
In a comfortable house on a leafy street just two hundred miles from the capital, the Holmes family lives a rhythm of school days and evenings filled with chatter. Mother Holmes watches her three daughters—practical Persis, dignified Lisa, and dreamy Mellicent—each embodying a different kind of charm as they return home, their personalities clashing and complementing in witty banter. The narrative opens with their lively reunion, revealing a household where love, humor, and a touch of mischief color everyday chores.
Through gentle humor and keen observation, the story explores the sisters' distinct aspirations: Persis the spirited problem‑solver, Lisa the self‑appointed queen of propriety, and Mellicent the airy romantic. Their interactions with their caring mother and the bustling town provide a warm portrait of late‑Victorian domestic life, while hinting at the small adventures and choices that will shape their futures. Listeners will be drawn into this affectionate portrait of family dynamics, where each sister learns to value her own strengths.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (337K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1897.
Credits
Bob Taylor, David Edwards and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Release date
2023-09-27
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1856–1926
Known for warm, lively stories for young readers, this American author wrote dozens of novels, poems, and tales that stayed popular well into the Project Gutenberg era. Her work often follows girls and families through everyday adventures, travel, school life, and historical settings.
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