Harper's Young People, November 25, 1879: An Illustrated Weekly

In Short

This periodical serves as a curated miscellany of late-nineteenth-century childhood culture. Through a mixture of serialized fiction—such as the mountain-bound exploits of a Swiss boy—and informative snippets about animal biology and history, it provides a structured, educational experience. It is a time capsule of an era that valued both rigorous moral instruction and the whimsical possibilities of the household pet. Its enduring quality lies in its commitment to high-quality illustration and the gentle, conversational tone it strikes with its audience, treating them as young scholars and curious adventurers.

The Story

The volume weaves together several distinct narratives, most notably the tale of Walter, a young Swiss boy. Walter is a hardworking, dutiful son who lives in a humble mountain cottage with his father, Toni Hirzel. Their lives are defined by the hardships of alpine survival, from the threat of predatory wolves to the struggle to maintain their meager livestock. After a harrowing incident involving a vulture, they receive a generous gift from a traveler named Mr. Seymour, which provides them with the means to improve their home. However, the cyclical nature of poverty and loss continues; the cow dies, and the predators return. The father and son eventually turn to chamois-hunting to secure their future. The story tracks their dangerous, high-altitude climbs where they face the perils of glacier cracks and steep ridges. The narrative culminates in a tense hunt on the Wellhorn, where they corner a chamois, only to find their path blocked by a massive chasm in the ice, a moment that tests both their resolve and their physical limits.

Interwoven with this drama is the story of a parrot named Lorito. Initially a captive bird prone to malicious, destructive mischief, Lorito undergoes a redemptive arc. After a disastrous incident involving spilled ink and a ruined room, he is subjected to the stern discipline of the children in the household. Over time, through the kindness of his young owners and his burgeoning friendship with a dog named Fritz, Lorito sheds his destructive temper. He transitions from a caged, angry creature to a free, joyous member of the family who eventually shares his life story with the children in a dream-like sequence. The volume also includes a variety of factual reports, such as the peculiar life cycle of the sea-cucumber and a chronological list of animal longevity, which serve to ground the imaginative fiction in the broader world of nineteenth-century naturalism. The issue concludes with a promise of future literary adventures, specifically a forthcoming serial by George MacDonald, and a lively correspondence section that invites readers to engage with the publication as a community of active learners.

How It Unfolds

The mountaineers’ struggle Walter and his father Toni navigate the harsh realities of alpine life, marked by the loss of their livestock and the persistent threat of mountain predators. Their poverty is temporarily mitigated by the benevolence of a visitor, but they must ultimately rely on their own labor to survive the winter.

The hunt on the glaciers As spring returns, the pair transitions to professional chamois-hunting, climbing dangerous, icy peaks to provide for their future. They carefully coordinate their movements across the treacherous Wellhorn and Engelhorn ranges to trap their prey.

The resolution of the hunt The tension peaks on the glacier when the hunters corner the chamois, only to confront a physical barrier that exceeds their strength. The narrative leaves them in this precarious, suspended moment of pursuit.

The bird’s transformation Lorito the parrot moves from a state of destructive rebellion to domestic harmony through the patience of his young caregivers. He finds redemption and eventual freedom, sharing his past experiences in a concluding, dream-like atmosphere.

Interactive engagement The volume closes with community-building elements, including responses to reader letters about postal history and a call for participation in the "Wiggles" drawing puzzles. These segments emphasize the paper’s role as an educational companion.

The People

Walter is a young, grateful boy whose primary desire is to secure a stable home for his aging father. His growth from a frightened child to a capable mountain climber defines his arc, showing his transition into a responsible provider. Toni Hirzel, his father, is a man of stoic industry and deep affection. He struggles against the "common lot of humanity"—poverty and bad luck—yet remains steadfast. His primary hurdle is the physical environment, which he navigates with seasoned, though sometimes desperate, expertise. Lorito the parrot begins as a volatile, ego-driven creature motivated by spite. He desires freedom but lacks the temperament to handle it, leading to his initial shackling. Through the influence of the children, he learns the value of kindness and restraint, ultimately finding peace in his domestic role. The children in the household—Louis, Carrie, and little Hope—act as the moral catalysts. They are characterized by their empathy and their ability to see the best in both people and animals, serving as a bridge between the wild, natural world and the orderly home.

In Its Own Voice

"Tears started into Walter's eyes. 'Oh, father!' he exclaimed, 'only look at all this money! We shall be able to buy another cow, and make twice as much cheese as we do now.'"

Walter realizes the significance of the traveler’s gift for his family's survival.

"The children were with me constantly, and their kind treatment completely cured me of my ugly, malicious temper."

The parrot reflects on how the children’s affection changed his destructive behavior.

"I thought so--there he is! ... I must work my way carefully round to the right, and then frighten him off with a shout."

Walter demonstrates his growing confidence and skill while hunting on the glacier.

What It's Really About

The central tension of the book is the struggle between the wild, indifferent forces of nature and the human desire for a stable, secure domestic life. Whether it is the Swiss boy navigating lethal glaciers to feed his family or the parrot learning to curb his destructive instincts to fit into a household, the book asks how one creates a "home" in a world that is often hostile. It highlights the necessity of industry, the value of kindness as a tool for discipline, and the way in which education—represented by the natural history snippets—can transform one’s relationship with the environment. It is a meditation on the transition from the vulnerability of childhood to the competence of maturity.

Why Read It Today

Readers today will find a charming, albeit didactic, glimpse into the Victorian approach to children's literature. Those who enjoy the "cozy" atmosphere of nineteenth-century writing will appreciate the warmth of the descriptions, such as the mouse family’s cozy nest made of stolen spider webs and cinnamon. It feels like a quiet, structured conversation from a different century, offering a slower pace of storytelling that demands patience. However, readers should be prepared for the period’s specific attitudes; the tone is unabashedly instructional, and some of the natural history—such as the claim that whales live for a thousand years—reflects the scientific limitations of the time. The text is also candid about the harshness of the lives it depicts, from the reality of animal traps to the precarious nature of mountaineering. It is best enjoyed by those who view it as a historical artifact, valuing its mix of curiosity-piquing facts and earnest, moralizing fiction. You are left with a lingering sense of a world where small, daily efforts—whether it is a young boy climbing a mountain or a parrot learning to whistle—matter deeply.