Today our "book club Monday" consists of three of us reading "A World More Bright" by Isabel Ferguson and Heather Vogel Frederick. We have just read chapter one - all about the young Mary growing up in the 1820's with her three brothers and two sisters. Mary was the baby.
We read about her Mother's insistence on strict honesty. We read about the enormous work load of mothers at that time: spinning, weaving, making their own butter and clothing while the menfolk had to tend to all the other farm duties.
We read about Mary's love for animals, her love of books - especially the Bible - and her brothers and sisters. Furthermore we read about her love for her fellow-man when she instinctively gave away items of clothing - much to her mother's dismay! We note how this generosity never left her, even when her material circumstances might have persuaded her to keep all she had to herself.
This book gives us a fresh view of the circumstances of Mary's upbringing and is lovely to read aloud, as we have done this morning, while munching on some morning tea which was kindly provided by Ros.
Julie Swannell
No comments:
Post a Comment