Images of the original pages are available through International Children's Digital Library. See
http://www.childrenslibrary.org/icdl/BookPreview?bookid=peraunt_00360330&summary=true&categories=false&route=advanced

Release date is 2007-06-02

E-text prepared by Marilynda Fraser-Cunliffe, Janet Blenkinship, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by the International Children's Digital Library (http://www.childrenslibrary.org/)

"Aunt Mary" by Mrs. Perring is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story centers around Aunt Mary Livesay, the eldest daughter of Mr. Livesay, who has dedicated her life to caring for her family, particularly after the loss of her parents. The narrative explores themes of familial duty, education, and the impact of character, especially as Aunt Mary grapples with the changing dynamics within her family as her younger sisters marry and move away, leaving her to manage the household. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Aunt Mary and her backstory: she has taken on the role of caretaker for her siblings, showcasing her nurturing persona and sense of responsibility. The opening chapters highlight her relationships with her sisters, Ada, Alice, and Irene, as well as the contrast between her selflessness and Aunt Mary's lack of beauty due to past misfortunes. The story develops as Aunt Mary decides to educate the children from the neighboring Maitland family, foreshadowing upcoming interactions that will influence both her life and the lives of those she teaches. The blend of family dynamics, societal responsibilities, and personal aspirations sets the stage for the unfolding narrative. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Original publication data not identified