A Borrowed Sister by Eliza Orne White

Name: A Borrowed Sister
Author: Eliza Orne White

Lois Page, an only child, delights when her family agrees to take in Jessie Matthews as a "borrowed sister" for a year while Jessie's parents travel abroad for her father's health. Lois's close friend Ellen Morgan is initially jealous of the arrangement, but she and Lois buy Jessie a geranium as a welcome gift, and once Jessie arrives — tearful at parting from her parents but warm toward both girls — Ellen's jealousy fades. Jessie settles into the Page household, charming Lois's mother, winning over Lois's cat Minnie, and adjusting to small-town life after her freer country upbringing at Brierfield Farm. When Minnie has kittens, Lois insists Jessie take the prettier one; Mr. Morgan names Lois's kitten Chinchilla and Jessie's six-toed kitten Mittens, declaring it a lucky "witch kitten." The girls, along with Ellen, plant gardens; Ellen secretly plants vegetable seeds in Lois's and Jessie's flower beds as a joke, which is later discovered. A school recitation contest for Decoration Day showcases Ellen's and Jessie's standout readings, while Lois's own "Barbara Frietchie" performance falters when she loses her place. Jessie leaves for summer vacation, and Lois instead joins Ellen and her father, Mr. Morgan, on a multi-day carriage trip to Hollisford, filled with games, a storm mistaken for a ghost, and a muddy, adventurous drive home. Back home, Mittens helps rescue a kitten up a tree, leading to Jessie tearing her dress, which prompts kindly Mrs. Draper to start a darning class for the four girls (Lois, Jessie, Ellen, and Anne Morgan), complete with prizes and readings from "The Lady of the Lake." Judge Draper later takes the children apple-picking, where Lois overcomes fear of a snake with Reuben Morgan's help, slowly growing less shy of the Morgan boys. Lois's grandmother, Mrs. Luther Page, visits, bonds with witch-kitten Mittens and plain-spoken Jessie, and eventually takes Mittens home with her. A dramatic town fire (Chauncey's store) breaks out during her visit, which the children watch with excitement while helping guard the Page family's fence. Winter brings new kittens from Minnie — nicknamed the "Trio Club" by Jessie's music teacher — and Lois works hard to find homes for all three rather than have any given away, eventually succeeding with Miss Benton, Miss Greenleaf, and the dentist. For Christmas, Jessie organizes a tree and party for the poor Donnelly family, funded and decorated by the children themselves with help from Amyas and Reuben Morgan. The event is a success, with gifts, cake, ice cream, and photographs of the kittens for presents. The story closes as Jessie receives a letter revealing her parents are returning from Europe sooner than expected, news that fills her with joy but leaves Lois tearful at the thought of losing her "borrowed sister" — though Jessie reassures her they will remain like sisters even after Jessie moves home.

By Eliza Orne White · First published 1906 · Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Coming-of-Age Fiction, Domestic Fiction · 15 chapters · 36,864 words

First lines

Lois Page, who had been an only child all her life, was to have a borrowed sister for the space of a year or more, and the prospect filled her with keen delight. If she had searched the wide world over she could not have found a more congenial sister than Jessie Matthews. Lois was equally fond of Ellen Morgan, and Ellen was a more stimulating friend, but Ellen had an uncertain temper, which would make living with her a torment, as well as a joy, while Jessie was as serene as a summer morning.

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Genres

Young Adult Fiction — The narrative follows Lois, a young girl navigating school, friendships, and social relationships during her formative years, with central concerns typical of YA literature including social anxiety, peer relationships, and emotional development.
Coming-of-Age Fiction — The plot chronicles Lois's transformation from a lonely only child to a girl enriched by meaningful friendships and social connections, demonstrating classic bildungsroman arc of emotional and personal growth.
Domestic Fiction — The narrative is deeply rooted in home life, family dynamics, household routines, gardening, meals, and intimate domestic moments that form the core of Lois's world and experiences.
Friendship Fiction — The central relationship between Lois, Jessie, and Ellen, and the exploration of female friendship, loyalty, jealousy, and emotional bonds between girls, drives the entire narrative structure.

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A Borrowed Sister is listed on Textopian as a novel by Eliza Orne White, dated 1906 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Eliza Orne White
Date: 1906 CE
Language: English
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Coming-of-Age Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Friendship Fiction, School Story
Length: 36,864 words
Structure: 15 chapters, 908 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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