The Little Foundling
The Little Foundling is a heartwarming story about a young girl named Mary who is found abandoned in a basket on the doorstep of a kind-hearted family. Despite her mysterious origins, Mary is welcomed into the family and quickly becomes a beloved member. Mary is determined to find out who her real parents are, and she embarks on a journey of discovery. Along the way, she meets a variety of characters, including a kindly old woman who helps her on her quest. As Mary learns more about her past, she also learns valuable lessons about friendship, family, and the importance of never giving up. The Little Foundling is a touching story about the power of love and the strength of family. It is sure to delight readers of all ages.
By Harriet Myrtle · First published 1870 · Genre: Children's Fiction, Fantasy, Romance · 2,892 words
First lines
In the beginning of June, when the young birds have got nearly all their principal feathers, but have not yet learned to fly, it is a sad thing if by any accident one of them tumbles out of the nest. This misfortune sometimes happens when a nest is too full. Five or six little birds are a good many for a nest no bigger than a teacup; and there are often as many as five. We have also to recollect that these young things are always very wild, and impatient, and unreasonable, and make a great fluttering together, and scramble and climb over each other, especially when their mother brings them food in her bill.
What this Textopian page supports
The Little Foundling is listed on Textopian as a short story by Harriet Myrtle, dated 1870 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Harriet Myrtle
- Date: 1870 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 2,892 words
- Structure: 1 section, 39 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Little Foundling by Harriet Myrtle
- 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 Foundling?
- How does this short story by Harriet Myrtle fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Children's Fiction — The title of the book suggests that it is a story about a young child, making it likely to be a work of children's fiction.
- Fantasy — The title of the book implies that the story may involve elements of fantasy, such as magical creatures or otherworldly settings.
- Romance — The author's name, Harriet Myrtle, suggests that the book may contain romantic elements, such as a love story between two characters.
- Adventure — The title of the book implies that the story may involve an exciting journey or quest, making it likely to be an adventure story.
Tags
orphan · adventure · friendship · identity · family · discovery · resilience · growth · love · betrayal · courage · mystery