The Pearl of Charity by Madeline Leslie
The story revolves around Frank Jocelyn, a talented and proud young boy, and his family, who face financial difficulties after the death of Frank's father. Frank's mother, Mrs. Jocelyn, struggles to make ends meet by taking in boarders and selling homemade root beer. Frank, despite his pride, helps his mother by gathering roots for the beer, a task he keeps secret from his peers. The plot thickens when Mr. Monks, the schoolteacher, loses a valuable watch chain. Lionel Trask, a schoolmate, suspects Frank of taking it, leading to rumors and social ostracism for Frank and his sister, May. Despite the accusations, Frank maintains his innocence, and Mr. Monks, who knows Frank well, believes in his integrity. The story explores themes of pride, charity, and the consequences of suspicion. Mr. Monks shares a personal story of how his lack of charity and suspicion towards his own brother led to lifelong regret, using it as a lesson for his students. Eventually, the chain is found, clearing Frank's name, and the students form a "Charity Circle" to promote kindness and understanding, inspired by the teachings of Mr. Monks and the biblical exhortation to charity.
By Madeline Leslie · First published 1868 · Genre: Children's Literature, Moral Fiction, Coming-of-Age · 9 chapters · 8,639 words
First lines
"WHAT are you looking for, Frank? " called out Lionel Trask to his school companion.
"I thought I dropped my slate-pencil," answered Frank, hesitating and growing very red.
What this Textopian page supports
The Pearl of Charity is listed on Textopian as a novella by Madeline Leslie, dated 1868 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Madeline Leslie
- Date: 1868 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Moral Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 8,639 words
- Structure: 9 chapters, 245 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Pearl of Charity by Madeline Leslie
- 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 focuses on school life, youthful adventures, and moral challenges intended for a young audience.
- Moral Fiction — The story emphasizes lessons on charity, forgiveness, and personal integrity through the characters' experiences.
- Coming-of-Age — The protagonist's journey reflects growing awareness and maturity as he faces ethical dilemmas and personal conflicts.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and social context indicate a past era, incorporating period details and cultural norms of the time.
Tags
compassion · redemption · spirituality · morality · forgiveness · sacrifice · resilience · destiny · hope · mystery · betrayal · loss
Contents
- Orford Boys
- The Lost Chain
- Frank's Friends
- Want of Charity
- Frank's Trouble
- The Teacher's Warning
- Charity Revived
- The Chain Restored
- The Charity Circle