The Young Step-Mother; Or, A Chronicle of Mistakes

"The Young Step-Mother; Or, A Chronicle of Mistakes" by Charlotte M. Yonge is a tale from the mid-1800s that follows Albinia Kendal as she becomes a stepmother, managing the difficulties of her new role as caregiver to her husband's children and trying to create a family environment. We first meet Albinia and Mr. Kendal as newlyweds, with Albinia eagerly anticipating meeting her stepchildren and considering her place in the family. The Kendals' relationships with each other and those around them, along with indications of the children's prior suffering and their difficulty accepting Albinia in place of their mother, establish a solid setting for the unfolding family and social issues as Albinia struggles to win the children's love while facing the emotional challenges brought on by her husband's previous life and the loss of their mother.