It is often too bad when a work has a 20th and 20th century mind imposed on it. Read Elsie as an example of important Victorian literature. Read it as an example of the world as it was in the 1860s and on for many many years. Stop trying to turn it into a cause, or impose modern morality values onto it. Accept it as it is, and then go read Huck Finn.

This is an 1884 copy that has many tales that have been removed long since. An earlier copy would be fantastic, but for students of fairy tales and folk legends this is an excellent start. Worth downloading and reading.