A Little Princess

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

Original copyright 1905

It amazes me that a book that was written over 100 years ago is still loved by so many today.  The author relates the story of Sara Crewe, a wealthy yet unspoiled little girl sent by her loving father to Miss Minchin’s boarding school for young ladies.  At first, Sara is treated like a princess.  However, on her eleventh birthday, the horrible news comes that her father has died and left little Sara a penniless orphan.  Miss Minchin tells Sara she will do her a favor and not throw her out on the street.  Instead, Sara must become a servant.  Her belongings are taken away is she is made to live in a cold, bare attic room, living on a very small amount of food.  

The touching part of this story is how Sara reacts to her dismal situation.  Yes, she is terribly sad and grieves for her father.  And yes, she is angry at the injustice of her treatment.  Still, Sara Crew acts like a princess at heart.  She never stops treating other people with kindness.  

The one story that affected me as a child reading this book is when Sara is thrilled to find a coin on the street.  She is weak from hunger and sees some delicious buns in the bakery window.  However, on her way into the bakery, Sara sees a little beggar girl huddled in the corner.  This little girl must be even more hungry, Sara thinks.  After purchasing six buns from the baker woman, Sara hands five of them to the beggar girl, taking only one for herself.  And Sara could have easily eaten all six.  Her selflessness surprised me, and I think shamed me too, for I didn’t think I would have done the same.  

The story doesn’t end there, however.  Inspired by Sara’s extreme kindness, the baker woman invites the ragged little beggar girl into her store, continues to feed her, and even gives her a job.  This is the lesson I’ve learned from A Little Princess.  A solitary kind act has the potential to change many lives as it snowballs through the world.