Daddy Long Legs

Title: Daddy-Long-Legs
Author: Jean Webster
Place and Date of publications: USA, 1986
No. of Pages: 54
Setting: In one of the University in America during 18th century

Characters:
Jerusha Abbot – pet-named Judy
Daddy-Long-Legs – her unknown benefactor
Jervis Pendleton – a philanthropist
Julia Pendleton – rich college girl
Sally McBride – Judy’s classmate

Plot/Climax:
When Judy met Julia’s uncle Jervis Pendleton and fell in love with him, she wrote her benefactor asking what to do. He wrote back asking her to see him. When she was inside the library, her heart leaped with joy when she discovered that her benefactor\or and Daddy-Long-Legs were no other than Jervis Pendleton whom she loved.

Brief Summary:
Jerusha Abbot, serious-minded, brilliant orphan girl, found herself being sent to college by an anonymous “John Smith” benefactor who was to pay her tuition fees and send her $35 monthly. In turn, she was to write him a letter each month telling about her college studies and her daily life.
In college, Judy wrote interesting letters to her benefactor whom she called Daddy-Long-Legs. She had close friends Sally McBride and Julia Pendleton, daughter of the wealthy Pendletons. Judy’s poem was adjudged best in class, a short story of hers was paid $1000. She sent this money as partial reimbursement of over $3000 spent by her benefactor for her college course.
Judy met classmate Julia’s Uncle Jervis Pendleton whom she found to be delightful, dignified. They met several times, and love was born between them. She wrote her benefactor about it, asking what to do. He wrote back, asking her to meet him. She went to the city found the big brownstone house, and a butler ushered her to the library. Her heart leaped with joy when she discovered that her benefactor\or and Daddy-Long-Legs were no other than Jervis Pendleton who had asked her to marry him.

Reaction:
A beautiful and touching story of the dreams, hopes and heartaches of a little orphan girl. Her struggles in school, her many kindnesses, her brilliances in college work are inspirations to other girls. There is romantic mystery and complete satisfaction at the end of the novel.