The Wishing-Cap

Name: The Wishing-Cap
Author: Mary Martha Sherwood

A wealthy lady in London cares for five children, four siblings and an orphan named Charles. While the other children are excited about a wishing-cap that the lady promises to create, Charles refuses to participate, believing that one should seek God's blessings rather than material desires. The lady, perplexed by Charles's behavior, dismisses him as foolish. The other children make their wishes using the cap, receiving toys and gifts, but their joy quickly turns to chaos when a fight breaks out, resulting in broken toys and punishment from the lady. Meanwhile, Charles remains steadfast in his beliefs, finding comfort in his faith. As time passes, the children fall ill with a fever. Charles, however, becomes gravely ill and ultimately dies. In his final moments, he expresses happiness and peace, knowing he is going to be with his Saviour. His words about seeking love and blessings from God resonate with the lady, who reflects on her previous actions and decides to change her ways. Inspired by Charles's faith, she begins to prioritize spiritual over material wealth, teaching the other children to remember his example and to avoid the folly of wishing for superficial things. The story concludes with a moral lesson against the pursuit of earthly desires, emphasizing the importance of seeking divine blessings instead.

By Mary Martha Sherwood · First published 1838 · Genre: Children's Literature, Moral Tale, Fantasy · 2,497 words

First lines

There lived once a lady in London, who had a great deal of money, but who had never given her heart to God. This lady had the care of five children: four of them were brothers and sisters; and their names were James and Edward, Charlotte and Louisa. The fifth child was an orphan, and had no brothers or sisters. The name of this little boy was Charles. Little Charles's papa and mamma had been dead only a very few months: they were very pious people, and had brought up their little boy in the fear of God. Charles thought of his papa and mamma every day: he knew they were gone to heaven, and he knew, also, who that blessed person was, for whose sake they had been received into that happy place.

What this Textopian page supports

The Wishing-Cap is listed on Textopian as a short story by Mary Martha Sherwood, dated 1838 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 Martha Sherwood
Date: 1838 CE
Language: English
Genres: Children's Literature, Moral Tale, Fantasy, Religious Fiction, Adventure
Length: 2,497 words
Structure: 1 section, 48 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Children's Literature — The story is aimed at children, featuring child characters and moral lessons suitable for a young audience.
Moral Tale — The narrative conveys moral lessons about the dangers of materialism and the importance of seeking spiritual fulfillment.
Fantasy — The concept of a wishing-cap introduces a fantastical element, although it is grounded in moral teachings.
Religious Fiction — The story incorporates Christian themes, emphasizing faith and the importance of God's blessings.