Lolla

In Short

Set against the backdrop of a quiet 19th-century coastal town, this moralistic story centers on Lolla, a sickly, spoiled child sent to live with her aunt to improve her health and character. Lolla’s struggle with greediness manifests in secret snacking, which compromises her health and integrity. Through the patient guidance of her aunt and a local mentor, she learns to replace self-indulgence with self-discipline and faith. It remains a notable example of mid-Victorian Sunday school literature, reflecting the period’s earnest focus on child-rearing and spiritual accountability.

The Story

Lolla arrives in Dorchester, a girl prone to lethargy and malaise, which her mother blames on poor health but her Aunt Delight suspects is the result of coddling and overindulgence. Aunt Delight, a woman of firm values and quiet kindness, removes Lolla from her accustomed luxuries. Initially, Lolla thrives, enjoying the seaside air and the structure of her aunt’s home. However, she secretly retains her habit of hoarding sweets, hiding treats in vases and cupboards. This "bread in secret" causes her health to decline again, and her secretive behavior creates an atmosphere of distrust, particularly affecting Philly, a young girl under Aunt Delight’s care who is frequently blamed for Lolla's missing items.

Lolla’s downward spiral culminates in a moment of gluttony; tasked with delivering a special frozen treat to a dying neighbor named Jessie, Lolla consumes the gift herself. The act triggers a severe, near-fatal illness. During her long recovery, the truth of her behavior is exposed. Though her family and aunt do not shame her, the loss of trust leaves Lolla isolated and miserable. She eventually finds a sympathetic ear in Mr. Locke, a mentor who helps her understand that her unhappiness is the natural weight of her own deception.

Through this guidance, Lolla confesses to her aunt, beginning a difficult but necessary process of internal change. Her physical health remains delicate for a long time, forcing her to abandon her obsession with food and turn instead to reading, sewing, and the service of others. The narrative skips forward to find a fifteen-year-old Lolla who has matured into a sensible, industrious young woman. Having shed her "little pig" tendencies, she eventually departs for California, leaving behind the cottage as a reformed daughter prepared to be a positive influence on her younger siblings. The book concludes with a peaceful portrait of Aunt Delight’s household, where she continues her life of quiet service, surrounded by the people she has mentored.

How It Unfolds

A change of scene Lolla leaves her indulgent home for a summer in Dorchester, where her aunt intends to restore her vitality through fresh air and regular habits. Lolla is initially delighted by the novelty of the journey but misses the constant access to sweets she enjoyed under her mother’s care.

The shadow of suspicion As Lolla begins sneaking food, household items go missing, leading to unfair accusations against Philly. Tensions rise as the adults struggle to identify the true source of the disruptions while maintaining a house of Christian charity.

The breaking point Entrusted with a delicate errand for a dying neighbor, Lolla succumbs to temptation and eats the nourishment herself. This act of greed results in a physical collapse, forcing a reckoning with her secret habits.

The path to reform Following her illness, Lolla endures a period of enforced simplicity and deep loneliness. Guided by a local mentor, she finally confesses her faults, finding relief in honesty and beginning the long, slow work of building a new character.

The People

Lolla is the protagonist, defined initially by her "languid" demeanor and insatiable desire for candy. She views her aunt’s restrictions as cruelty rather than care. Her journey is one of painful growth; she must learn to value character over comfort, ultimately evolving from a secretive, self-centered child into a responsible, purposeful young woman.

Aunt Delight serves as the moral anchor of the book. She is patient, observant, and firm, possessing a deep sense of justice. She does not punish through malice, but through the natural consequences of Lolla’s actions. She represents the ideal Victorian guardian—steady, devout, and unchanging.

Philly is a young girl living in the household who becomes the unintended victim of Lolla’s deceit. She is a resilient character who relies on her faith to endure being wrongly accused. Her presence highlights the theme of justice, as she remains steadfast and eventually finds a place of security and respect within the home.

Mr. Locke acts as a gentle spiritual guide. He provides the crucial conversation that allows Lolla to break her silence, teaching her that repentance is not a self-made accomplishment but a gift of grace that allows her to change.

In Its Own Voice

"Somehow, there never seems to be any time in the morning," said Lolla, when her aunt asks why she has not yet made prayer a part of her daily routine.

"I believe it makes people hungry to get up early in the morning," Lolla exclaims, finding a sudden, healthy appetite after she stops the late-night snacking that previously left her feverish.

"As long as you 'are' naughty, you must needs be miserable; but you need not be miserable because you 'have been' naughty," Mr. Locke explains, offering a distinction between the weight of ongoing sin and the possibility of forgiveness.

What It's Really About

The book is a moral argument against the "sin of greediness," framing it not merely as a childhood annoyance but as a corrosive force that destroys honesty and physical health. It suggests that self-indulgence acts as a barrier to authentic connection with others and with God. The central question is how one moves from a state of internal bondage—where desires dictate behavior—to a state of freedom. The book argues that true growth requires the death of the selfish ego, a process that is often uncomfortable and lengthy, requiring both external discipline from elders and the internal humility to confess one’s own failures.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of juvenile literature will find this a fascinating, if occasionally didactic, example of its genre. The book feels deeply rooted in a mid-19th-century domestic aesthetic, capturing a time when character education was a primary focus of children’s books. It is written with a sincere, gentle warmth that makes Aunt Delight a compelling figure, even for modern readers who may find the moralizing heavy-handed.

The primary difficulty for a modern reader will be the period-typical approach to race; Philly’s character is described using the "negro dialect" common in literature of that era, and the racial dynamics reflect the attitudes of the time. While the text attempts to portray Philly with kindness and emphasizes her moral worth, it does so through a lens that modern readers will recognize as dated and paternalistic. If you are prepared to engage with the book as a historical document, you may find the portrait of a quiet, purposeful life in the Dorchester cottage to be quite meditative. It is a slow, methodical read that prioritizes the internal development of the soul over high-stakes plot, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of the quiet, deliberate work required to change one's own nature.