Sweet-One-Darling and the Dream-Fairies
The poem tells the story of a child who dies young and goes to a fantastical land where fairies and flowers welcome him. The narrative is a nostalgic and melancholic reflection on the transience of life and the beauty of death.
By Eugene Field · First published 1897 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Fiction · 2,088 words
First lines
A wonderful thing happened one night; those who never heard of it before will hardly believe it. Sweet-One-Darling was lying in her little cradle with her eyes wide open, and she was trying to make up her mind whether she should go to sleep or keep awake. This is often a hard matter for little people to determine. Sweet-One-Darling was ready for sleep and dreams; she had on her nightgown and her nightcap, and her mother had kissed her good-night. But the day had been so very pleasant, with its sunshine and its play and its many other diversions, that Sweet-One-Darling was quite unwilling to give it up. It was high time for the little girl to be asleep; the robins had ceased their evening song in the maple; a tree-toad croaked monotonously outside, and a cricket was chirping certain confidences to the strange shadows that crept furtively everywhere in the yard and garden.
What this Textopian page supports
Sweet-One-Darling and the Dream-Fairies is listed on Textopian as a short story by Eugene Field, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Fiction, Poetry, Fairy Tale
- Length: 2,088 words
- Structure: 1 section, 26 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Sweet-One-Darling and the Dream-Fairies 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Sweet-One-Darling and the Dream-Fairies?
- How does this short story by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The book is primarily aimed at a young audience, featuring a child protagonist and themes of imagination and dreams.
- Fantasy — The presence of fairies and magical elements creates a fantastical setting that is central to the plot.
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional story that explores themes of childhood and dreams.
- Poetry — The writing style includes lyrical elements and lullabies, contributing to a poetic feel.
Tags
Fantasy · Poetry · Children's Literature · Imagination · Whimsy · Dreams · Fairies · Mythical Creatures · Nostalgic · Vintage · Romantic · Playful