
In a sun‑lit April morning of 1870s New England, a witty and self‑aware young woman narrates life as the sixth of seven sisters. Her household bustles with the chatter of relatives, the clatter of sewing societies, and the ever‑present concern of finding suitable husbands for each daughter. Through gentle humor and sharp observations, she paints vivid portraits of her family—Mrs. Whitcomb’s silver‑threaded grace, Aunt Letty’s sharp‑tongued presence, and the mischievous cat Tabby who roams the hearth.
The narrator’s world is a blend of domestic chores, tender moments, and the occasional calamity, such as a treasured paper‑cutter broken in a playful scuffle. Her reflections on love, duty, and the longing for a brother reveal a heart both tender and resilient. As the sisters navigate the expectations of their community, the story captures the warmth, challenges, and quiet rebellions of a bygone era, inviting listeners to share in the everyday magic of a large, lively family.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (374K characters)
Series
The maidenhood series
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1874.
Credits
Bob Taylor, Aaron Adrignola and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2023-09-25
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1831–1916
A hugely popular 19th-century American novelist, she wrote scores of stories for girls and young women, mixing family life, ambition, romance, and social change. Her books were widely read in their day and now offer a vivid window into everyday hopes and struggles in Victorian America.
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