Reproduction of the original: Elsie's Widowhood by Martha Finley

The Elsie Dinsmore Novels, Martha Finley, in our opinion is the author of the best Series of novels that we have seen in our forty-three years of reviewing. Written by Martha Finley, an unmarried teacher of the last century, these novels proved to be a means of conveying her deep love for Christ Jesus. She loved her Lord, she loved His Word, and this love was passed on to His sheep through the writing of by far the best and most Biblical novels you will ever read or see. Altogether there are 28 of these novels, all built around Elsie Dinsmore, her immediate family, her extended family, and her neighbors.

Enter the character-building Christ-centered world of Elsie Dinsmore. These 19th-century fictional chronicles of a beautiful young heiress in the post-Civil War South have captivated generations of 10- to 14-year-old readers eager to follow Elsie's life from childhood to motherhood and beyond. The story of the next generation of the Travilla family is continued in Hendrickson Publisher's exclusive reprints of original editions. Each book features a new custom cover illustration. Elsie's Widowhood, Book 7 Edward and Elsie's daughter, young Elsie, is saddened by a separation from her beloved Lester, who is studying art in Italy. Shortly after Lester leaves for Europe, the family is devastated by Edward's sudden death. Elsie finds solace in the comfort of her father, Horace Dinsmore, and, more important, in the everlasting arms of her heavenly Father. The knowledge that Edward is in heaven with loved ones who have gone before is a great consolation to the Travilla family, but they struggle nonetheless to deal with the loss of husband and father.

In this eight volume in the The Original Elsie Dinsmore Series, Elsie's children -- Elsie, Edward, and Violet -- grow up and become adults. The events leading up to their marriages are causes for great celebration, and soon Elsie becomes a delighted, happy grandmother.

The Elsie Dinsmore Novels, Martha Finley, in our opinion is the author of the best Series of novels that we have seen in our forty-three years of reviewing. Written by Martha Finley, an unmarried teacher of the last century, these novels proved to be a means of conveying her deep love for Christ Jesus. She loved her Lord, she loved His Word, and this love was passed on to His sheep through the writing of by far the best and most Biblical novels you will ever read or see. Altogether there are 28 of these novels, all built around Elsie Dinsmore, her immediate family, her extended family, and her neighbors.

Elsie's experiences changes from girlhood to womanhood, her family is also undergoing change. In this third volume Elsie matures into a young woman as her father falls in love, marries, and provides her with a brother and sister: Horace Jr. and Rosebud. Elsie experiences a bittersweet agony in her first love and her first heartbreak, only to discover that true love has been with her almost as long as she can remember.