Showing results by author "Pansy" in All Categories

Two brothers, one 20 years old, the other almost eighteen, and one younger sister. The older brother has had to delay his primary schooling a few times to help out at home, and now the brothers are about to head off to college (secondary school) together. But their father has an accident and dies. How will the mother and sister be supported while the brothers pursue their schooling? The younger brother insists it's what their father had wanted for them. It's what he would have wanted . . . but what would he have counselled them to do, now that money is so much tighter? --Summary by TriciaG

In Ester Rieds Namesake, Esther Ried Randall grapples with the weight of her name and her parents’ lofty expectations. As she navigates the challenges of faith that often feel burdensome, can she uncover the true essence of belief that her namesake, Ester, discovered? Join Esther on her transformative journey in the fifth and final installment of the Ester Ried series, penned by Isabella M. Alden under the charming pseudonym “Pansy.” (Summary written by Tricia G)

This is not a self-help book. This is a validation of your deeply chaotic existence—a hilarious, biting, and painfully relatable deep dive into the spirals, overthinking, and worst-case-scenario fantasies that come with having a brain that refuses to chill.

Seventh book in the Chautauqua Girls series. Written by Isabella Alden under the pseudonym “Pansy.” Erskine, Ruth's son (a 5-year-old at the end of Judge Burnham’s Daughters) is now a grown man, and Ruth is 50-something. He brings home an American wife from Paris, a woman who seems to want to tear apart mother and son. But Irene has some big secrets to hide. (Summary by TriciaG) Previous book in series: Workers Together, or, An Endless Chain Next book in series: Four Mothers at Chautauqua

Rebecca Harlowe is a young woman who strives to apply Christ's instructions in the Bible to her daily life and relationships. In this book we witness some of her successes and failures and the effect of her example on those around her. (Summary by BookAngel7)

Two stories about young people. "Gertrude's Diary" is written by a young girl. She and her three friends have given to them Bible verses each month, and they journal about how well their lives measure up to the verses. In "The Cube", a society is formed of 27 cousins and friends, who perform plays for each other to guess what event in history the scenes are portraying. - Summary by TriciaG

Third book in the Chautauqua Girls series. Written by Isabella Alden under the pseudonym Pansy.Ruth's father brings home a wife and daughter, after 18 years, that Ruth had never known about. Suddenly she is no longer the queen of her home. And what's worse, the new mother and sister are rude and antagonistic. How will Ruth bear this cross? (Summary by Tricia G) Previous book in series: The Chautauqua Girls at Home Next book in series: Ester Ried Yet Speaking

A tale of human choices and lost opportunities, and how one's choices affect so many other lives, for good or ill. A borrowed watch. A selfish younger brother. An engagement and flirtation. A trip to the city to replace the watch turns David Ransom's life in a whole new direction. - Summary by TriciaG

Dell Bronson has been reared in Boston by her refined uncle and aunt until, at age 18, she is called home by her father, a coarse tavern owner in Lewiston. As a daughter of the heavenly King, she strives to honor her heavenly Father by wooing her earthly father to Christ and away from rum. Set in the era of the temperance movement of the 1800's. Authored by Isabella M. Alden under the pen name "Pansy." Third in the Ester Ried series. (Summary by TriciaG)Previous book in series: Julia RiedNext book in series: Wise and Otherwise

Two short stories about young people who find themselves in difficult circumstances, written in 1880. Next Things relates of two brothers, recently orphaned. They cannot live together anymore, so one goes to a wealthy home on the edge of town, and the other goes to work in a grocer's shop. Each takes their mother's advice to find the next thing to do, and do it. In Dorrie's Day we have a grown-up little girl who gets lost on a train, and relates the family's search for her and her own adventures. Both of the stories contain a temperance theme. - Summary by TriciaG

Two short stories by Pansy. In "What She Said and What She Meant," Mrs. Marks detests gossip and avoids it as much as she can. But what she does say is vague and suggestive. It is taken, added to, and passed on by others, so that it is no longer what she meant, and threatens to ruin people's reputations and lives in the process. In "People Who Haven't Time and Can't Afford It," Mrs. Leymon is awakened to the needs of the abject poor in her town and works out how to help them. But will she find anyone able and willing to give of their time and money to help her with the scheme? (Summary by ...

Stephen Mitchell is a young man without a place in the world. He hates farming, although he works endless hours on the poor family farm. He isn't qualified for many jobs in town since he's had very little formal schooling. And he is a loner because he’s too self-conscious and awkward to speak to other boys his age, let alone a young lady. But Providence puts Stephen in the middle of a lecture at the Chautauqua camp meeting. For the first time in his life, Stephen is inspired to take one small step toward improving himself. And that single small step soon begets another. - Summary by TriciaG

The Cameron family tries to keep up in society despite their more limited finances, by "making a dollar look to [their] friends as though it was ten dollars," much to the harried father's embarrassment and potential ruin. In addition to the financial stress, the youngest daughter has been "bringing up herself," such that she's on the road to moral peril. This story follows the life of the family as they walk the tightrope between social acceptability and financial stability, moral failure and strength through the guidance of Jesus Christ. - Summary by TriciaG

What would have happened if Christ hadn't come to Israel 2000 years ago, but had come to North America at the end of the 19th Century? This story makes that assumption and paints a picture of what it might have looked like - how different members of society might have reacted. The story follows David Holman, an invalid young man at the opening of the story. - Summary by TriciaGNote: the text source linked is missing the last 4 pages of the story. The missing portion was recorded from this text: http://catalog.hathitrust.org/...

Fiction, or fact? The narrator asserts it's fact. The narrator is an author, whom her little nieces call "Auntie Belle". There's also an "Auntie Dule" (proper name Julia), Grandpa and Grandma, Mama and Papa, and eventually an Uncle Ross (Isabella Alden's husband, Gustavus Rossenberg Alden). The book is made up of vignettes of the funny sayings or doings of little Minnie and little Gracie, and how these lead to Grandpa's wise lessons for both the little ones and the adults. - Summary by TriciaG

Esther Ried Randall tries to live up to her parents' expectations and the name she's been given, but her religion is a chore. Will she learn the lesson of faith that Ester did? Fifth and final book in the Ester Ried series. Authored by Isabella M. Alden under the pen name “Pansy.” (Summary written by Tricia G)

Agatha is a 20-year-old child of missionaries in India, who has come back to the United States on account of her health. She remembers fondly the missionary zeal she saw when visiting the States as a child, and she looks forward to reconnecting with Christians who will help her feel more at home. To this end, she attends a missionary meeting in the city. - Summary by TriciaG

Five stories with the general themes of foreign missions, money, and hypocrisy. Mrs. Harry Harper's Awakening: A young wife in a new city is drawn into a mysterious ladies' society with the initials, W. P. B. F. M. The Harrisville Young Ladies' Band: A small, struggling girls' missions group gets a new vision for their meetings. Mrs. Dunlap's Commentary: Profession and actions collide in the life of a Christian housewife and Sunday school teacher, influencing those around her. Pictures from Mrs. Pierson's Life: Another story in which a family's priorities and example lead to their natural ...

Eighteen year old Chrissy Hollister attends a Christian Endeavor Society meeting while away for the summer, and it changes her whole outlook on Christian service. She decides to begin a chapter at home. But she finds that the scheme is more difficult to bring about than she had expected. - Summary by TriciaG

Short stories and sketches all relating in some way to temperance and advocating for prohibition. Each story looks at a different facet of the issue. It is presumably children's literature, but most of it would not be understood by the younger set. I recommend pre-teens and older for these stories. - Summary by TriciaG