History Literature / RebeccaOfSunnybrookFarm

--> Mr. Simpson spent little time with his family, owing to certain awkward methods of horse-trading, or the "swapping" of farm implements and vehicles of various kinds,—operations in which his customers were never long suited. After every successful trade he generally passed a longer or shorter term in jail; for when a poor man without goods or chattels has the inveterate habit of swapping, it follows naturally that he must have something to swap; and having nothing of his own, it follows still more naturally that he must swap something belonging to his neighbors.

* InSeriesNickname: Rebecca, not quite catching Adam Ladd's name, dubs him "Mr Aladdin." As the years go by, this also becomes an AffectionateNickname and a pun.

Though Rebecca's life is filled with all the ups and downs of adolescence and all the pain and troubles of growing up; she not only gains understanding and wisdom from her experiences, but learns how to curb her blissful nature into helping her bear life's hardships with a sunny disposition.

** Rebecca, who has dark hair, is described by one of her teachers, Miss Emily Maxwell, as being this.

* BrainyBrunette: Rebecca, of course. Adam too, considering he went from nothing to a wealthy man.

* ButNotTooBlack: Rebecca is mixed with Spaniard blood through her father's side, Lorenzo [=DeMedici=] Randall, which accounts for her olive skin and dark beauty.

* InvisibleParents: Rebecca's mother, as she is not the one to care for and bring up Rebecca—her aunts do.
* InSeriesNickname: Rebecca, not quite catching Adam Ladd's name, dubs him "Mr Aladdin." As the years go by, this also becomes an AffectionateNickname and a pun.
* LimitedWardrobe: Being poor and poverty ridden, Rebecca never has extra money for pretty clothes and wears simple, rather plain clothing. As noted by Adam Ladd however, Rebecca's beauty and spirit shine through her unattractive clothing.

* UnableToSupportAWife: Pretty much the main reason Miranda and Jane did not want Rebecca's mother, Aurelia, to marry her husband—as a sensitive artist, Lorenzo was not responsible or ready to have so many children and was unable to hold down a proper job which resulted in the farm being mortgaged. (Also the fact that he was Italian-American played a part in their opposition to some degree.) Also a case of LazyHusband, though Lorenzo was implied to be a loving man.

* GreenEyedMonster: Rebecca is conscious of a "storm in her heart" when her pretty friend Huldah flirts with a visiting Mr. Adam Ladd—though Adam is not impressed with Huldah's blatant charm and has eyes only for the simple Rebecca.
** Later on in a pretty cute example, Adam gets a taste of the sting of jealously when he sees Rebecca innocently walking home with a boy from high school one day. This causes Adam to humorously mourn on the fact that Rebecca's school is co-ed.

** RagsToRiches: Dirt poor as a child, Adam has grown up to become a successful and wealthy businessman.