Brotherly Love Shewing That as Merely Human It May Not Always Be Depended Upon

"Brotherly Love" by Mary Martha Sherwood and Sophia Kelly is a fictional work written in the mid-19th century. The narrative revolves around the Mortimer family, particularly focusing on the two brothers, Marten and his younger sibling Reuben, as they navigate the challenges of childhood, relationships, and the concept of responsibility. The story explores themes of temptation, the innocence of youth, and the importance of guidance from parental figures. At the start of the book, Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer prepare to leave their home for a visit to Mrs. Mortimer's brother, prompting concerns about their children being left alone. Marten, who is thirteen, reassures his anxious mother, asserting his ability to care for himself and Reuben while their parents are away. However, the narrative quickly unfolds the trials Marten faces as he attempts to juggle his responsibilities towards Reuben, indulge in his own desires, and contend with the realities of temptation. The opening portion vividly depicts Marten's determination and subsequent struggles, setting the stage for the unfolding drama surrounding the brothers during their parents' absence. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Martha Sherwood was a nineteenth-century English children's writer. Of her more than four hundred works, the best known include The History of Little Henry and his Bearer (1814) and the two series The History of Henry Milner (1822–1837) and The History of the Fairchild Family (1818–1847). Her evangelicalism permeated her early writings, but later works cover common Victorian themes such as domesticity.