Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ...for college settlement and other good works of that kind, and hence had been much interested in Mrs. Shaw's account of the benevolent work she did in the town and the great need of doing more of it. Like many city people she had a general idea that most country folk were to be greatly pitied, because of their primitive condition and lack of comforts of life. She could see how by the help of the Summer visitors they managed to eke out a picturesque existence in the Summer, but "what could such people do in the Winter?" This visit might show her and she would at least get material for "talks" on the subject at the ladies' club, so she accepted the kind invitation and before long was on the ground. She was much more stylish than Ellen Wallis, and could talk better, and Jacob could not but make the suggested comparison, which resulted not to Ellen's advantage. He didn't realize at all that he himself was the cause in great part of Ellen's lack of more educational advantages. He had put foolish notions into her young head, talked to her and her parents learnedly about the greater need there was that "women should cultivate domesticity instead of aping men in literary pursuits," so that she had given up the ideas she once had of going to college herself, and now he mentally blamed her that she did not compare favorably with this bright and cultivated girl. To complete the scheme, when it was evident that the "air-tight was working as Mr. Shaw had predicted, Mrs. Shaw caused it to be known in Brunswick that her son Jacob was engaged, or likely soon to be, to a certain cultivated and attractive girl then visiting-in Boltville. This had the desired result, a letter of gentle inquiry from Ellen, a complaint of her...
