Seven-year-old Cedric lived with his mother on the outskirts of New York. One day the boy found out that he was a real lord, and that his rich grandfather was waiting for him in England - the powerful Earl of Dorincourt, a stern and gloomy man. With his kindness and spontaneity, little Cedric managed to melt the icy heart of his grandfather and, in the end, resolve a difficult family drama. The Tale of Lord Fauntleroy, the Boy with the Golden Curls is one of the most famous children's books of its time.

A series: The real boys

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by the LitRes company.

Amazing Surprise

Cedric knew absolutely nothing about this, he only knew that his father was an Englishman; but he died when Cedric was very young, and therefore he did not remember very much about him; he only remembered that his father was tall that he had Blue eyes and a long mustache, and that it was unusually fun to travel around the rooms, sitting on his shoulder. After the death of his father, Cedric became convinced that it was better not to talk to his mother about him. During his illness, Cedric was taken away from home, and when Cedric returned, everything was already over and his mother, who was also very ill, had just moved from bed to her chair by the window. She was pale and thin, the dimples had disappeared from her sweet face, her eyes looked sad, and her dress was completely black.

“Darling,” asked Cedric (dad always called her that, and the boy began to imitate him), “Darling, is dad better?”

He felt her hands tremble, and lifting his curly head, looked into her face. She seemed to be barely able to keep from bursting into tears.

“My dear,” he repeated, “tell me, is he feeling well now?”

But then his loving little heart told him that the best thing to do would be to wrap both arms around her neck, press his soft cheek against her cheek, and kiss her many, many times; he did so, and she put her head on his shoulder and wept bitterly, holding him tightly to her.

“Yes, he is fine,” she sobbed, “he is very well, but we have no one left with you.

Although Cedric was still just a little boy, he understood that his tall, handsome, young father would never return, that he had died, as other people die; and yet he could never make out to himself why this had happened. Since Mom always cried when he talked about Dad, he decided to himself that it was better not to mention him too often. Soon the boy became convinced that she should also not be allowed to sit silently and motionless for a long time, looking into the fire or out the window.

He and his mother had few acquaintances, and they lived quite alone, although Cedric did not notice this until he was older and found out the reason why they did not have guests. Then he was told that his mother was a poor orphan who had no one in the world when her father married her. She was very pretty and lived as a companion to a rich old lady who mistreated her. Once Captain Cedric Errol, visiting this lady, saw a young girl climbing the stairs with tears in her eyes, and she seemed to him so lovely, innocent and sad that from that moment he could not forget her. Soon they met, fell deeply in love with each other and, finally, got married; but this marriage aroused the displeasure of the people around them. The most angry of all was the captain's father, who lived in England and was a very rich and noble gentleman, known for his bad temper. In addition, he hated America and Americans with all his heart. In addition to the captain, he had two more sons. By law, the eldest of them had to inherit the family title and all the vast estates of his father. In the event of the death of the eldest, the next son became the heir, so there was little chance for Captain Cedric to become rich and noble person although he was a member of such a noble family.

But it so happened that nature endowed the youngest of the brothers with excellent qualities that the elders did not possess. He had Beautiful face, a graceful figure, a courageous and noble posture, a clear smile and a sonorous voice; he was brave and generous, and, moreover, possessed a kind heart, which especially attracted to him all those who knew him. His brothers were not like that. As boys at Eton they were not well liked by their comrades; later in the university they did little science, wasted their time and money, and failed to make true friends. They constantly upset their father, the old count, and insulted his pride. His heir did not do honor to his name, continuing to be a selfish, wasteful and narrow-minded person, devoid of courage and nobility. It was very insulting to the old count that only the third son, who was to receive only a very modest fortune, possessed all the qualities necessary to maintain the prestige of their high social status. Sometimes he almost hated young man for the fact that he was endowed with those data that seemed to have been forced out from his heir by a loud title and rich estates; but in the depths of his proud, stubborn old heart, he still could not help but love his youngest son. During one of his outbursts of anger, he sent him to travel around America, wanting to remove him for a while, so as not to be annoyed by the constant comparison of him with his brothers, who just at that time caused him much trouble with their dissolute behavior.

But after six months, he began to feel lonely and secretly longed to see his son. Under the influence of this feeling, he wrote a letter to Captain Cedric, demanding his immediate return home. This letter diverged from the letter of the captain, in which he informed his father about his love for a pretty American woman and about his intention to marry her. Upon receiving this news, the old count became insanely angry; nasty as his character was, his anger had never reached such proportions as at the receipt of this letter, and his servant, who was in the room, involuntarily thought that his lordship would probably have a stroke. For a whole hour he ran like a tiger in a cage, but finally, little by little, he calmed down, sat down at the table and wrote a letter to his son ordering him never to approach his house and never write to him or his brothers. He wrote that the captain could live where he wanted and how he wanted, that he was cut off from his family forever and, of course, could no longer count on any support from his father.

