Little David Copperfield Page #3

"Little David Copperfield" is a reimagined version of Charles Dickens' classic novel "David Copperfield," focusing on the early life and coming-of-age journey of the protagonist, David. The story follows young David as he navigates the challenges of his childhood, including the loss of his father, mistreatment from his stepfather, and his quest for love and belonging. Filled with whimsical illustrations and engaging prose, this adaptation captures the essence of Dickens’ original work while making it accessible and enjoyable for younger readers. Themes of resilience, friendship, and self-discovery permeate the narrative, showcasing David's transformation into a compassionate and determined individual.

• Children
• Short story

								

off with his box, but robbed him of his half-guinea, leaving poor David
in dire distress. In despair, he started off to walk to Dover, and was
forced to sell his waistcoat to buy some bread. The first night he found
his way to his old school at Blackheath, and slept on a haystack close
by, feeling some comfort in the thought of the boys being near. He knew
Steerforth had left, or he would have tried to see him.

On he trudged the next day and sold his jacket for one shilling and
fourpence. He was afraid to buy anything but bread or to spend any money
on a bed or a shelter for the night. After six days, he arrived at
Dover, ragged, dusty, and half-dead with hunger and fatigue. But here,
at first, he could get no tidings of his aunt, and, in despair, was
going to try some of the other places Peggotty had mentioned, when the
driver of a fly dropped his horsecloth, and as David was handing it up
to him, he saw something kind in the man's face that encouraged him to
ask once more if he knew where Miss Trotwood lived.

The man directed him towards some houses on the heights, and thither
David toiled; a forlorn little creature, without a jacket or waistcoat,
his white hat crushed out of shape, his shoes worn out, his shirt and
trousers torn and stained, his pretty curly hair tangled, his face and
hands sunburnt, and covered with dust. Lifting his big, wistful eyes to
one of the windows above, he saw a pleasant faced gentleman with grey
hair, who nodded at him several times, then shook his head and went
away. David was just turning away to think what he should do, when a
tall, erect, elderly lady, with a gardening apron on and a knife in her
hand, came out of the house, and began to dig up a root in the garden.

"Go away," she cried. "Go away. No boys here."

But David felt desperate. Going in softly, he stood beside her, and
touched her with his finger, and said timidly, "If you please, ma'am--"
and when she looked up, he went on--

"Please, aunt, I am your nephew."

"Oh, Lord!" she exclaimed in astonishment, and sat flat down on the
path, staring at him, while he went on--

"I am David Copperfield, of Blunderstone, in Suffolk, where you came the
night I was born, and saw my dear mamma. I have been unhappy since she
died. I have been slighted and taught nothing, and thrown upon myself,
and put to work not fit for me. It made me run away to you. I was robbed
at first starting out and have walked all the way, and have never slept
in a bed since I began the journey." Here he broke into a passion of
crying, and his aunt jumped up and took him into the house, where she
put him on the sofa and sent the servant to ask "Mr. Dick" to come down.
The gentleman whom David had seen at the window came in and was told who
the ragged little object on the sofa was.

"Now here you see young David Copperfield, and the question is What
shall I do with him?"

"Do with him?" answered Mr. Dick. Then, after some consideration, and
looking at David, he said, "Well, if I was you, I would wash him!"

David knelt down to say his prayers that night in a pleasant room facing
the sea, and as he lay in the clean, snow-white bed, he prayed he might
never be homeless again, and might never forget the homeless.

The next morning his aunt told him she had written to Mr. Murdstone, and
at last Mr. and Miss Murdstone arrived.

Mr. Murdstone told Miss Betsy that David was a very bad, stubborn,
violent-tempered boy, whom he had tried to improve, but could not
succeed. If Miss Trotwood chose to protect and encourage him now, she
must do it always, for he had come to fetch him away.

"Are you ready to go, David?" asked his aunt.

But David answered no, and begged and prayed her for his father's sake
to befriend and protect him, for neither Mr. nor Miss Murdstone had ever
liked him or been kind to him.

"Mr. Dick," said Miss Trotwood, "what shall I do with this child?"

Mr. Dick considered. "Have him measured for a suit of clothes directly."

"Mr. Dick," said Miss Trotwood, "your common sense is invaluable."

Then she pulled David towards her, and said to Mr. Murdstone, "You can
go when you like. I'll take my chance with the boy. If he's all you say
he is I can at least do as much for him as you have done. But I don't
believe a word of it."

Some clothes were bought for him that same day and marked "Trotwood
Copperfield," for his aunt wished to call him by her name.

Now David felt his troubles were over, and he began quite a new life,
well cared for and kindly treated. He was sent to a very nice school in
Canterbury, where his aunt left him with these words, which David never
forgot.

"Trot, be a credit to yourself, to me, and Mr. Dick, and Heaven be with
you. Never be mean in anything, never be false, never be cruel. Avoid
these three vices, Trot, and I shall always be hopeful of you."

David did his best to show his gratitude to his dear aunt by studying
hard, and trying to be all she could wish.

When you are older you can read how he grew up to be a good, clever man,
and met again all his old friends, and made many new ones.
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