Carl Rauch <carl.rauch@www.lichtenfels.asn-graz.ac.at>
Little Lord Faunterlory
When Cedric Errol, a handsome young boy, is born in New York,
nobody knows that he is an earl. His father died, when he was
young, so he only knows his mother. She is a beautiful and
kind woman. They live together in a small cottage with their
chambermaid Mary. Cedric has some friends, Mr. Hobbs, who owns
a small shop round the corner, Dick the shoeshine boy and the
applewoman. Cedric loves to sit close to Mr. Hobbs and to
talk. When Cedric is seven years old, a lawyer comes from
England to tell Cedric that he is the earl of Dorincourt´s
grandson. His fathers older brothers died and so Cedric is the
only heir. From now on he is called Little Lord Fauntleroy.
The lawyer, Mr. Havichment takes him and his mother to
England. The earl, who is always in a bad mood and loves to
make other people unhappy, hate America and its inhabitants,
so the mother isn’t allowed to live with Cedric in the castle
of Dorincourt. When the earl sees Cedric for the first time he
cant believe his eyes. He expected to see an ordinary boy
without manners and a horrible pronunciation, but Cedric isn’t
so at all. With his friendly direct way he makes everyone like
him. Even the earl is fascinated by this boy. They spend a lot
of time together and become good friends. Also the plebes
likes him, because since Little Lord Faunterlory stayed there,
the earl is more friendly with them.
One day a woman comes and claims that to be married with an
older son of the earl and that her son is the really Lord
Fauntleroy. But Dick, Mr. Hobbs and the lawyer find out that
the woman lies and that Cedric is the real Lord Fauntleroy.
The story ends with the Lord´s eight birthday.
Carl Rauch