The Strange Child by E. T. A. Hoffmann. Short summary

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Kristlieb and Felix like to play in the woods, and there they meet a strange child. When the children are assigned a teacher, the cruel and nagging Mr. Inca, they ask this child for help.

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Brother and sister Christlieb and Felix von Brakel live with their parents in the village of Brakelheim. One day their rich cosmopolitan uncle Cyprian comes to visit them with his children and brings them «modern» mechanical toys from the city. He also promises to find them a «modern» tutor to keep them «up to date» with the other children.

The announced teacher, dressed in black as tar and looking like a fat fly, Master Inc. turns out to be the children’s enemy and a sadist. The children’s lessons are absolutely terrifying, and the teacher, as expected, is extremely unhappy with them. He recommends that the parents no longer let the children go into the woods, which seems too strict to the father.

The children ask for help from a magical «strange child» whom they met on a walk in the woods and played various fun games with him. He helps them get rid of the strict Master Inca.