The Gold Thimble by Oliver Optic
The story revolves around the Lee family and their gardener, Mr. Long, whose wife falls ill, leaving their daughter Susan to manage the household. Mrs. Lee offers to take Mary, Susan's younger sister, to ease the burden. Mary is fascinated by the Lee's luxurious home. During her stay, Flora Lee loses a gold thimble, a cherished gift from her aunt. Despite a thorough search, the thimble remains missing, and suspicion falls on Mary due to her defensive denial. Mr. Lee tells a story to impart a moral lesson. In the tale, a young man named Seekpeace, guided by his parents' teachings, encounters Poverty and Wealth. He is tempted by the giant Goldenhand to pursue riches through dishonest means but resists, choosing instead to follow the fairy Pureheart, who represents a clear conscience and true happiness. The story illustrates the value of integrity over material wealth. Mr. Lee subtly reveals that he found the thimble in Mary's basket, using the story to teach her about honesty and resisting temptation. Mary is remorseful, and the story serves as a lesson for the children about the importance of truthfulness and the consequences of deceit.
By Oliver Optic · First published 1868 · Genre: Children's Literature, Moral/Didactic Fiction, Domestic Fiction · 4 chapters · 6,671 words
First lines
Mr. Lee had a gardener whose name was Long. He lived in a little cottage near the great house of his employer. He was a very good gardener, and Mr. Lee valued him highly for his knowledge of plants, and for the fidelity with which the man served him.
Mr. Long had a family, but only three of his children remained at home. The others worked in the mills, or had places in the city. Mary, the youngest, was about Flora Lee's age; and the other two at home were fourteen and sixteen.
Genres
- Children's Literature — The narrative is written in simple language aimed at young readers, featuring engaging characters and situations that resonate with a youthful audience.
- Moral/Didactic Fiction — The story is structured around lessons of honesty, self-control, and the consequences of one's actions, intended to guide children's moral development.
- Domestic Fiction — The plot revolves around family interactions, domestic settings, and everyday life challenges, emphasizing social and familial responsibilities.
- Adventure Fiction — Embedded within the narrative is a secondary adventure story that features quests, temptations, and encounters with fantastical characters.
Tags
adventure · mystery · action · historical · suspense · puzzle · thriller · quest · heroism · courage · betrayal · intrigue
What this Textopian page supports
The Gold Thimble is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oliver Optic, dated 1868 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oliver Optic
- Date: 1868 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Moral/Didactic Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Adventure Fiction, Fantasy
- Length: 6,671 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 189 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Gold Thimble by Oliver Optic
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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