In Isabella Alden’s lifetime, women had to rely solely upon the men in their lives for the basic necessities of life—food, shelter, and clothing. She knew all too well that unmarried women had little choice when it came to securing a respectable job, and even then they barely earned enough to eke out a living (more about that in our next post).
That’s certainly the case for Miss Esther Beekman, the heroine of Isabella’s short story “Their Providence.”
Miss Esther Beekman would dearly love to find a place where she can work for her room and board while she finishes her education. Mrs. Richards is in desperate need of help to turn her topsy-turvy household back into the perfect, well-ordered home it once was. So when Mrs. Richards allows Esther to stay on a temporary basis, both ladies find themselves on trial and wondering if it was accident or providence that brought them together.
You can read “Their Providence” for free!
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Isabella Alden 
I love that most of these stories can be read in less than an hour or two!
I was recently bedridden due to a protracted illness and feeling really down. I have hundreds of books on my Kindle Unlimited and quite a small library on Audible. However, I could not for the life of me, enjoy the books I was currently working on. They just weren’t suitable for my situation. I didn’t want to “think” to hard because I wasn’t up to par so to speak.
Finally, I had an “aha moment” and went to all the Elizabeth Alden books I’ve saved from you, Jenny! This was the chicken soup for my weary soul that I needed. Her books are inspiring and speak life in a way that is refreshing beyond words!
Thank you for providing these so faithfully!
I’m so glad her stories were of help to you, Micah! I know exactly what you mean: I think her stories are wonderfully calming, but still entertaining and nourishing for the soul. The great thing is, I have gathered a healthy collection of her stories, so there are many more to share! I hope you are doing well. All my best to you!—Jenny