What are Austen's Children Made of?

Monday’s Child is Fair of Face (Lesley Castle)

Once upon a time there was a sweet little girl. Everyone who saw her liked her, and her grandmother made a little red riding hood for her.

Even as an infant Louisa was pleasing in appearance and disposition, and nothing in the next two years contradicted this begnning. It was almost painful for her eldest aunt to see how little the girl's tranquillity appeared disturbed by her parents' desertion. At least there could be no expectation of unpleasantness when they all met the new Lady Lesley.

"Who? Oh. I suppose she shall want something," was the only notice given by this woman on being introduced to her granddaughter, dressed in her finest tartan woollens and matching cap. Miss Lesley's smile faltered, her sister's disappeared, and even their father started at this casual dismissal of a child everyone, till now, had universally adored.

Tuesday’s Child is Full of Grace (Sense and Sensibility)

When Little Red Riding Hood entered the woods a wolf came up to her. She did not know what a wicked animal he was, and was not afraid of him.

"Hello Mr. Willoughby." Margaret waved at him from where she balanced on the edge of a stump. He smiled and called her pretty, which she liked, and bade her not spoil her dress, which was too near scolding to enjoy. "Where is your sister Marianne this fine day?"

"Reading by the front window." With a child's cunning she added, "So she says, but I think she is looking for someone."

"Then it would be best not to disappoint her." He winked in genial understanding before continuing on to the cottage.

Margaret could not understand at all why Elinor sometimes frowned at such a good-natured man.

Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe (Northanger Abbey)

Each time she picked a flower she thought that she could see an even more beautiful one a little way off. But the wolf ran straight to the grandmother's house and ate her up.

Catherine was back home but sad. James was not home, and everyone said he was sad. Now Harriet was not happy either. She had only wanted to get some wild things to make her sister cheerful again, and never intended to stray into Mrs. Allen's garden. Going away must have made her cross too.

"It is because of the general, and how cruel he was to Catherine, that everyone is bothered," Sally explained later.

Harriet was unsure how a bad soldier from her father's newspaper had escaped to eat up their peace, nor why she must be chastised for the terrible things someone else did. She hoped the savage man would stop whatever he was doing soon, or that a fairy would at least punish him too.

Thursday's Child has Far to Go (Sanditon)

Little Red Riding Hood did not continue on her way until she had gathered all the flowers she could carry. When she arrived, she found to her surprise that the door was open.

While her brothers kicked at the sand and frolicked in the waves, Mary twirled her new parasol and followed Miss Heywood's more modest example on their walk. Or she meant to. But she stopped once to pick up a pretty shell—one she had never seen before—then a shiny stone and a gull's feather. Soon she had to hold her full apron up by one hand to contain it all.

"Come, I will carry some as well," Miss Heywood kindly offered on their return, and Mary was saved having to leave anything behind on the long journey back uphill. She determined to be just as polite as the lady fast becoming her ideal.

It was a difficult vow to keep when, startled by Sir Edward Denham's halloo at the house gate, Mary dropped and broke one of her treasures, and especially when he laughed at her tears.

Friday's Child is Loving and Giving (Pride and Prejudice)

"Oh, grandmother, what a horribly big mouth you have!"
"All the better to eat you with!" And with that he jumped out of bed and ate her up.

"What an dreadfully long face Susan has!" Lydia exclaimed one day after the girl surrendered her place on the sofa, rescued her sister's doll from being kicked out of the way, and then watched as all the tea cake was devoured. "It is to be a wedding, silly, not a funeral. La! How tiresome everyone is here."

Mama comforted her later. "I am afraid your cousin has no control of her tongue, and does not know wolves from lambs; but I am gratified to see how patiently you are bearing it all."

Susan was not sure who Lydia was marrying, but she prayed he would take her away before their family's joy was swallowed up whole.

Saturday’s Child Works Hard for His Living (Persuasion)

A huntsman stepped inside, and in the bed there lay the wolf that he had been hunting for such a long time. He had cut only a few strokes when the girl jumped out.

It was a tiresome business to recover from an injury. Papa said it would teach Charles to mind better in the future. Perhaps that was why Aunt Louisa was hurt as well, but her's had a better result: bringing Bob Harville and his fascinating tales of the sea to Uppercross.

When Charles learned stalking rats was a midshipman's primary duty he apprenticed himself to the older boy at once. It was rum luck they were discovered in the enterprise by an aunt little older than themselves, shrieking and bringing the wrath of every other female down upon them.

"That's why Captain Wentworth don't like girls aboard ship," Bob pronounced afterward, a sentiment Charles agreed with wholeheartedly.

Born on the Sabbath day: Good and Gay (Emma)

The huntsman took the wolf's pelt. The grandmother ate and drank what was brought, and the girl thought to herself, "As long as I live, I will never leave the path and run off into the woods."

It was a beautiful Sunday despite the thin October frost. Though Frank and Jane were gone, Mrs. Weston was delighted to share an afternoon at Hartfield on the eve of the Knightleys' departure. Her Anna was properly admired as Isabella's children merrily crowded around.

"Is Uncle really staying here from now on?" Henry asked while his mother and grandfather enjoyed a last bowl of gruel together, and the newlyweds talked in a corner.

"Is Emma still our aunt?" John wondered. Young Bella contented herself with repeating her brothers' questions.

"Yes. Everything—and everyone—is just as it should be," Mrs. Weston told them, smiling with fond memories of another child who had, despite everything, found her way at last.