A Friend in Need

Name: A Friend in Need
Author: Mary Louisa Molesworth

Laurence, a six-year-old English boy living in Paris, often feels lonely due to the age gap with his older siblings. His limited school hours leave him with little to occupy his time, and although he has a German nursery-maid named Emma, their communication is initially hindered by language barriers. Laurence longs for companionship, envying other children who play together. One day, while walking with Emma, Laurence notices a little girl, the daughter of the concierge, playing alone. He nicknames her "Gay" because of her cheerful demeanor. Over time, they exchange friendly greetings, establishing a budding friendship. On the eve of his sister Isabel's birthday, Laurence sets out to buy her a present, a pincushion, with a franc he has saved. After a long search, he finds the perfect rose-colored armchair but discovers he is short by five centimes. Emma, having forgotten her purse, cannot help him. The shop clerk refuses to let him take the item without the full amount, leaving Laurence distressed. In a moment of kindness, Gay approaches Laurence and offers him the missing sou. Grateful, he accepts her help, and the clerk hands over the pincushion. This act of generosity solidifies their friendship, and Laurence later returns to repay Gay and give her a New Year's gift, further strengthening their bond. The story highlights themes of friendship, kindness, and the innocence of childhood.

By Mary Louisa Molesworth · First published 1882 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fiction, Social Realism · 1,528 words

First lines

Laurence was a little English boy, though he lived in Paris. He had several older brothers and sisters, but none near him in age. So he was often rather lonely, for he was only six years old, and too young to do many lessons. Half-an-hour in the morning and half-an-hour in the afternoon made up his school time, though of course his next brother and sister, who were twelve and thirteen years old, had to do a great deal more than that.

I daresay they would not have minded doing a little _less_. I know they were always very pleased to have a holiday, or even a half-holiday, and in the evenings when their lessons were done they were very kind and ready to play with their little brother.

What this Textopian page supports

A Friend in Need is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mary Louisa Molesworth, dated 1882 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 Louisa Molesworth
Date: 1882 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Fiction, Social Realism, Coming-of-Age, Family
Length: 1,528 words
Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for A Friend in Need by Mary Louisa Molesworth
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The story centers around a young boy and his interactions with peers, focusing on themes of friendship and kindness, typical of children's literature.
Fiction — The narrative is a fictional account of a child's experiences and emotions, fitting the broader category of fiction.
Social Realism — The story reflects social themes, such as class differences and childhood loneliness, portraying realistic interactions between children from different backgrounds.
Coming-of-Age — The protagonist experiences personal growth and understanding through his friendship with Gay, marking a subtle coming-of-age theme.