Hetty Gray; $b or, Nobody's bairn

"Hetty Gray; or, Nobody's Bairn" by Rosa M. Gilbert is a story set in the 1800's that introduces a young orphan named Hetty, a spirited four-year-old, living in the quaint village of Wavertree where she feels the sting of being alone in the world. The story follows Hetty's adventures as she deals with loneliness and the desire to find a place to belong after a wealthy woman, Mrs. Rushton, adopts her. We see Hetty as a cheerful little child who loves playing with horses and spending time with Mrs. Kane, the woman who cares for her when she's left alone. As Hetty's life unfolds, she must cope with several problems as she experiences new things, copes with the results of her past, and has her life changed when she gets adopted.