The Revolt of ‘Mother’
The narrative begins with an argument between Sarah Penn and her husband Adoniram Penn. Adoniram has started building on their land without informing his wife. He intends on building a new barn to cater for the new livestock he intends on bringing to the farm. On the other hand, Sarah wants a new home. The couple lives in a small and outdated cottage with their children Nanny and Sammy.
Sammy is aware of his father’s intentions and bears no distress. However, his older sister Nanny like her mother feels disappointed in her father’s decision. She, too, wants a new home where her suitors would be pleased to visit. At the dinner table, Sarah complains over the outdated state of their house and reminds Adoniram that he had promised to build them a new home where he is currently building a new barn. Adoniram remains oblivious of his wife’s demands.
Shortly after completion, Adoniram heads out to the market in search of livestock. He spends up to four days looking for a good horse. During this time, his wife arranges for their belongings to be moved into the new barn. The town people are shocked by her decision. With the help of her kids, Sarah makes a new home out of the barn. When Adoniram gets home from the market, he is shocked to find his family living in the barn intended for his new horse. Sarah welcomes him by taking his jacket and serving him food. Sammy takes the new horse to the old barn.
After supper, Sarah finds her husband crying alone. Adoniram admits that he was ignorant of his wife’s need for a new home. He promises to never make the same mistake again. The next day, Adoniram starts renovating the new barn by adding more windows and partitions.
A Village Singer
This is the story of Candace Whitcomb, a choir singer who has been cast out by her choir because of her age. The story opens up with Candace’s younger replacement, Alma singing a solo for the congregation. Her voice is beautiful and the whole church is pleased.
However, as Alma sings, another voice is heard from outside. Candace is trying to sing over Alma in her nearby cottage. The church is displeased with her actions and after church Pollard, the church pastor goes over to her house to talk to her. Candace explains how the choir threw a great party for her which they have never done before, then later inform that she is fired. The choir claimed that she is losing her voice to old age. The pastor tries to reason with her but Candace remains adamant. She promises to sing over all of Alma’s solos.
During the next church meeting, Candace sticks to her word to the pastor. Alma’s fiancé is displeased with his aunt’s actions and threatens to hurt his aunt if she continues to interrupt Alma’s solos. A few days later, Candace falls ill. In her final days, Candace calls for her nephew and his fiancé Alma. Candace asks for forgiveness and asks the couple to inherit her house after she dies. The story ends with Candace dying moments later after asking Alma to sing to her.
The story begins with the protagonist, Louisa Ellis sewing in her sitting room. Ellis has been betrothed to a man named Joe for over ten years. Joe moved to Australia looking for greener pastures. During that time, Ellis has grown accustomed and fond of her single life. She loves cleaning her house and feeding her dog, Caesar.
After years of patiently waiting for many years, Joe finally returns. Ellis feels that her life has been disturbed. She has created a routine in those ten years, and she feels Joe intends on rearranging her life.
Ellis second-guesses her decision to marry Joe and a week before the wedding, she breaks her engagement and calls off the wedding. Joe ends up marrying another woman he had fallen in love with and Ellis remains alone and happy to regain her single lifestyle.
