Poison in the Packet by Hesba Stretton

The Beamond household received a package wrapped in brown paper and labeled "Poison." After the package was opened they thought it was a joke because it contained nice clothes for the children. When troubles came they had to reconsider what it meant. The moral in this story is the vanity of nice clothing and the trouble it causes. Important scripture is Matthew 5:3—"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Paperback 4X6, 2 illustrations, 38 pages. ISBN 9781941281246; Pocket Moral Stories

SARAH SMITH (1832-1911) was born in Wellington, England.  She had the good fortune of being able to read books from her father's bookshop, a printer of evangelical literature. Her mother was a strong evangelical, but died when Sarah was young. In the March 19th, 1859 issue of Household Words, a publication conducted by Charles Dickens, she published her first short story called The Lucky Leg. It is an intriguing story about a man who wanted to marry a woman with a missing leg. It was more secular, but her talent was recognized. Hesba Stretton became her pen name, Stretton coming from the name of a neighboring village, and Hesba coming from the initials of her siblings. H (Hannah or some sources Harriett), E (Elizabeth), S (Sarah), B (Benjamin), and A (Annie).