"Editha's Burglar" by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Editha's Burglar is a charming children's story, an unduly forgotten little gem that comes from the pen of Frances Hodgson Burnett, the author of such beloved classics like The Secret Garden and A Little Princess.

Editha is a tiny seven-year-old girl living with her wealthy parents in London. Her papa is an editor very busy with work, and her mama is a beauty very busy socializing and partying. Editha has no siblings and therefore spends most of her time alone, reading books and her papa's newspapers. In the newspapers, she reads that there are people called burglars who break into the homes and steal things. This troubles Editha. She is not so much scared of burglars as she is concerned for them. She thinks they are what they are because they nobody taught them any better, and they cannot be all bad.

When the house next door is broken into, Editha's mama is worried. She is worried even more when papa says he must urgently leave to Scotland. Despite having three servants in the house, Editha's mother is frightened, she is convinced that they'll do nothing but scream if the burglars break in. Her husband jokingly says that even though the servants might be useless, she is certainly safe in Editha's care. The girl, however, does not see these words as a joke and takes full responsibility for protecting her mama from burglars. When Editha hears the sound of someone filing iron that night, she immediately knows it's a burglar: the house next door was broken into in the same manner, by filing through the bars of the shutters. She decides to go downstairs and ask the burglar to please be quiet and not make any noise, so that he doesn't frighten her mama.

She finds the thief in the kitchen, going through the drawers and taking their silverware. When the burglar is startled by her sudden appearance, Editha assures that she will not hurt him and will not scream, and then in a very polite manner she presents her request to "burgle quietly." Much amused, the burglar agrees to comply. Editha watches him as he proceeds with his "work," asking questions like whether he likes his profession and wouldn't he rather be something else. The burglar remarks that he wouldn't mind being the Prince of Wales. Well, he cannot become the Prince of Wales, Editha explains, but perhaps he would like to become an editor, like her papa? If he could give her his name and address, she'd talk to papa, and he might help. The burglar checks his pockets and says that he has forgotten his business cards… Conversing in this manner, the burglar completes his job in the kitchen (Editha remarks how curious it is that he knows exactly where to look for things and that his key opens every drawer) and wants to proceed to the library. The girl is deeply saddened at the thought of him taking her dear papa's belongings; she asks the burglar to spare them and take her own things instead. She's got a small silver watch, papa's gift, and then a bracelet and some other jewelry that she is supposed to wear when she grows to become a lady - but that's all right, he can take them. The burglar agrees after some thought; he tells Editha to go and bring her things. She does; the burglar drinks a glass of wine and slips away through the window.

On the next day the burglary is discovered, and everyone is surprised at how the thieves took only the silverware and Editha's jewelry and never went to her mother's or father's room. The girl explains that she offered him her jewelry herself. Her father thinks that Editha must have gotten ill because of this frightful event, but she insists on her story. Some time later, the family has a visitor: a policeman who has come from an arrested burglar who wants to see the girl. Editha's father takes her to the prison, and she sees "her" burglar. He returns the jewelry to her, which he never sold.

The story may be simple and unpretentious, but it is incredibly enjoyable, with its curious observations and sparkling humor. I highly recommend it to all parents looking for good children's books to read with their kids.