In Gene Stratton-Porter's novel Freckles, the titular character absolutely could fit the mold of the Romantic Child. He is polite and assertive, and constantly engages in ideal, childlike and innocent pursuits despite being employed at a lumber company - ostensibly a place where raucous adults are employed. The Romantic Child takes to nature and its wildlife very easily, and this is most certainly true of Freckles; "day after day the only thing that relieved his utter loneliness was the companionship of the birds and beasts of the swamp, it was the most natural thing in the world that Freckles should turn to them for friendship" (Chapter 2). Instead of being cynical and bratty, he is full of innocent verve and pure intention, and he places a great emphasis on natural learning; "It's been fretting me more than I knew to be shut up here among all these wonders and not knowing a thing" (Chapter 3).
Freckles' disability, that of his missing hand, and Colin's spinal injury that leaves him in a wheelchair, provide unique and similar effects on themselves and their environment. Freckles' missing hand comes as a result of someone performing an evil act on him - as a baby, someone "cut off [his] hand " (Chapter 1). Colin's disability, however, is congenital and its origin is undescribed. However, both of these maladies seem to define them as 'broken' to others, at least at first; Freckles has been "refused a home and love" (Chapter 1), and Colin is often ' ill and miserable' because of his condition and the way people look at him (Burnett, Chapter 13).
Works Cited
Stratton-Porter, Gene. Freckles. Project Gutenberg eText. 2006.
