the small princess

THE SMALL PRINCESS

The story: Princess small the
Writer: Frances BorNet
Publishing: Lebanon Library

summery:

Seven-year-old Sara Crewe, who was raised in India by her affluent father, Captain Ralph Crewe, has been sent to London, England to be educated at Miss Minchin's Seminary for Young Ladies. Impressed by Captain Crewe's fortune, and wishing to keep Sara at the school as long as possible, Miss Minchin allows Sara to have far more luxuries than the average student. She has her own personal maid, a pony, a private sitting room and an extravagant wardrobe. She is also permitted to do anything she pleases, and is constantly praised, complimented and shown off as the school's star pupil. When Captain Crewe becomes part owner of several diamond mines – investing his life's fortune with a "dear friend" – Sara's status grows even more.

In spite of this adulation, Sara takes her situation in stride. She is bright, compassionate, and is generally well-liked by her classmates. A gifted storyteller, she can draw the attention of every student in the Seminary, even those that are not fond of her, such as Lavinia. Sara pretends she is a princess and strives to emulate the qualities of one: generosity, compassion and politeness. Her best friend, Ermengarde, is the "school dunce"; Sara helps her learn her lessons by weaving them into stories. Sara is also the "adopted mother" of a younger student, Lottie. Sara and Lottie share a bond since both of their mothers have died. She also befriends Becky, the school scullery maid, and smuggles food to her.

On Sara's eleventh birthday, one of Captain Crewe's solicitors arrives with bad news: Captain Crewe has died of jungle fever. Furthermore, his "dear friend" and business partner has run off with the Captain's entire fortune, leaving Sara penniless. Miss Minchin, enraged, threatens to turn Sara out into the street but is convinced to keep her as a servant. She immediately takes all of Sara's belongings and sends her to the attic to sleep in a squalid room next to Becky's. From that point on, Sara becomes an all-purpose servant at the school, doing everything from teaching French lessons to cleaning and running errands. She is deprived of food and adequate clothing. Many of the other servants take delight in ordering Sara about. As Sara's situation worsens, she begins to despair. She keeps herself going by imagining that she and Becky are prisoners in the Bastille. Ermengarde and Lottie also lift her spirits by sneaking to her attic to visit her whenever they can.

One day, a seriously ill and depressed man moves into the townhouse next to the Seminary. Sara calls him the "Indian Gentleman" when she sees several objects from India being carried into his home. She meets the Indian Gentleman's lascar, Ram Dass, when she spots him through a skylight and speaks Hindustani with him. She also becomes interested in the family who frequently visits the Indian Gentleman, and dubs them "the Large Family". What Sara does not know is that the Indian Gentleman is actually her father's "dear friend", Mr. Carrisford. Like her late father, he was ill although with brain fever in India, and ran away after Captain Crewe died. However, he neither lost nor stole the Captain's wealth but has instead increased it. He is guilt-ridden because he cannot find Crewe's daughter to restore her fortune.

The father of the Large Family, Mr. Carmichael, is Mr. Carrisford's solicitor. His main duty is to locate the lost Sara Crewe. The mission takes him on extended trips to Russia and France to follow possible leads, since no one knows her whereabouts. Sara and Mr. Carrisford live on opposite sides of their townhouse walls for years. Sara becomes increasingly thin and shabby to the point where one of the children of the Large Family, Donald, believes she is a beggar and offers her a Christmas sixpence. The Carmichael children are interested in her, but do not ask her name, and go on their way. They begin to call her "the-little-girl-who-is-not-a-beggar" and watch her as carefully as she observes them, never guessing that she is the missing Sara Crewe their father is searching for.

Ram Dass tells Mr. Carrisford of Sara's miserable existence in the attic. Together, they hatch a plan to improve her life by secretly giving her gifts. While she is sleeping and working, Ram Dass and his assistants cross the roof and bring furniture, rugs, books and other presents. Every night, they kindle a fire in the fireplace and leave a lavish meal for Sara and Becky. Eventually, they change the attic room into a warm, comfortable room. They even send luxurious clothing to the school to replace Sara's rags. Sara sees this as proof that magic is real and that someone cares about her, and her spirits improve immensely. Aside from Becky, no one discovers the transformed attic room. Only Miss Minchin and her sister, Miss Amelia, are unsettled by Sara's happier demeanor and new clothes. In fact, when the new clothes arrive, Miss Minchin become worried that they are provided by a concerned (and possibly hot-tempered) rich uncle who cares for her. Thus, she restores Sara to the place of honor.

One evening Ram Dass' pet monkey escapes across to Sara's attic, and she takes him in from the cold. The next day she brings him to Mr. Carrisford's house to return him. She casually mentions that she was born in India, and Carrisford and Carmichael discover that she is the missing Sara Crewe. The Carmichaels explain everything to Sara, telling her that her fortune has doubled itself and that it will be kept safe until she is of age. Mr. Carrisford becomes her new guardian. Becky also escapes from Miss Minchin's school, becoming Sara's new attendant. Ermengarde and Lottie visit with her frequently. Sara regains her fortune and retains her generous nature. In time she devises a plan to donate bread to homeless children.

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