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Ethel's trial: in becoming a missionary: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition

Ethel's trial: in becoming a missionary: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

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AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject
AI-generated editorial illustration — not a photograph of the subject

Ethel's trial: in becoming a missionary is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Guernsey, Lucy Ellen (1826–1899).

Catalogue synopsis

Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:

"Ethel's Trial" by Lucy Ellen Guernsey is a didactic Christian novel written in the late 19th century. It follows timid, well-bred Ethel Dalton as she confronts her debilitating fears while aspiring to missionary work, guided (and tested) by her missionary brother Henry and the practical household of Dr. and Mrs. Ray. The story centers on spiritual growth, courage, and usefulness, set against everyday challenges and a budding local mission among working families. The opening of the novel introduces Ethel’s extreme timidity—first with a gentle foundry boy at the garden fence—contrasted with Henry’s calm charity and plain-spoken counsel. Domestic scenes deepen the theme: Ethel’s panic over burglars leads her to bolt the doctor out of his own house, prompting Henry’s searching talk about trusting God and admitting cowardice as a moral hindrance. He then reveals his long-held hope to take her to Persia to assist in girls’ schools, a plan her fears presently make impossible. A visit to the foundry district brings Ethel’s public stumble (literally, over a dog and a cow) but also warm hospitality from Richard Trim and his mother, and Henry’s practical move to start a Sunday-school in a rented room. Ethel admires Henry’s ease with all sorts of people, asks to help, and is told her fears would undercut her influence; she compensates by redoubling pious efforts with her classmates. At the start of this story, she ends in inner turmoil, having told small evasions about her travel home and feeling the sting of conscience, yet still resisting open acknowledgment of her fault.

Book and edition facts

  • Title: Ethel's trial: in becoming a missionary
  • Author credits: Guernsey, Lucy Ellen (1826–1899)
  • Catalogue language: English

Catalogue subjects

  • Christian life -- Juvenile fiction
  • Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
  • Cowardice -- Juvenile fiction
  • Teenage girls -- Juvenile fiction

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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.

Source notes

Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.

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