Quaker idyls

"Quaker Idyls" by Sarah M. H. Gardner is a collection of short stories that seeks to showcase Quaker living in the 1800s through a series of tales focusing on fellowship, ethics, and kinship, featuring characters such as Cassy Wilson and George Evans who demonstrate both human vulnerability and difficult choices as a member of this religious community. The collection opens with Cassy and her family attending a meeting in Philadelphia, as the writer seeks to depict the tranquil environment of the Quaker way of life, which underscores notions of harmony and soul-searching. Cassy’s battle during the religious service represents a friction between her spiritual goals and her growing feelings for George, which emphasizes the split between wanting individual happiness and the hopes of the overall Quaker community in Philadelphia. The writer seeks to capture Cassy's want for honesty in her religious practice amidst her developing affection, which welcomes examination of love and righteousness within a Quaker framework.