Eric, or Little by Little, by Rev Canon F.W. Farrar.
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This famous book tells the story of a boy at a boarding school on the
Isle of Man, which lies between England and Ireland, and within sight of
Scotland. The boy succumbs to various forms of ill-behaviour, with
illicit trips to a bar in the near-by town. There are various scary
episodes. Overcome with shame at something he has done Eric runs away
to sea, which he finds so horrible an experience that when he is next in
England he jumps ship, makes his way home, by now very ill, and dies.
Author's Preface (Farrar was Headmaster of Marlborough College).
The story of `Eric' was written with but one single object--the vivid
inculcation of inward purity and moral purpose, by the history of a boy
who, in spite of the inherent nobleness of his disposition, falls into
all folly and wickedness, until he has learnt to seek help from above. I
am deeply thankful to know--from testimony public and private,
anonymous and acknowledged--that this object has, by God's blessing,
been fulfilled.
The fact that new editions are still called for thirty-one years after
its publication, shows, I trust, that the story has been found to be of
real use. I have not thought it right to alter in any way the style or
structure of the narrative, but I have so far revised it as to remove a
few of the minor blemishes. I trust that the book may continue to live
so long--and so long only--as it may prove to be a source of moral
benefit to those who read it.
April 21, 1889.
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ERIC, OR LITTLE BY LITTLE, BY REV CANON F.W. FARRAR.