The captain was very sad; he was very fond of England and was strongly attached to home; he even loved his stern old father and felt sorry for him, seeing his grief; but he also knew that from that moment on he could no longer expect any help or support from him. At first he did not know what to do: he was not accustomed to work, he was deprived practical experience, but he had a lot of courage, but then he hastened to sell his position in the English army; after much trouble, he found a place for himself in New York and got married. Change from his former life in England was very tangible, but he was young and happy and hoped that hard work would help him create a good future for himself. He bought a small house in one of the remote streets of the city, where he was born little son ok, and the whole life seemed to him so good, cheerful, joyful, although modest, that he did not regret for a minute that he had married the pretty companion of a rich old woman solely because she was charming and that they dearly loved each other.

His wife was really charming, and their little son was equally reminiscent of father and mother. Although he was born in a very humble environment, it seemed that in the whole world there was no such happy child as he was. Firstly, he was always healthy and never caused trouble to anyone, secondly, he had such a sweet character and such a cheerful disposition that he gave everyone nothing but pleasure, and thirdly, he was unusually good-looking. Unlike other children, he came into the world with a whole head of soft, thin, golden curly hair, which by the age of six months had turned into lovely long ringlets. He had big Brown eyes with long eyelashes and a pretty face; his back and legs were so strong that at nine months old he had already learned to walk; at the same time, he was distinguished by such a rare behavior for a child that everyone fiddled with him with pleasure. He seemed to consider everyone his friends, and if one of the passers-by came up to him when he was being rolled in a small carriage along the street, he usually directed a serious look at the stranger, and then smiled charmingly. No wonder then that everyone who lived in the neighborhood of his parents loved and spoiled him, not excluding even the petty merchant, who was reputed to be the most gloomy person in the world.

When he grew up enough to walk with his nurse, pulling a small cart behind him, in a white suit and a big white hat pulled down over his golden curls, he was so handsome, so healthy and so ruddy that he attracted everyone's attention, and the nurse more than once, returning home, she told her mother long stories about how many ladies stopped their carriages to look at him and talk to him. What fascinated me most about him was his joyful, bold, original manner of meeting people. This was probably due to the fact that he had an unusually trusting character and a kind heart that sympathized with everyone and wanted everyone to become as contented and happy as he was. This made him very empathetic towards other people. There is no doubt that such a property of character developed in him under the influence of the fact that he was constantly in the company of his parents - loving, calm, delicate and educated people. He always heard only gentle and polite words; everyone loved him, did not live and caressed him, and under the influence of such treatment he involuntarily got used to being kind and gentle as well. He heard that his father always called his mother by the most affectionate names and constantly treated her with tender care, and therefore he learned to follow his example in everything.

Therefore, when he learned that his father would not return, and saw how sad his mother was, the thought crept into his kind heart that he should try to make her happy as much as possible. He was still quite Small child but this thought took possession of him every time he climbed on her knees and laid his curly head on her shoulder, when he brought his toys and pictures to show her, when he curled up beside her on the sofa. He hadn't grown up enough to be able to do anything else, so he did what he could, and really comforted her more than he thought.

“Oh, Mary,” he once overheard her talking to a maid, “I'm sure he's trying to help me!” He often looks at me with such love, such an inquiring look, as if he takes pity on me, and then begins to caress or show me his toys. Just like an adult... I think he knows...

When he grew up, he had a number of cute and original tricks that everyone around liked very much. For his mother, he was such a close friend that she did not look for others. They used to walk together, chat and play together. From the very early years he learned to read, and then, lying in the evenings on the carpet in front of the fireplace, read aloud now fairy tales, now thick books that adults read, and even newspapers.

And Mary, sitting in her kitchen, more than once during these hours heard Mrs. Errol laugh heartily at what he said.

"You can't help but laugh when you listen to his eccentricities," she said to the shopkeeper. “On the very day of the election of the new president, he came to my kitchen, stood by the stove like such a handsome man, put his hands in his pockets, made a serious-serious face, like a judge, and says: “Mary, I am very interested in the elections. I'm a Republican, and so is Milochka. Are you also a Republican, Mary? “No, I am a Democrat,” I answer. "Oh, Mary, you will bring the country to ruin! .." And since then not a day has passed that he did not try to influence my political convictions.

