Taken or Left by O.F. Walton (1885)
"Taken or Left" by O.F. Walton is a story centered around Peter, a boy from a large family, who reflects on his childhood and the challenges faced by his weary mother. The narrative begins with Peter recounting his life as one of ten brothers, named after the Apostles, and their only sister, Salome. The family struggles with financial constraints and the burden of raising many children, which takes a toll on their mother. Peter shares a close bond with Salome, and the story unfolds with significant events, such as Salome's birthdays, which mark pivotal moments in Peter's life. On Salome's fourth birthday, Peter loses a shilling meant for a school errand and, in a moment of weakness, replaces it with a shilling found at home, leading to a moral conflict that haunts him. The narrative explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the anticipation of Christ's return, as Peter grapples with his conscience and seeks forgiveness. The story also delves into the family's spiritual journey, highlighting the impact of faith and the hope of being "taken" by Christ at His second coming. As the years pass, Peter matures and finds work with a kind employer, Mrs. Tremayne, and her son, Reggie. The story continues to explore the themes of love, loss, and spiritual growth, culminating in a reflection on the passage of time and the enduring hope of reunion with loved ones in the afterlife.
By O.F. Walton · First published 1885 · Genre: Christian Fiction, Religious Children's Literature, Moral Didactic Fiction · 14 chapters · 24,021 words
First lines
MY mother had ten boys. It was no wonder that she often looked weary and out of spirits. It was no wonder that we seldom saw her in a cheerful and hopeful state of mind, for she was never strong, and she had to work and to toil as if she were.
I used to wish sometimes that our mother would laugh more and sigh less. I could not understand then what care and anxiety we all were to her. But I can see now that she was too tired to be very merry, and that it was not strange that she found plenty to make her sigh.
What this Textopian page supports
Taken or Left is listed on Textopian as a novella by O.F. Walton, 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: O.F. Walton
- Date: 1885 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Christian Fiction, Religious Children's Literature, Moral Didactic Fiction, Victorian Children's Fiction, Domestic Fiction
- Length: 24,021 words
- Structure: 14 chapters, 482 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Taken or Left by O.F. Walton
- 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
- Christian Fiction — The narrative is fundamentally shaped by evangelical Christian belief, repentance, salvation through Christ, prayer, Bible reading, and the expectation of Jesus's return.
- Religious Children's Literature — Written around a young protagonist's moral and spiritual formation, the story uses accessible incidents, family life, and direct religious instruction to address young readers.
- Moral Didactic Fiction — Peter's theft, guilty conscience, confession, later disobedience, and repentance explicitly teach lessons about honesty, duty, temptation, courage, and obedience.
- Victorian Children's Fiction — Its nineteenth-century English domestic setting, narrative voice, social details, sentimental tone, and instructional style strongly place it within Victorian literature for children.
Tags
Christian fiction · Victorian literature · children's literature · religious novel · evangelical themes · moral instruction · faith · salvation · conversion · spiritual awakening · Christian values · family life
Contents
- Salome's Home
- The Lost Money
- Not to be Trusted
- A Children's Service
- The Storm in the Night
- My First Place
- Master Reggie
- There is no Time to Lose
- The Robber's Cave
- The Storm
- A Terrible Time
- Salome's Recovery
- Great Sorrow
- After Twenty Years