The Children's Peddler by Fannie Stearns Davis
"The Children's Peddler" by Fannie Stearns Davis is a poem that tells the story of a whimsical peddler who travels through a village, delighting the children with his assortment of toys and trinkets. The peddler is a beloved figure among the children, who eagerly chase him down the street, asking for various items like marbles, dolls, and kites. Despite his popularity with the children, the adults in the village view him as simple-minded, tapping their foreheads and smiling knowingly. The peddler's life is one of simplicity and hardship, with little to eat and shabby clothing, yet he finds joy in his interactions with the children. The poem contrasts the lively, playful world of the children with the serene, quiet presence of the church and the graveyard, where the "Dead Folk" rest. The peddler has a personal connection to the graveyard, where three gray stones mark the resting place of loved ones. In the evenings, after the children have gone home, the peddler visits the graveyard, standing alone by the sweetbriar bush, speaking to the stones as if they can hear and understand him. This ritual suggests a deeper, more poignant aspect of the peddler's life, hinting at loss and remembrance. The poem captures the duality of the peddler's existence: the joy he brings to the children and the solitude he experiences in his personal moments of reflection. Through its rhythmic verses and vivid imagery, the poem paints a picture of a man who, despite being misunderstood by adults, finds fulfillment in his simple, yet meaningful, interactions with the village's younger generation.
By Fannie Stearns Davis · First published 1899 · Genre: Children's Literature, Poetry, Ballad · 607 words
First lines
Up above the village roofs the white road climbs away; There among its maple trees the church stands cool and gray, And the Dead Folk all around have houses still and sweet. -- But I -- I go a-peddling on the dusty village street.
Uphill, downhill, rain and sunny weather: Right foot, left foot, (faith, it's hard on leather)! Dolls and balls and kites and chains, knives and knick-knacks -- oh, I'm the crazy peddlerman that all the children know!
What this Textopian page supports
The Children's Peddler is listed on Textopian as a short story by Fannie Stearns Davis, 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: Fannie Stearns Davis
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Poetry, Ballad, Folklore
- Length: 607 words
- Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Children's Peddler by Fannie Stearns Davis
- 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
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative centers on a peddler interacting with village children, employing playful language and themes that appeal directly to a youthful audience.
- Poetry — The work is written in a lyrical, rhythmic manner with structured meter and rhyme, characteristic of poetic composition.
- Ballad — The narrative unfolds in a storytelling format traditionally associated with ballads, conveying a clear narrative through verse.
- Folklore — The depiction of village life, traditional settings, and oral storytelling elements align the work with folkloric traditions.
Tags
children's literature · vintage · adventure · social realism · moral lessons · family · fiction · growth · community · inspiration · self-reliance · coming-of-age