Left at home: or, The heart's resting place

About this book

The work is a sentimental juvenile narrative that centers on a young boy named Arthur as he confronts the sudden, heartbreaking loss of his baby sister, Mildred. The opening scene places him in a cozy winter library, the fire’s glow contrasting with his growing dread after his mother’s whispered news of a grave illness. The story then moves through the family’s anguished vigil, the child’s death, and Arthur’s subsequent struggle to understand grief, duty, and the quiet resolve of his parents. All of this is framed within a Christian moral perspective, emphasizing the solace of faith amid sorrow, as reflected in the characters’ reliance on prayer and the father’s final reassurance that “God has taken our little Mildred.”

The prose is unmistakably Victorian, with its elaborate sentences, earnest diction, and a tone that blends moral instruction with melodramatic feeling. Its style will appeal to readers who enjoy classic moral tales for young audiences, particularly those who appreciate gentle religious themes, detailed domestic settings, and the emotional development of a child protagonist. Fans of late‑19th‑century children’s literature, or anyone seeking a reflective story about loss and spiritual comfort, will find this book engaging.

Opening lines

These words quite sobered Arthur, as he turned from the stairs and went into the library. It was a pleasant room at all times, but especially so on a winter's evening, when the frosty night was shining clear and cold without. A bright fire was blazing, lighting up the crimson carpet and curtains, and sparkling on the snowy table-cover, where preparations for such a tea were made as Arthur was usually at this time prepared to appreciate. But as he sat down on the rug, and, holding his face in his two hands, gazed earnestly into the fire, he was not thinking of his hunger. A very grave expression was on his boyish face. He was thinking of what the housemaid had told him, and wishing very much to know more. …

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