“She could spin both on the little and on the great wheel; and there were numberless towels, napkins, sheets and pillowcases in the household store that could attest the skill of her pretty fingers. She had worked several samplers of such rare merit that they hung framed in different rooms of the house, exhibiting every variety and style of possible letter in the best marking-stitch. She was skillful in all sewing and emboridery, in all shaping and cutting, with a quiet and deft handiness that constantly surprised her energetic mother, who could not conceive that so much could be done with so little noise.” (The Minister’s Wooing, Harriet Beecher Stowe)
Ah, the domestic child-wonders of yesteryear. Must set an example for one's readers to emulate. Remember in Anne of Green Gables where, in a conversation with Diana, she mentions a book in which the heroine began keeping house--immaculately--for her father at the age of 5?
ReplyDeleteOh she could, could she? I'll let her get on with it, then!
ReplyDeleteI like Victorian popular novels very much, it is wonderful to see a quotation from dear Mrs. Stowe..
I am a big fan of Mrs. Henry Wood, among others. Next week, East Lynne! and all that.
Lidian, you must start visiting Project Gutenberg at least weekly. Novels by Mrs Stowe, Mrs Wood, Eleanor Hallowell Edgerton, Alice M. Williamson, Frances Hodgson Burnett....
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gutenberg.org/browse/loccs/pr