Lost Rollo by Mary Louisa Molesworth

Name: Lost Rollo
Author: Mary Louisa Molesworth

Two children, Persis and Archie, have longed for a dog of their own since they were young. Their desire intensifies over the years, particularly for a collie, which they name Bruno. When their family goes on holiday to a beautiful countryside location, they are excited but still wish for a dog. During their stay, they encounter a lost dog that matches their dream. They take him in, naming him Bruno, and experience immense joy as he becomes part of their lives. However, their happiness is tinged with guilt, as they know the dog likely belongs to someone else. Their father, upon returning from a trip, insists on finding the dog's rightful owner, leading to a conflict between their desire to keep Bruno and the moral obligation to return him. After a few weeks, the children's fears are realized when the dog's owner, a young lady named Miss Riverton, appears to reclaim him. The children are heartbroken but confess to their father that they had known deep down that the dog was lost. Their father teaches them about honesty and the importance of being true to oneself. In a twist of fate, Miss Riverton later returns to offer the children the chance to adopt Bruno permanently, as she cannot keep him due to her own circumstances. The children are overjoyed, and their bond with Bruno deepens. They continue to cherish him, sharing updates with Miss Riverton, who remains a part of their lives through correspondence. The story concludes with the children’s happiness, having learned valuable lessons about love, honesty, and responsibility.

By Mary Louisa Molesworth · First published 1885 · Genre: Children's Literature, Adventure, Family · 4 chapters · 7,826 words

First lines

EVER since Persis and I were quite little there was one thing we longed for more than anything else. I think most children have some great wish, or fancy, perhaps grown-up people would call it, like that. But with many it changes, especially of course if they get the thing -- _then_ they set to work longing and planning for something else. But Persis and I didn't change -- not even when we got it, or thought we had got it, for good. We wished for it for so long that it really seemed to grow with us; the older and bigger we grew, the stronger and bigger our wish seemed to grow. We were only seven and five -- that sounds rather awkward, but I don't see how else to put it, for Persis is a girl, so I must put her age first! -- she was seven and I was five (that sounds better), when we first began wishing for it. It was a story that first put it into our heads, and after that, nearly every story we read or heard seemed to have to do with it somehow, and to put it still more into them. And we were -- I mean to say Persis was eleven, and I was nine when what we thought was going to be the fulfilment of our wish came. That was really a long time. Four years -- four summers and winters and autumns and springs -- to keep on thinking about a thing and wishing for it!

What this Textopian page supports

Lost Rollo is listed on Textopian as a novella by Mary Louisa Molesworth, dated 1885 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Novella
Author: Mary Louisa Molesworth
Date: 1885 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Adventure, Family, Animal Fiction, Coming-of-Age
Length: 7,826 words
Structure: 4 chapters, 138 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for Lost Rollo by Mary Louisa Molesworth
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The story centers around children and their experiences, focusing on themes of friendship, longing, and the bond with a pet.
Adventure — The narrative includes the children's adventures and explorations in the countryside, particularly their interactions with the dog.
Family — The story emphasizes family dynamics, particularly the relationships between siblings and their parents.
Animal Fiction — The plot revolves around the children's desire for a dog and their experiences with the lost dog, highlighting the bond between humans and animals.