Jewel Weed

"Jewel Weed" by Alice Ames Winter is a story from the early 1900s about a young man named Ellery Norris figuring out life in the growing city of St. Etienne. Ellery meets different people who change how he sees love, what he wants to achieve, and how he grows as a person. The story looks at what society expects and compares Eastern spiritual ideas with Western practical thinking. For example, there's the mysterious Swami Ram Juna and the likable Madeline Elton. The story kicks off at a party hosted by Mr. Early, where Ellery and his friend Richard Percival watch Swami Ram Juna impress everyone with his talk about life and spiritual truths. As the party goes on, Ellery thinks about both the Swami's lessons and what's happening between the guests, especially his interest in Madeline Elton. Through smart conversations and detailed descriptions, the beginning of the book introduces the characters, what they want in life, and what they believe in, setting the scene for the relationships that will evolve as the story continues.