gold and Love for Dearie by Eugene Field
The story revolves around a young girl who lives with her mother in a small cottage near a forest. The girl's father has died, and she is very poor. She befriends a squirrel that she names Dearie, and through this friendship, she learns valuable lessons about life, love, and responsibility.
By Eugene Field · First published 1896 · Genre: Poetry, Fantasy, Children's Literature · 296 words
First lines
Out on the mountain over the town, / All night long, all night long, / The trolls go up and the trolls go down, / Bearing their packs and singing a song; / And this is the song the hill-folk croon, / As they trudge in the light of the misty moon -- / This is ever their dolorous tune: / "Gold, gold! ever more gold -- / Bright red gold for dearie!"
Deep in the hill a father delves / All night long, all night long; / None but the peering, furtive elves / Sees his toil and hears his song; / Merrily ever the cavern rings / As merrily ever his pick he swings, / And merrily ever this song he sings: / "Gold, gold! ever more gold -- / Bright red gold for dearie!"
What this Textopian page supports
Gold and Love for Dearie is listed on Textopian as a poem by Eugene Field, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fantasy, Children's Literature, Romance, Folklore
- Length: 296 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Gold and Love for Dearie by Eugene Field
- 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
Similar titles
- The Hawthorne Children by Eugene Field
- My Playmates by Eugene Field
- Little Boy Blue by Eugene Field
- Kissing Time by Eugene Field
- The Funny Little Fellow by James Whitcomb Riley
- Stoves And Sunshine by Eugene Field
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter, characteristic of poetry.
- Fantasy — The presence of trolls, elves, and a magical setting indicates elements of fantasy.
- Children's Literature — The themes of love and familial bonds, along with a simple narrative style, appeal to a younger audience.
- Romance — The emphasis on love, particularly maternal love, aligns with romantic themes.
Tags
Children's Literature · Poetry · American Classics · Humor · Satire · Whimsy · Fantasy · Imagination · Youth · Innocence · Playfulness · Nostalgia