Melody: The Story of a Child

Melody #1

by MS Laura E Richards

Melody is a novel written by Laura E. Richards that tells the story of a young girl named Melody who is born with a gift for music. Melody's mother, who is also a musician, recognizes her daughter's talent and begins to teach her how to play the piano at a young age. As Melody grows older, she becomes more and more passionate about music and begins to dream of becoming a professional musician.However, Melody's dreams are challenged when her family moves to a new town and she is forced to attend a school where music is not valued. Despite this setback, Melody remains determined to pursue her passion and begins to search for opportunities to perform and improve her skills.As Melody's talent grows, she catches the attention of a famous musician who offers her the chance to study with him in Europe. Melody jumps at the opportunity and embarks on a journey that will test her skills and her determination to succeed.Throughout the novel, Melody must overcome many obstacles, including prejudice and discrimination, as she strives to achieve her dreams. With the help of her family and friends, Melody learns to believe in herself and her abilities, and ultimately achieves success as a musician.Melody is a heartwarming and inspiring story that celebrates the power of music and the importance of following your dreams. It is a must-read for anyone who loves music or who has ever had a dream that seemed out of reach.1901. Prolific writer of children's books, she is credited with pioneering American writing of nonsense verses for children, but she received the Pulitzer Prize for a biography of her mother, Julia Ward Howe, a social reformer who wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic. The book Well, there! said Miss Vesta. The child has a wonderful gift, that is certain. Just listen to her, Rejoice! You never heard our canary sing like that! Miss Vesta put back the shutters as she spoke, and let a flood of light into the room where Miss Rejoice lay. The window was open, and Melody's voice came in like a wave of sound, filling the room with sweetness and life and joy. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Christian

100 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1893

Reviews

[Abigail]

Laura E. Richards, a late nineteenth and early twentieth-century author best known for her girls' series about "Queen Hildegarde" and the "Three Margarets," as well as her Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of her mother, Julia Ward Howe, who penned the words to The Battle Hymn of the Republic, relates the story of twelve-year-old Melody in this brief ninety-page children's novel, published in 1893. Orphaned as an infant, when her mother dies in the poor house, blind Melody is adopted by the Dale sisters - stern, but kind Aunt Vesta, and the gentle invalid Aunt Rejoice - and raised in a simple style in their small New England village. With a beautiful voice and a kind heart, she wins a special place in the life of the village, and is sorely missed when a traveling showman overhears her singing and, unable to convince Vesta Dale to part with her, kidnaps her from her home. Will Vesta and Mr. De Arthenay - a talented fiddler known as "Rosin the Beau" - be able to track her down...?

I enjoyed Melody: The Story of a Child, although I don't think it is the equal of some of the author's later work. There is far more self-conscious piety here than in books like Queen Hildegarde or Three Margarets , with Melody exhibiting a saintly temperament, and converting all around her, from quarreling villagers to her own kidnapper, to a more virtuous, godly frame of mind. On the other hand, it's quite interesting to see the sympathetic portrait of a young blind person that is painted here, given the fact that Richards' father was Samuel Gridley Howe, the reformer who, amongst other things, founded the Perkins School for the Blind. One certainly sees the influence of his work in this brief tale. I've become quite interested in Laura E. Richards' juvenile fiction, so although this isn't destined to become a favorite, I will be continuing with the series, and reading Marie next. Recommended to readers who enjoy 19th century children's fare, as well as to fellow admirers of the author.

[Hannah]

This is one of my favorites. Do not read the edited edition if you can help it; it was badly done, as the editor even changed the color of her hair in two places and the type of bread they had for supper one day. It's a good, Christian story, heartwarming, about how an orphaned blind girl wins the love of an entire town.

[Danette]

This is an old book. (1893) and so the language is much different than you would see in a children's book today. Naomi and I read it together so I could help her with the difficult words. There were a few that stumped me as well! Naomi found the book in an old used bookstore in Oregon.
Melody is an orphaned girl who lives with her aunts. She sings like an angel and blesses the entire village with her sweet manner and trust in God.

2019 - A book with 100 pages or less

[Kaitlyn S.]

RTC

[- ̗̀ saku ̖́-]

Sweet, not to say sappy novel. Melody is quite the Mary Sue character (her big quantitiy of positive attributes lessens the quality of the story). The story of the heartwarming orphan living with two maiden aunts is quite reminiscent of other books from that era. You could safely say that "Melody" is "Anne of Green Gables" or "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm" without any of the spunk, conflict, or fun. I can see how a younger child might enjoy it, though.

[Gracie F]

This was a quick cute read, however nothing really happened that we orth reading about. It was a lot of purposeless conversation and one small plot point towards the end with a confusing résolution.

[JenniferFour]

A gentle book but not very engaging. Melody is an orphan, blind, sings beautifully, and everyone loves her..

[Ruth Walker]

I feel like this is a story for a little girl to enjoy, but the English is old school so a little girl wouldn’t enjoy it. So really, it’s light reading (albeit a bit boring) for an older girl/lady.

[Gemma]

i have the Melody by Laura Richards 1893 hard cover fabric cover by Dana Estes & Company. i read somewhere that later editions did some edits or diff pictures or something.

I like the story. short, meant for kids? Follows a blind girl, Melody, about 12, who sings like an angel and is very kind. She lives with two old spinster sisters, she calls aunties, but they adopted her. The story follows the small town, Melody, and what happens when Melody is kidnapped for her voice (still not an adventure story). It takes places in a small non description new england american town. There is a bit of moralizing and what is good, in relation to God, but it is minimal, and maybe just how the time period waiting was done.

[Miriam]

This book is quite interesting:)

[Kel]

Downloaded this for free.

[Amy Griffith]

Story about a little blind girl who lives with two older ladies. It's an enjoyable book but nothing that everyone needs to make a point to read.

[Skye]

it is a have to read!!

[Jill]

Read this a long time ago but remember liking it very much!