Young Lucretia and Other Stories

"Young Lucretia and Other Stories" by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman is a compilation of tales set in late 19th-century New England, focusing on the lives of young girls and women and their interactions with family and community. The first story, "Young Lucretia," introduces a kind but plain girl who wishes to maintain her family's reputation while confronting the pressures of society and her own wants, especially concerning Christmas. We see Young Lucretia dealing with daily life within her close community, including wearing clothes passed down from her aunts. While facing both happiness and solitude, she feels both proud and embarrassed when classmates ask her to decorate a Christmas tree. Lucretia deals with her aunts' strict rules along with her wish to be accepted by friends, and the themes of childhood purity, what society expects, and family faithfulness are covered.