The Carpenter's Daughter

"The Carpenter's Daughter" by Susan Warner and Anna Bartlett Warner is a novel likely written in the mid-19th century. The book focuses on the struggles and resilience of a young girl named Nettie Mathieson, who navigates life in a challenging household burdened by her father's alcoholism and the overall poverty of her family. As she balances her responsibilities at home while seeking to uplift and support her weary mother, the novel explores themes of faith, hope, and love amid hardship. At the start of the book, we are introduced to Nettie and her mother as they draw water from a clear spring in a quiet, rural setting. Their interactions reveal the weight of their day-to-day struggles, with Nettie's mother expressing her exhaustion and despair, while Nettie remains optimistic and devoted to her family. The family dynamic is strained, particularly due to Mr. Mathieson's drinking and lack of support for his family. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Nettie's unwavering faith and dedication to her loved ones will be pivotal in facing the challenges ahead. The comfort she finds in her faith provides a counterpoint to the harsh realities of her life, setting the stage for a tale that promises both sorrow and resilience. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Susan Bogert Warner was an American Presbyterian writer of religious fiction, children's fiction, and theological works. She is best remembered for her massive bestseller The Wide, Wide World. Her other works include Queechy, The Hills of the Shatemuc, Melbourne House, Daisy, Walks from Eden, House of Israel, What She Could, Opportunities, and House in Town. Warner and her sister, Anna, wrote a series of semi-religious novels that had extraordinary sales, including Say and Seal, Christmas Stocking, Books of Blessing, and The Law and the Testimony.