Mary loved him very much and was proud of him; she served in their house from the day of his birth, and after the death of his father she performed all the duties: she was a cook, a maid, and a nanny; she was proud of his beauty, his small, strong body, his sweet manners, but she was especially proud of his curly hair, long curls that framed his forehead and fell over his shoulders. She was ready from morning to night to help his mother when she sewed suits for him or cleaned and repaired his things.

- A real aristocrat! she exclaimed more than once. “By God, I would like to see such a handsome man like him among the children from Fifth Street. All men, women and even children stare at him and at his velvet suit, sewn from an old lady's dress. He goes to himself, raising his head, and the curls flutter in the wind ... Well, just a young lord! ..

Cedric had no idea that he looked like a young lord—he didn't even know the meaning of the word. The shopkeeper was his best friend. opposite corner streets, a man angry, but never angry with him. His name was Mr. Hobbes. Cedric loved and deeply respected him. He considered him an unusually rich and powerful man - after all, how many tasty things lay in his shop: plums, figs, oranges, various biscuits, besides, he also had a horse and a cart. Let us suppose that Cedric loved the milkmaid, the baker, and the apple seller, but he still loved Mr. Hobbes more than anyone else and was on such friendly terms with him that he came to him every day, talking for hours on end about various current issues of the day. It's amazing how long they could talk - especially about the 4th of July - just endlessly! Mr. Hobbes was generally very disapproving of the "British" and, talking about the revolution, transmitted amazing facts about the ugly deeds of opponents and about the rare courage of the heroes of the revolution. When he began to quote certain paragraphs from the Declaration of Independence, Cedric usually became very excited; his eyes burned, his cheeks burned, and his curls turned into a whole cap of tangled golden hair. He eagerly ate dinner upon returning home, hurrying to convey everything he heard to his mother as soon as possible. Perhaps Mr. Hobbes first aroused in him an interest in politics. He liked to read newspapers, and therefore Cedric learned a lot of what was going on in Washington. At the same time, Mr. Hobbes usually expressed his opinion about whether the president treated his duties well or badly. Once, after new elections, Mr. Hobbes was especially pleased with the results of the ballot, and it even seems to us that, without him and Cedric, the country could find itself on the verge of death. Once Mr. Hobbes took Cedric with him to show him the procession with torches, and then many of the participants in it, who carried torches, remembered for a long time how some tall man stood at a lamppost and held on his shoulder a pretty little boy who loudly shouted and cheerfully waved his hat.

Just shortly after these very elections, when Cedric was almost eight years old, an extraordinary event happened that immediately changed his whole life. It is strange that on the very day that this happened, he spoke with Mr. Hobbes about England and English queen, and Mr. Hobbes spoke very disapprovingly of aristocrats, and especially of earls and marquises. It was a very hot day, and Cedric, after playing with the other boys at toy soldiers, went to rest in a shop, where he found Mr. Hobbes reading the London Illustrated Gazette, in which some kind of court celebration was depicted.

“Ah,” he exclaimed, “this is what they are doing now!” It won't take long for them to rejoice! The time will soon come when those whom they now pin down will rise up and blow them into the air, all those earls and marquises! The hour is coming! It doesn't stop them from thinking about it!

Cedric, as usual, climbed onto a chair, pushed his hat back on his head and put his hands in his pockets.

“Have you seen many earls and marquises, Mr. Hobbes?” - he asked.

- Me not! exclaimed Mr. Hobbes indignantly. “I would like to see how they would come here!” I wouldn't let any of those greedy tyrants sit on my box.

Mr. Hobbes was so proud of his feeling of contempt for the aristocrats that he involuntarily looked defiantly around him and wrinkled his forehead severely.

“Maybe they wouldn't want to be earls if they knew something better,” Cedric replied, feeling a kind of vague sympathy for these people in such an unpleasant position.

- Well, here's more! exclaimed Mr. Hobbes. They brag about their position. It's inborn in them! Bad company.

Just in the middle of their conversation, Mary appeared. Cedric thought at first that she had come to buy sugar or something of the sort, but it turned out to be quite different. She was pale and seemed to be excited about something.

“Come, my dear, mother is waiting,” she said.

Cedric jumped out of his seat.

- She probably wants to go for a walk with me, Mary? - he asked. - Farewell, Mr. Hobbes, I'll be back soon.

He was surprised to see Mary looking at him strangely and shaking her head all the time.

- What happened? - he asked. - You must be very hot?

“No,” said Mary, “but something special happened to us.

Did your mother have a headache from the heat? the boy asked anxiously.

That was not the point at all. At the very house, they saw a carriage in front of the entrance, and in the living room at that time someone was talking to my mother. Mary immediately took Cedric upstairs, dressed him in his finest light-coloured flannel suit, fastened his red sash, and combed his curls carefully.

