
In this intimate memoir, a young woman named Emily recounts the tangled moments of her early life, from the chaotic attempt to rescue her baby brother to the relentless refrain of “Emily did it.” Through vivid recollections of childhood mishaps, schoolyard scuffles, and the tender yet strained bonds with her mother and brother, she paints a portrait of a girl constantly blamed for accidents she never intended. Her narrative captures the bittersweet mix of frustration and affection that shaped her self‑perception.
As Emily moves from girlhood into womanhood, she reflects on the few friendships that offered solace—most notably the steady kindness of Mary Snow—and the complex dynamics with her domineering brother Hal. The memoir unfolds with a gentle honesty, inviting listeners to sense the quiet resilience that grows from being labeled the family scapegoat. It is a heartfelt chronicle of growing up, learning to quiet inner turmoil, and finding comfort in the small, enduring acts of love that sustain her through the years.
Language
en
Duration
~8 hours (481K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Stacy Brown, Jason Isbell, Afra Ullah and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-05-06
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1841–1902
A 19th-century American novelist best remembered for The Harvest of Years, she wrote warm, reflective fiction shaped by family life, faith, and the emotional texture of growing up.
View all books
by Maria S. (Maria Susanna) Cummins

by Émile Zola

by Hannah More

by Anna Bartlett Warner, Susan Warner

by Anna Bartlett Warner, Susan Warner

by Evelyn Everett-Green

by Betsy Curtis

by Émile Zola