As a Little Child by Ruth Lamb
"As a Little Child" by Ruth Lamb is a story about a young girl named Nellie and her mother, Mrs. Matthews, who are dealing with an unspecified family trouble. Nellie, a bright and cheerful child, notices her mother's distress and offers comfort through her innocent faith and prayer. Despite not understanding the specifics of the problem, Nellie believes in the power of prayer and asks God to remove the trouble. Her unwavering faith and confidence in God's ability to help provide solace to her mother, who struggles with her own doubts. The story highlights the theme of childlike faith and trust in divine intervention. Eventually, the family's trouble is resolved, affirming Nellie's belief and illustrating the biblical principle that one must receive the kingdom of God with the simplicity and trust of a child.
By Ruth Lamb · First published 1883 · Genre: Christian Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, Family Drama · 1,376 words
First lines
A MOTHER and a little child of six years were together one afternoon, the former busily plying her needle, the latter building a wonderful castle with a box of jointed bricks. They were almost constant companions, for all the elders of the flock were at school, whilst Nellie was still her mother's pupil. A bright, merry, intelligent young creature was the little scholar. She needed neither coaxing nor driving; but loved to learn as the mother loved to teach.
What this Textopian page supports
As a Little Child is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ruth Lamb, dated 1883 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ruth Lamb
- Date: 1883 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Christian Fiction, Inspirational Fiction, Family Drama, Moral/Didactic Literature, Domestic Fiction
- Length: 1,376 words
- Structure: 1 section, 28 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for As a Little Child by Ruth Lamb
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Christian Fiction — The narrative centers on explicit Christian themes, including the teachings of Jesus and the power of childlike faith and prayer.
- Inspirational Fiction — The story is crafted to encourage hope and trust in God's promises during difficult times, uplifting the reader through its message.
- Family Drama — The intimate interaction between mother and child, set against everyday struggles, forms the heart of the narrative.
- Moral/Didactic Literature — The work is structured to impart moral lessons and spiritual insights, guiding readers toward patience, trust, and faith.
Tags
childhood · memoir · coming-of-age · religious · spiritual · inspirational · faith · devotion · testimonial · transformation · journey · adversity