A New Aristocracy

"A New Aristocracy" by Alice E. Bartlett is a story about a young woman named Margaret Murchison, who becomes the head of her family when her father, a church leader, dies. Facing hardships in a small town, she must protect her family from the perils of financial struggle. Margaret is strong and determined, choosing independence and high values over accepting handouts from pitying neighbors. Taking responsibility for the future of her younger siblings, she learns what she is capable of and begins to understand who she is.