All counts and princes! They are completely gone! she grumbled under her breath.

It was all very strange, but Cedric was sure that his mother would explain to him what was the matter, and therefore he left Mary to grumble as much as she liked, without questioning her about anything. Having finished his toilet, he ran into the drawing room, where he found a tall, thin old gentleman with sharp features, sitting in an armchair. Not far from him stood his mother, agitated and pale. Cedric immediately noticed the tears in her eyes.

- Oh, Zeddy! - she exclaimed with some fear and excitement, and, running up to her boy, hugged him tightly and kissed him. - Oh, Tseddi, my dear!

The old gentleman stood up and looked at Cedric with his penetrating eyes. He rubbed his chin with a bony hand and seemed pleased with the examination.

“So I see little Lord Fauntleroy before me?” he asked quietly.

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The following excerpt from the book little lord Fauntleroy (F. E. Burnett, 1886) provided by our book partner -

Annotation to the book:"This is history little boy Cedric, who lived with his mother on the outskirts of New York and who one day found out that he was the sole heir to the rich, powerful and stern English Earl of Dorincourt. In old conservative England, for Cedric, as, indeed, for the irritable and unpleasant old lord, new life, full of unexpected twists and rigors. But kindness and love can work wonders. A boy separated from his mother, a stern old aristocrat who gradually softens under the influence of a kind baby heart, - this topic won the hearts of readers. The book immediately became a bestseller both in America and in the Old World. For the first time in Russia, "Little Lord Fauntleroy" came out two years after its birth and has since been repeatedly reprinted. It is often said about Burnett that her books are good tales. Yes, she believes in goodness, and her light pen and the fascination of the plot make this fairy tale convincing. Little Lord Fauntleroy's story is real cultural phenomenon that has been going on for generations."

My acquaintance with the little Lord Fauntleroy began with the Russian film "The Joys and Sorrows of the Little Lord", in which Stanislav Govorukhin played the role of the count, and little Cedric was simply a charming little Alexei Veselkin Jr. In my opinion, the actors in the film are exceptionally well-chosen outwardly. Therefore, all the heroes of the book, when reading outwardly and in manners, I associated with the heroes of the film. Although it should be noted that removed

there was a film not quite according to the book: several interesting scenes were added, and some interesting moments that I read in the book were omitted.

I must admit that Francis Burnet is not exactly my style writer: she expresses and describes the emotions and feelings of the characters in her works openly, simply. By nature, this is not entirely mine, I prefer to "think and feel" myself.
This book captivated me with something else: the relationship between the boy and his mother, which are presented there. Very quivering, tender, touching. It is amazing how little Cedric takes care of his mother, tries to cheer her up in sad moments, as if for any treasures of the world he did not refuse her.
For me, this book has become a book that a mother with a son should read.
A book that a son should read.
That is why I took this edition. The book is enlarged in length, but narrowed in width, on thick coated paper, quite heavy. There are few illustrations: before each chapter there is a small picture. Designed specifically for junior-middle school age. And, of course, I cannot but note that the translator here was Nina Demurova.

At the end of the book there is a wonderful article with photographs of Burnett and her youngest son Vivien, who was the prototype of the little Lord Fauntleroy. Even Cedric's address to his mother - "Darling" - is taken from the writer's life. That is what her sons called her. Vivien died in 1937 in a shipwreck, saving drowning people. Before he died, he managed to save two men and two women. It was a death worthy of Fauntleroy, the papers said.
In Central Park in New York, there is a modest monument to the heroes of Burnett. It is engraved with her own words:

"All the best that is in me,
trying to make the world a happier place."

In the photo under the cut, I posted the chapter "Challengers" in full, so that you can get an idea of ​​​​the manner of the writer for those who have not yet read it.

Little Lord Fontleroy(or "Little Lord") - the first children's novel Anglo-American writer and playwright Frances Hodgson Burnett.

In the mid-1880s, Cedric Erol lives on a squalid New York street with his mother (everyone calls her Miss Erol or "darling"), they have become very poor after the death of their father, Captain Cedric Erol. One day, a lawyer named Hevisham comes to them with a message from Cedric's grandfather, the Earl of Dorincount, a spoiled millionaire who despises America and was very disappointed when his youngest son married an American. After the death of the elder brother of Cedric's father, Cedric inherits the title of Lord Fontleroy and the whole county with large real estate. Grandfather wants Cedric to live with him in England and study like an English aristocrat. Grandpa offers Miss Erol a house and a lifetime salary, but she shouldn't bother him and Cedric anymore. Mother refuses money.

