The Water Babies: A Fairy Tale for a Land-Baby (Dover Children's Classics)

Embarrassed by his grimy appearance in the presence of an immaculate little girl, ten-year-old Tom-an ill-treated London chimney-sweep-promptly runs away. Diving into a river, he enters a magical underwater world where he meets wee creatures of the deep, and learns about goodness, fairness, and "right and wrong." Young readers will find themselves anticipating with pleasure the frequent appearances of such enchanting characters as Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby, a fairy queen who takes many forms in the course of the tale. Charles Kingsley's story of the virtues of good conduct and useful living was one of the English clergyman's many tales that were meant to draw attention to the evils of nineteenth-century life-among them, enforced child labor. From its poignant look at a young sweep's grim life to its intriguing philosophy on the nature of fairies, the book can be read and re-read from childhood to old age. Immensely popular when first published in book form in 1863-it was originally serialized-this beloved classic will captivate today's readers as much as it stirred imaginations well over a century ago. A young chimney sweep enters a magical waterworld where he meets creatures that teach him the difference between right and wrong. Delightful characters such as Mrs. Doasyouwouldbedoneby will enchant today's young readers just as they did well over a century ago. A lavish edition of a children's classic. 32 illustrations. The story follows Tom in his land-life as a climbing boy for a chimney-sweep and in his after-life as a water-baby, where he gains redemption from selfishness as well as from drudgery. On to his fantasy Kingsley grafts a series of digressions and comic asides, through which he comments on a range of contemporary issues. The adventures of Tom, a sooty little chimney sweep with a great longing to be clean, who is stolen by fairies and turned into a water baby