An Alabaster Box

"An Alabaster Box" by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman is a story about a young minister, Wesley Elliot, who has financial problems in the small town of Brookville, at the turn of the century. The town plans a fair to help Wesley with his problems, as he is trying to serve his church, where Mrs. Solomon Black is heading the fundraising efforts. Conflicts for Wesley involve his feelings for Fanny Dodge, and the ambitions that he has for himself. Suddenly Lydia Orr arrives and buys the entire contents of the fair, which becomes a talking point within the town and becomes a larger piece of the story. This throws Wesley into a whirlwind regarding his work, romantic feelings and what the purchase of the fair means for him.