Upon the arrival of Cedric in England, the count becomes pleasantly surprised by the appearance and intelligence of his American grandson and flattered by his innocence. Cedric believes that his grandfather is noble and fair man, and the count does not want to dissuade him of this. Therefore, the count becomes a benefactor for the residents of the house, which they are very happy about. He also constantly makes it clear to them that in fact their benefactor is a child, Lord Fontleroy.

Meanwhile, homeless shoe-shine Dick Tipton tells Cedric's old friend Mr. Hobbs (a grocer in New York) that a few years ago, after the death of his parents, Dick's older brother Benjamin married terrible woman. She abandoned their only child after the birth and left. Benjamin moved to California to open a ranch, and Dick barely makes ends meet on the street. At the same time, another claimant to Cedric's inheritance appears, and the claimant's mother claims that this is the illegitimate son of the earl's eldest son. Dick and Benjamin investigate the claim for inheritance and come to England. There they recognize the mother of the applicant for the inheritance ex-wife Benjamin. The imaginary mother of the applicant flies away, and the Tipton brothers, along with their young son Benjamin, do not see her again. After that, Benjamin returns to his ranch in California, where he continues to raise his son. The Earl reconciles with his American daughter-in-law, realizing how much better she is than the runaway impostors.

Little Lord Fauntleroy

© A. Livshits. Lithobrabotka, 2015,

© A. Vlasova. Cover, 2015,

© ENAS-KNIGA CJSC, 2016

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Foreword from the publisher

American writer Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett ( Frances Eliza Hodgson Burnett, 1849–1924) was born in England to a poor hardware merchant. The girl was three years old when her father died. Five children remained in her mother's arms, and for some time she tried to manage the affairs of her late husband, but soon went bankrupt and moved her family to America.

But even there life was not easy - after graduation civil war defeated The south lay in ruins. Frances and her family had to earn a living hard work. To help the family, the girl began to write, and soon her stories began to appear in magazines.

When Frances was 18, her mother died. The future writer actually became the head of the family and fully felt all the hardships of the life of the poor. Fortunately, Francis' close collaboration with several publishers soon improved financial position families.

In the 1880s, Burnett became a highly popular and successful writer, whose work was warmly praised by Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, and Harriet Beecher Stowe. She wrote dozens of short stories and novels of various genres, but sentimental works such as The Little Princess, The Secret Garden and Little Lord Fauntleroy became bestsellers.

The story "Little Lord Fauntleroy" was written in 1886 and was a huge success. It has been translated into almost everything European languages plays have been staged and films have been made.

The main character, seven-year-old Cedric from a quiet New York street, suddenly turns out to be the heir to an English earl. A kind-hearted and friendly kid wins the love of others, including his gloomy grandfather ...

There are many translations of the story into Russian, made in different time. This edition uses the text of M. and E. Solomins (1907) in the literary processing of A. Livshits.

Chapter I
unexpected news

Cedric suspected nothing.

He knew his father was English, so his mother told him. But dad died when the boy was still very young, so Cedric hardly remembered him at all - only that dad was tall, that he had blue eyes and a long mustache, and that it was wonderful to drive around the room on his shoulders.

After the death of his father, Cedric decided that it was better not to talk about him with his mother.

When the father fell ill, the boy was removed from the house. When he returned, everything was over, and the mother, herself barely recovering from a serious illness, sat more and more in her armchair by the window. She was pale and thin, the pretty dimples had disappeared from her cheeks, her eyes were wide and sad. And she was dressed in all black.

“Darling,” said Cedric (as his father always called his mother, and the boy followed his example). “Darling, isn’t it better for papa?”

He saw his mother's hands tremble. Raising his curly head, the boy looked into her face and felt that his mother was about to cry.

“Honey,” he repeated, “is daddy feeling better?”

And then a loving heart suggested to Cedric that there was no need to ask anymore, that it was better to just hug mom, firmly press her soft cheek to her face and kiss. He did so, and the mother immediately hid her face on his shoulder and wept bitterly, hugging her son as if she was afraid to part with him even for a moment.

“Yes, he’s better…” she sobbed, “he’s much better… But we… we’re alone now… We have no one left, no one at all!”

Small as Cedric was, he realized that his tall, handsome, young dad would never come back. The kid had already heard that people were dying, but he did not know what it meant and why this incomprehensible event brought so much grief. Mom always cried when Cedric talked about dad, so he secretly decided not to talk about his father to her, and not to let his mother sit still, silently looking at the fire or out the window.

They had few acquaintances with their mother, they lived rather secluded, but Cedric did not notice this until he grew up and understood why no one visited them.

