The Elm Tree Tales

"The Elm Tree Tales" by F. Burge Griswold presents a series of make-believe stories where different characters deal with not having much, being nice to one another, and the ups and downs of living. We meet Jennie Grig, a young street-sweeper whose hard life is a big part of the story. Right away, Jennie gets hurt while working, and some helpful people step in to assist, showing her tough situation and introducing a story about kindness. As it goes on, we see Jennie is worried about her sick family, highlighting the difficulties she faces. When Mrs. Dunmore takes her in, the story indicates themes about being kind, different social levels, and how strong people can be even when things are bad. How Jennie interacts with those helping her suggests a change, looking at caring for others and holding onto hope when life is hard.