The Little Yaller Baby
The poem tells the story of a baby who dies soon after birth and is buried in a grave marked by a small stone. The poem explores themes of mortality, grief, and the fleeting nature of life.
By Eugene Field · First published 1894 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Short Story · 2,629 words
First lines
I hev allus hed a good opinion uv the wimmin folks. I don't look at 'em as some people do; uv course they're a necessity -- just as men are. Uv course if there warn't no wimmin folks there wouldn't be no men folks -- leastwise that's what the medikil books say. But I never wuz much on discussin' humin economy; what I hev allus thought 'nd said wuz that wimmin folks wuz a kind uv luxury, 'nd the best kind, too. Maybe it's because I hain't hed much to do with 'em that I'm sot on 'em. Never did get real well acquainted with more'n three or four uv 'em in all my life; seemed like it wuz meant that I shouldn't hev 'em round me as most men hev. Mother died when I wuz a little tyke, an' Aunt Mary raised me till I wuz big enuff to make my own livin'. Down here in the Southwest, you see, most uv the girls is boys; there ain't none uv them civilizin' influences folks talk uv, -- nothin' but flowers 'nd birds 'nd such things as poetry tells about. So I kind uv growed up with the curi's notion that wimmin folks wuz too good for our part uv the country, 'nd I hevn't quite got that notion out'n my head yet.
What this Textopian page supports
The Little Yaller Baby is listed on Textopian as a short story by Eugene Field, dated 1894 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: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Short Story, Southern Literature, Humor
- Length: 2,629 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Little Yaller Baby 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 The Little Yaller Baby?
- How does this short story by Eugene Field fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores deep themes of motherhood, compassion, and human connection, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Realism — The story presents a realistic portrayal of life, emotions, and social interactions in a specific setting.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a specific incident, fitting the short story format.
- Southern Literature — The setting and dialect reflect Southern culture and perspectives, aligning with Southern literary traditions.
Tags
Children's literature · Poetry · Nostalgia · Rural life · American Midwest · Family relationships · Infancy · Childhood · Nature · Imagination · Whimsy · Fantasy