The boy was told that his mother was left an orphan at an early age. She was very beautiful and lived as a companion to a rich old lady who adored her. Once Captain Cedric Errol, who was in this house, saw a girl running up the stairs in tears. She was so charming, so helpless and sad that the captain could not forget her ... And then many amazing events happened, the young people became close friends, fell in love with each other passionately and got married, although their marriage caused discontent among many.

The captain's father, who lived in England, was most angry. He was a rich and distinguished aristocrat, he had an extremely bad character and fiercely hated America and everything American. He had two more sons, both older than Captain Cedric. By law, the eldest son had to inherit the family titles and rich estates of his father, and in the event of the death of the eldest son, the second became the heir. Captain Cedric was the youngest in this family, so he did not expect to get rich.

However, nature generously endowed the youngest son with qualities that his older brothers were deprived of: he was handsome, slender and graceful, he had a bright smile and pleasant voice, he was brave and generous, had a good heart and the ability to win over people. On the contrary, none of his brothers was handsome, kind, or intelligent. No one liked them at Eton, the boys had no real friends. In college, they did little in the sciences, wasting both money and time in vain. The expectations of the old count were not justified: the eldest son did not do honor to his noble name. The heir gradually became an insignificant, proud, wasteful person, possessing neither courage nor nobility.

The count thought bitterly that only the youngest son, who was to inherit a small fortune, was gifted with brilliant qualities, strength and beauty. At times he seemed to almost hate this handsome young man, for having all the virtues that so suited grand title and wealth. However, the proud and arrogant old man loved his youngest son with all his heart.

Once, in a fit of tyranny, the Count sent Cedric to distant America. He thought of sending the pet away for a while, so as not to be too angry, constantly comparing him with his older sons, who greatly bothered the old man with their antics. But after six months of separation, the count began to get bored - and wrote to Captain Cedric, ordering him to return home. Unfortunately, his message diverged from the letter in which Captain Cedric informed his father of his love for the beautiful American woman and his intention to marry her. Upon receiving this news, the count was terribly angry. Never in his life had the old man shown such a bad temper as when he read Cedric's letter. The servant, who was in the room at that time, was even afraid that the count would have a stroke - he became so fierce and terrible. For an hour he tossed about like a tiger in a cage, and then he wrote younger son so that he would never see him again. From now on, he can live as he wants, but let him forget about the family and do not rely on his father's help until the end of his life.

The captain was very upset when he read this letter: he loved England very much and was affectionately attached to his native estate in which he grew up. He even loved his old wayward father and sympathized with him in his deceived expectations. However, now the young man could not hope for the mercy of the old count. At first he did not know what to do: in his upbringing, Cedric was not prepared for work and had absolutely no experience in business. But he was a courageous and determined man: having sold his patent for officer rank in the English army, after some trouble he found a place in New York and got married.

His life changed a lot, but Cedric Erroll was young and happy, he hoped to achieve success through hard work. The young people settled in a nice house on a quiet street, where their little son was born. And everything was so simple, joyful and cheerful that Cedric never regretted that he married the pretty companion of the old lady: she was devoted and affectionate, and dearly loved her husband, who reciprocated her.

Their little son, named after his father - Cedric, looked like both mother and father. It seemed as if the world had never seen a happier baby. Firstly, he never got sick and did not bother anyone. Secondly, he was so affectionate and affable that everyone loved him. And finally, thirdly, he was charmingly handsome.

The baby was born not with a bare head, like other children, but with curly golden hair; by six months, they were scattered in luxurious curls over his shoulders. The boy had big brown eyes, long eyelashes and a delicate face. His back was so strong, and his legs were so strong that at the age of nine months the baby began to walk.

His manners were amazing for a child, and communication with him gave others a lot of pleasure. The boy seemed to consider everyone his friends. If someone spoke to him, sitting in a baby carriage, the baby looked affectionately at the stranger and smiled affably. Therefore, in the quiet street where the Errolls lived, there was not a single person - not even the grocer who sold on the corner and was considered the most gloomy of people - who would not be glad to see the boy and talk to him. And every month he became smarter and more attractive.

Soon the baby grew up enough to walk with the nanny, rolling his little cart. Dressed in a white Scottish suit, in a large white hat with golden curls, strong and pink, Cedric was so charming that he attracted everyone's attention. His nurse, returning home, told Mrs. Errol how noble ladies stopped their carriages to look at the wonderful child and talk to him, and how pleased they were when the baby answered them so joyfully and cheerfully, as if he had known them for a long time.

The most attractive feature of the boy was precisely this cheerful and friendly manner, which made people immediately become his friends. Most likely, this was due to the fact that Cedric had a trusting nature and a quivering heart that sympathized with everyone and wished that everyone was as good as himself. The boy very easily guessed the feelings of those around him, probably because his parents were always just as affectionate, gentle and attentive to everyone.

