A Flat Iron for a Farthing; or, Some Passages in the Life of an only Son

"A Flat Iron for a Farthing; or, Some Passages in the Life of an only Son" by Juliana Horatia Ewing tells the tale of Reginald Dacre, a young, only son, as he uses his point of view to guide people through his life after experiencing the loss of his mother and sister. The book looks at family relationships, sadness, and the simple lives of young people. Reginald thinks back to when his mother and baby sister, Alice, passed away. The book shows how lonely and sad he feels, as well as how close he is to Mrs. Bundle, the nurse who takes care of him after his loss. Ewing's writing captures the complicated feelings of a heartbroken young boy as he deals with the death of loved ones, while balancing the fun of his imagination and his pet dog, Rubens. As Reginald lives his life with Mrs. Bundle, the book reveals both the joys and the difficulties of growing up without a mother.