Better than Play

"Better than Play" by Mabel Quiller-Couch is a story from the early 1900s highlighting the life of Bella Hender, a young girl who resides in a small cottage with her siblings and a difficult Aunt Emma. The story looks at themes of family relationships, managing a house, and how to discover happiness through acts of kindness even when things are hard. Readers learn about the Hender home, a place filled with tension, especially when Bella and her siblings felt trapped and Aunt Emma became angry. Bella's love for her siblings is a bright spot as she is dealing with her aunt, and she does what she can to support them. Bella searches to discover meaning and happiness by taking care of her family, resolving to make their home life better despite the problems they face.