Sowing and Sewing: A Sexagesima Story

"Sowing and Sewing: A Sexagesima Story" by Charlotte M. Yonge is a late 19th-century novel that follows young Amy Lee and her circle of friends as they navigate the complex expectations of womanhood through duty, moral growth, and community service, especially their involvement with the church. Through their everyday lives and the work related to teaching and sewing, the author examines the social norms and difficulties women faced in that time period. The story begins with four young women diligently sewing in a quaint room, thoughtfully discussing a sermon that has inspired them to pursue purposeful lives, emphasizing service to others and productivity. Motivated to apply the sermon's lessons, they reflect on their societal roles within the local church and community, fostering ambitions of unwavering support, and an emerging sense of responsibility. Readers will find themselves drawn into a story about inner change and societal expectations with appealing personas.