Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-01

age and wealth than little George Os-
borne, who lived In literature 50 many
years before him, yet the former WA
quite content TO pattern after the latter
10 many respects after he went TO live
with his wealthy grandfather. He had
his pony. On which he often rode 70 see
his mother. and he vas kind to the poor.
He made his mother many costly pres
ents, and never forgot oIdtime friends.
The little lord, however. must he given
more credit than the little Osborne, for
his remembrance Of his former acquaint-
snces was through sincere friendship.
while little Georges tendencies 10 that
direction were oceasioned more by a de
sire to show how grand he had become.
II IL also pointed out that MR. Enroll
IL patterned very much after tie gentle
widow Osborne. II was favorite pas
| time Of both widows to attend church
Sunday mornings and gaze with longing
eyes from 4 pew near by upon their
| elevated offspring, and offer up thanks
that however hard their own lots might
BE-, their sons were happy and had the
brightest Of prospects for the future.
And to complete chain Of remark
able condolences a reconciliation Il
in both instances effected between the
obdurate grandfzthers and the high
minded mothers, and, a. the fairy books
W. uld end IL. they lived happily ever
sfterwards.'
All these points Of resemblance are Ger.
tainly striking. IL may be quite possible
that the idea Of Mrs. Burnett's story was
suggested from the reading Of Vanity Fair
But even II this were the case the fact OF
II would not detract one iotA from thu
value Of her work. The idea underly
ing both Of these stories ia almost
a. old a. the race. The power Of child
hood over age was not the conception o
Mr.. Thackeray. nor had he any patent up
on the idea. Christ taught it many cen
turtles ago when he said Whose
ever shall receive one little chill
Ia my name reeeiveth me.
It has furnished some Of tn
most beautiful and profoundly touch
ing thoughts in the literature o
every civilized country. In no plac
does it appear stronger than the story O
the beautiful life and ennobling intluenc
Of Little Eva which Mrs Stowe describe
40 powerfully and afiectingly in her uncl
Toms Cabin. The thought ia one tina
grows out OF the very existence Of human
ity and Mrs. Burnett has as much right t
make use Of it AS any Of the many writer
who have gone before.
The fact that there is a resemblance b.
tween Thackeray's story and that OF Mr.
Burnett does not make the latter ahy les
a., OF contribution to literature. 1t doe
not make Little Lord Fauntleroy any les
real, or make the public any less debto
to the charming writer VIII
brought him into existence
Thackeray's child stories were passed owe
aud forgotten. They incidentally appeare
amid the details Of love affairs and Ion
minute descriptions OF fashionable life
Their setting was not congenial to then
and the influence Of the thought underly
ing them was largely lost. With Mr.
Burnett all this was different she gave t
the thought the touch Of genius and
lived and grew in the hearts Of Who'll
y world Of readers. To her we say, an
not to Thsckeray, is the credit for tn
, highest and most touching developmer
Of this beautiful thought due and to ca
, her n plagarst will not detract one atoi
from her just fame.