The Squire's Sixpence
A young girl named Patience Mather struggles with her arithmetic lessons, particularly the multiplication table. During a class visit from Squire Bean, a local authority figure, she faces pressure to perform well. When she falters on a question, she receives an unexpected whisper of the correct answer, allowing her to succeed. Squire Bean rewards her with a silver sixpence for her achievement, but Patience, feeling guilty for not earning it honestly, offers to return it. Patience's friendship with Martha Joy is tested when she loses the sixpence while trying to buy peppermints for Martha, who is suffering from a toothache. Patience's guilt intensifies as she fears the repercussions of spending the Squire's money. When Squire Bean summons her to his house, she is terrified, believing she will be punished for her actions. Upon arriving, she recounts her story to Squire Bean, who surprises her by laughing and returning the sixpence, advising her not to spend it again. He acknowledges her honesty and allows her to keep the coin as a bookmark. Patience leaves with a sense of relief and newfound respect for honesty, cherishing the sixpence as a reminder of her values. The story concludes with her safeguarding the coin throughout her life, symbolizing her growth and integrity.
By Mary E. Wilkins · First published 1896 · Genre: Children's Literature, Coming-of-Age, Historical Fiction · 4,087 words
First lines
Patience Mather was saying the seven-multiplication table, when she heard a heavy step in the entry.
"That is Squire Bean," whispered her friend, Martha Joy, who stood at her elbow.
What this Textopian page supports
The Squire's Sixpence is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mary E. Wilkins, dated 1896 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Mary E. Wilkins
- Date: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Coming-of-Age, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Moral Tale
- Length: 4,087 words
- Structure: 1 section, 98 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Squire's Sixpence by Mary E. Wilkins
- 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 Squire's Sixpence?
- How does this short story by Mary E. Wilkins fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Children's Literature — The story centers around a young girl, Patience, and her experiences in school, making it primarily aimed at a child audience.
- Coming-of-Age — The narrative explores themes of honesty, integrity, and personal growth as Patience navigates her moral dilemmas.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a historical context, the story reflects societal norms and values of the time, particularly regarding education and community.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative that tells a story about characters and events that are not real.
Tags
Realism · American Literature · Short Story Collection · 19th Century Fiction · New England Setting · Rural Life · Social Commentary · Class Conflict · Marriage · Family Dynamics · Isolation · Loneliness