Brotherly Love Shewing That as Merely Human It May Not Always Be Depended Upon

"Brotherly Love" by Mary Martha Sherwood and Sophia Kelly is a story set in the 1800's, that shows the tests endured by the Mortimer family, mainly centering on two brothers, Marten and Reuben, as they make their way through the ups and downs of being kids, how they relate to one another, and knowing what their duties are. The book examines doing what's wrong, the pureness of being young, and how much it means to have someone older to help guide you. The story begins with Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer getting ready to leave their house to visit Mrs. Mortimer's brother, causing them to stress about leaving their children by themselves. Marten, who is thirteen years old, tells his worrying mother that he can take care of himself and Reuben while their parents are gone. However, Marten quickly faces issues as he tries to balance taking care of Reuben, doing what he wants to do, and dealing with the realities of temptation. The beginning part of this story shows how strong Marten is as he faces challenges, setting the stage for the drama that will come about for the brothers when their parents aren't there.