Publisher's Synopsis
Being Boston girls, of course they got up a club for mental improvement, and, as they were alldescendants of the Pilgrim Fathers, they called it the Mayflower Club. A very good name, and the sixyoung girls who were members of it made a very pretty posy when they met together, once a week, to sew, and read well-chosen books. At the first meeting of the season, after being separated allsummer, there was a good deal of gossip to be attended to before the question, "What shall weread?" came up for serious discussion.Anna Winslow, as president, began by proposing "Happy Dodd;" but a chorus of "I've read it!"made her turn to her list for another title."'Prisoners of Poverty' is all about workingwomen, very true and very sad; but Mamma said itmight do us good to know something of the hard times other girls have," said Anna, soberly; for shewas a thoughtful creature, very anxious to do her duty in all ways."I'd rather not know about sad things, since I can't help to make them any better," answered EllaCarver, softly patting the apple blossoms she was embroidering on a bit of blue satin."But we might help if we really tried, I suppose; you know how much Happy Dodd did when sheonce began, and she was only a poor little girl without half the means of doing good which wehave," said Anna, glad to discuss the matter, for she had a little plan in her head and wanted toprepare a way for proposing it
