Allison Bain; Or, By a Way She Knew Not

"Allison Bain; Or, By a Way She Knew Not" by Margaret M. Robertson is a late 19th-century story that follows Allison Bain as she deals with grief, family duty, and tough times after her father's death and her brother's troubles. The story looks closely at themes of pain, inner strength, and what society expects, as Allison tries to find her way in a sad and difficult world. It starts with Mr. Hadden, the town minister, worrying about Allison on the day of her father's funeral. He goes with his son, Alexander, to see her, thinking about her struggles and the difficult environment of their town. Their talk reveals Allison's rough marriage and her family's problems, like her brother being wrongly jailed and her mother's sickness, which builds suspense around what Allison is going through. The minister is both hopeful and worried about Allison's future, pulling readers into a world where personal suffering and community life are mixed together, setting the scene for a story of overcoming challenges and understanding what it means to be human.