Little Bridget's Bath
Little Bridget's Bath is a short story written by Frank R. Stockton in the late 19th century. The story follows the titular character, Little Bridget, who lives with her mother and father in a small town. One day, while playing outside, she falls into a mud puddle and gets dirty. Her parents decide to give her a bath, but Little Bridget is not happy about it. She tries to run away from the tub, but eventually gives in and takes a bath. The story ends with Little Bridget feeling clean and refreshed.
By Frank R. Stockton · First published 1893 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Fairy Tale · 1,340 words
First lines
Little Bridget was a good girl and a pretty one, but she had ideas of her own. She liked to study her lessons, to mind her mother, and to behave herself as a little girl should, but she did despise to be washed. There was something about the very smell of soap and the touch of water which made her shrink and shiver, and she would rather have seen the doctor come to her with a teaspoonful of medicine than to have her Aunt Ann approach with a bowlful of water, a towel, and a great piece of soap.
What this Textopian page supports
Little Bridget's Bath is listed on Textopian as a short story by Frank R. Stockton, dated 1893 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Frank R. Stockton
- Date: 1893 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Moral Tale, Adventure
- Length: 1,340 words
- Structure: 1 section, 26 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Little Bridget's Bath by Frank R. Stockton
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Little Bridget's Bath?
- How does this short story by Frank R. Stockton fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Nell The Nibbler by Gelett Burgess
- Ting A Ling by Frank R. Stockton
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- Billy Bunny And The Head Of Lettuce by David Cory
- Gutta Percha Willie by George Macdonald
Genres
- Children's Literature — The story features a young protagonist, simple language, and a moral lesson, making it suitable for children.
- Fantasy — The inclusion of fairies and magical elements places the story within the fantasy genre.
- Fairy Tale — The narrative structure, presence of fairies, and moral lesson align with traditional fairy tale elements.
- Moral Tale — The story imparts a clear moral lesson about cleanliness and responsibility.
Tags
children's literature · humor · adventure · imagination · family · friendship · water · bath · play · innocence · curiosity · exploration