Under the Old Roof by Hesba Stretton

When Richard, Abigail's husband, died she was left with her son, Gideon. She had worked hard to repurchase the house of her father, the "old roof." When Dick, her stepson, came home he tried to take the house away from Abigail and she is heartbroken. Dick's lack of work ethic brought him low and he was forced to face himself during a severe sickness. Crying out for help he turned toward God for forgiveness. This is a great story, illuminating many issues including inheritance laws, industrious work, forgiveness, and accepting God's providence.

Paperback (8X5.25),  76 pages, 4 illustrations. ISBN 9781935626121

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).