Showing results by author "Pansy" in All Categories

Meet Old Mrs. Solomon Smith, a woman who humbly describes herself as nothing but an ignorant old woman, lacking the privileges that others enjoyed in their youth. Yet, those who know her recognize the wealth of biblical wisdom she carries and the depth of her experience walking with Christ. Through gentle conversations and everyday encounters, she shares not only her insights but also the love of Christ, leaving a lasting impact on everyone she meets. But can her life and example inspire Laura, a young woman who admires her but seems indifferent to faith?

In the fifth installment of the Chautauqua Girls series, Ruth Erskine Burnham struggles with the challenges of raising her husband’s two daughters, who have turned away from her faith and values. The relentless pressure to compromise her beliefs has left her feeling weak and despondent, with only her ailing five-year-old son providing her solace. Will Ruth find the strength to reclaim the strong faith of her youth, and can her family finally embrace the values she holds dear? (Summary by Tricia G) Previous book in series Ester Ried Yet Speaking. Next book in series Workers Together, or, An ...

You thought dating was hard before? Try dating someone who live-streams their coffee order, documents every minor inconvenience for engagement, and will 100% use your relationship as content. This brutally honest, hilariously unhinged guide will walk you through the emotional minefield of modern romance, covering critical topics like: Why their phone gets more eye contact than you. How to spot the red flags (hint: if they own a ring light, run).

Congratulations! You’ve found yet another self-help book that you’ll skim through, feel briefly inspired by, and then completely ignore while continuing to make the same bad decisions.

This sweet tale depicts the transformation story of poor, vexed little Helen who tries desperately to be perfect but, as each thing in her day goes continuously wrong and nobody seems to care, she ends up behaving in quite the contrary way. The worst of it seems yet to come when her bully older brother announces his visit.

Overtired, overworked, and increasingly irritable, Ester Ried has been relying solely on her own dwindling strength, hoping desperately for a day that might bring change. Inadvertently neglecting her walk with God, she finds herself not only unhappy, but also to be spreading that unhappiness to those around her. Upon receiving a letter from her wealthy cousin inviting her to visit, Ester is finally able to experience change in her life. This begins a course that alters more than she ever dreamed.

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

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

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

Now that the railroad has come through, Christie Tucker's parents have decided to save enough for her to go to her well-to-do Uncle Daniel for a one-day visit, on Christmas, which is also Christie's birthday. It's her first trip away from home -- and on the cars! Of course, the trip doesn't turn out exactly as expected. That one day, and how Christie lived it, has consequences that keep coming! Addressed by the author to girls, it is still a pleasant story for adults, too. (Summary by TriciaG)

>Fifth in the Chautauqua Girls series. Ruth Erskine Burnham has helped raise her husband's two daughters, but all have rejected her faith and values. The constant pressure to compromise has weakened her walk and made her life miserable. Her one comfort is her sickly 5 year old son. Will she return to the strong faith of her young womanhood, and will her family finally follow? (Summary by Tricia G) Previous book in series: Ester Ried Yet Speaking Next book in series: Workers Together, or, An Endless Chain

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 ...

Short stories for the young and young-at-heart. Included are a family with an overly-strict father and free-spirited daughter; a series of "just happened" circumstances (orchestrated by God, of course); a reminiscence of two poor medical students; a moral dilemma placed before a minister; and a few short pieces about various children, each with its moral lesson. (Summary by TriciaG)Note that "Dr. Deane's Way" ends abruptly, with the feeling that it's an incomplete story. There are, in fact, only the four chapters.

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