Little Cedric never heard a single rude or even abusive word at home. Parents doted on their only child and always tenderly took care of him, and therefore the child's soul was full of meekness, tenderness and warmth. Cedric constantly heard his mother called affectionate names, and he himself used them in a conversation with her. He saw how his father took care of his wife, and he himself began to take care of his mother in the same way.

Therefore, when the boy realized that his father would not return, and saw how sad his mother was, he promised himself that he must do everything to make her happy. Cedric was still very small, but he tried in every possible way to alleviate his mother's grief: he climbed on her knees and kissed her, or laid his curly head on her shoulder, or showed her his pictures and toys, or simply quietly fiddled around her. There was nothing else the boy could do, but everything he did was much more consolation to Mrs. Errol than he could have imagined.

“Oh, Mary,” he once heard his mother say to her old maid, “I'm sure he's trying to console me in his own way. I know it is! Sometimes he looks at me with such loving thoughtful eyes, as if he himself feels my grief. And then he caresses me or shows me something. He is a real little gentleman. I think he knows it too!

When Cedric grew up, he became such a good friend to his mother that she almost did not need other interlocutors. They used to walk together, talk together and play together.

While still a very young boy, Cedric learned to read. In the evenings, lying on the carpet in front of the fireplace, he often read aloud - sometimes children's stories, and sometimes big books that adults preferred, sometimes even newspapers. And Mary often heard Mrs. Errol laughing happily at the wonderful things her son said.

“It’s true,” Mary once told the grocer, “you can’t help laughing when he starts talking like a grown-up.” For example, the night the new president was elected, he came into my kitchen and stood in front of the fire with his hands in his pockets. His gentle face was as serious as an old judge's! Well, just a picture! And he says to me: “Mary, I am very interested in the elections. I'm a Republican, and so is Darling. Are you a Republican, Mary? “Not really,” I said, “on the contrary, I am the most extreme democrat.” Then he looked at me with a look that penetrated my very heart, and said: “Mary, the country will perish!” And then he never missed a day without trying to change my political beliefs.

Mary loved little Cedric and was very proud of him. She lived in the Errol family from the very birth of the boy and after the death of the owner became a cook, maid, nanny - all at once. Mary was proud of the boy's grace, his strong, healthy body and affable character, and especially - beautiful golden curls that curled over her forehead and fell in magnificent curls to her shoulders. She was willing to work day and night to help his mother, sew his clothes and take care of his things.

“He is a perfect aristocrat,” said Mary, “by God!” Look, he's as handsome as the Fifth Avenue boys. How handsome he is in his black velvet jacket, even though it was altered from the hostess's old dress! And all women admire him: and his proudly raised head, and his golden hair. He looks like a real lord!

But Cedric did not suspect that he looked like a young aristocrat, he simply did not know what a lord was. by the most best friend the boy was Mr. Hobbs, the stern grocer from the corner shop. Cedric had great respect for Mr. Hobbs and considered him a very rich and powerful man: the grocer had so many things in his store - prunes and raisins and oranges and biscuits, and he also had a horse and a cart. Cedric also loved the milkman, the baker, and the apple seller, but he loved Mr. Hobbs best of all, and was on such intimate terms with him that he visited him every day, and often sat long in the shop, discussing all sorts of vital questions.

It's amazing how many topics they had to talk about! For example, Fourth of July. When it came to the Fourth of July, there seemed to be no end to the conversation. Mr. Hobbs had a very bad opinion of everything English. He could spend hours telling the story of the liberation of America, accompanying his story with amazing patriotic stories about the meanness and cowardice of the enemy and the bravery of American heroes, and he willingly repeated passages from the Declaration of Independence by heart. Cedric, listening to him, was so inspired that his eyes shone, his cheeks burned, and his curls got tangled and tangled. Returning home, he could hardly wait for dinner: he wanted to tell his mother about everything as soon as possible.

Perhaps it was Mr. Hobbs who made the boy interested in politics. The grocer was very fond of reading newspapers, and Cedric often heard from him about what was going on in Washington. The merchant willingly talked about the actions of the president and expressed his opinion about them. Once, during the presidential election, he even took Cedric with him to watch a large torchlight procession. And many of those who carried the torches then remembered for a long time the strong one, strong man who stood at the lamppost and held on his shoulders a pretty little boy who waved his white hat at him.

Much later, when Cedric was seven years old, amazing event which changed his whole life. It is noteworthy that on the day this happened, Mr. Hobbs talked a lot about England and the Queen, severely condemned the aristocrats, and most of all was angry with the earls and marquesses.

