Hesba Stretton

Fern's Hollow Hesba Stretton

"Fern's Hollow" is a simple narrative of humble life among the Welsh coal-mines. It relates the history of an orphan boy, awakened by kindly sympathy to an interest in the Bible and its truths, exposed to a fierce ordeal of temptation and suffering, but coming out of it with his character thoroughly strengthened and purified. The incidents are well contrived to bring out the points it is designed to illustrate; some of the characters are drawn with great skill; there is much freshness in the whole narrative, and frequent touches of pathos and beauty which irresistibly win their way to the heart. Altogether, it is the most charming book of its kind which we have met for some time. The Fern family lived peaceably in their hollow for two generations. Stephen was a hardworking coal miner and cared for his family. When a miserly landowner told them they must move out, he stood upon his vow to his father. Love for his enemies proved difficult to accomplish. This wonderful story is filled with many Bible verses and spiritual discussions. Hesba Stretton was the nom de plume of Sarah Smith, an English author of children's literature. The name Hesba came from the initials of her siblings. She was the daughter of a bookseller from Wellington, Shropshire, but around 1867 she moved south and lived at Snaresbrook and Loughton near Epping Forest and at Ham, near Richmond, Surrey. Her moral tales and semi-religious stories, chiefly for the young, were printed in huge quantities, and were especially widespread as school and Sunday school prizes. She won wide acceptance in English homes from the publication of Jessica's First Prayer in 1867. She was a regular contributor to Household Words and All the Year Round during Charles Dickens' editorship, and wrote upwards of 40 novels.