That hot morning, Cedric, having played enough with his friends in soldiers, went to rest in a grocery store. Mr. Hobbs scowled at the Illustrated London News, which contained a photograph of a court ceremony in England.

- And it's you! the merchant nodded to his young friend. - Look what they are doing! .. Well, never mind, the day will come when they will not be up to it! Those whom they trample under their feet will eventually rise up and smash all these dukes, earls and marquises!

Cedric, as usual, sat down in a high chair, pushed his hat back to the back of his head, and put his hands in his pockets in token of approval of the grocer's words.

“Do you know many marquesses, Mr. Hobbs?” Cedric asked. Or with counts?

- No, - the merchant replied indignantly, - I don’t know. I wouldn't like to see any of them here in my shop! I wouldn't have those greedy tyrants hanging around my biscuit stand. Like this!

Mr. Hobbs looked around proudly and wiped his sweaty forehead.

“Maybe they wouldn't want to be dukes themselves if they could be someone better,” said Cedric, feeling some sympathy for the unfortunate nobles.

- Wouldn't want to! said Mr. Hobbs. They are proud of their position. That's for sure! Needless to say, miserable, insignificant people! ..

Just at the time of this conversation, Mary appeared in the shop. Cedric thought that she had come to buy sugar, but he was mistaken. The maid was pale and obviously agitated about something.

“Go home, my dear,” she said, “the mistress is waiting for you.”

Cedric slid off the chair.

- Darling wants me to go for a walk with her, Mary? - he asked. “Good-bye, Mr. Hobbs,” he said kindly to the grocer, “I will visit you again soon.

It seemed strange to Cedric that Mary was looking at him with wide eyes and ruefully shaking her head.

- What's wrong with you, Mary? he wondered. - Are you unwell? It's too hot today...

“I’m fine,” Mary replied, “but strange things are happening at home.

- Are you well, dear? Did she have a headache from the stuffiness? the boy asked anxiously.

But no, that was not the point. An unfamiliar carriage was standing at the door of the house, and in the small living room someone was talking to his mother. Mary hurried the boy upstairs, dressed him in his best summer suit of white flannel with a red sash, and combed his curly hair.

- Lord! she said. - A real lord, an aristocrat ... Unenviable happiness! ..

It was all very strange, but Cedric was sure that his mother would explain everything to him, and therefore did not ask Mary any questions. When the toilet was finished, the boy ran downstairs and entered the living room. There, in an armchair, sat a tall, thin, intelligent-faced old gentleman, and Mrs. Errol stood beside him. She was very pale, and her eyelashes trembled with tears.

- Oh, Saddy! - she exclaimed and rushed to her son, hugged him and began to kiss; she seemed frightened and embarrassed. - Oh, Seddy, my dear! ..

The unfamiliar gentleman stood up and surveyed Cedric with shrewd eyes. Looking at the boy, he thoughtfully stroked his chin with a thin hand.

Apparently, he was pleased.

“So,” he said slowly at last, “this is little Lord Fauntleroy!”

The most important thing in the life of any person is family. And it is very important that everyone understands from childhood how important it is to maintain respect and love in the family. However, this does not mean that you should not be attentive to strangers, they also need warmth and help. When you read the short children's novel "Little Lord Fauntleroy" by Francis Burnett, you remember this repeatedly. The book was written over a hundred years ago, but it is still very much loved by readers. Parents give it to their children to read in order to instill good feelings in them. The novel fascinates with the atmosphere of England at the end of the 19th century, but at the same time shows a society whose customs will not please everyone.

Little boy Cedric lives in New York with his mother. After the death of their father, their family is experiencing financial difficulties, the mother somehow finds money to ensure a more or less normal existence. She teaches the boy to be kind, to sympathize with others, to treat their problems with understanding. However, due to their poverty, Cedric is unlikely to have a bright future.

One day, a lawyer comes to the house where Cedric lives with his mother, who says that the boy is the heir to a famous count in the UK. This news both pleases and saddens, because at the request of the count, mother and son will have to be separated. When Cedric arrives with his grandfather, he sees a completely different world. Grandfather wants to raise the same stiff and arrogant heir, like himself. However, Cedric is not ready to betray his ideals. Gradually, he influences grandfather, showing him how important it is to be responsive and attentive, how important it is to show kindness and help other people.

The work belongs to the genre Books for children. It was published in 1886 by Good books. This book is part of the Real Boys series. On our site you can download the book "Little Lord Fauntleroy" in fb2, rtf, epub, pdf, txt format or read online. The rating of the book is 4.41 out of 5. Here, before reading, you can also refer to the reviews of readers who are already familiar with the book and find out their opinion. In the online store of our partner you can buy and read the book in paper form.