The Glory-Box by Elizabeth Ashe
In Southern Ohio, the concept of a wedding chest, or Glory-Box, symbolizes the differing social statuses of two young women, Mabel Bennet and Eunice Day. Mabel, the daughter of a prosperous druggist, possesses a luxurious cedar box, while Eunice, from a less affluent background, has a modestly covered box filled with handmade items. As Eunice prepares for her engagement to Stephen, a law student with aspirations, Mabel visits to present a gift, highlighting their contrasting lives. Mabel's casual remarks about her own wedding preparations reveal her confidence, while Eunice's shyness and self-doubt surface as she compares herself to her more affluent peers. Eunice's relationship with Stephen is central to her identity; she admires his ambition and intellect, feeling both pride and pressure to match his expectations. Their correspondence reflects a deep emotional connection, with Stephen expressing his belief in Eunice's potential to contribute to their future together. Despite her insecurities, Eunice finds solace in her dreams of a shared life with Stephen, envisioning a home filled with dignity and warmth. The narrative explores themes of class disparity, personal aspirations, and the complexities of love, as Eunice navigates her feelings of inadequacy while preparing for a future that she hopes will elevate her self-worth.
By Elizabeth Ashe · First published 1978 · Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama · 3 chapters · 7,857 words
First lines
In Southern Ohio a girl's wedding chest is her Glory-Box. If, like Mabel Bennet, you are the daughter of a successful druggist, the box is of cedarwood, delivered free of charge by the Dayton department stores; but if, like Eunice Day, you are the daughter of an unsuccessful bookkeeper who has left a life insurance inadequate even when supplemented by the salary you earn teaching primary children, then the box is just a box, covered with gay cretonne, and serving the purpose very nicely.
When Eunice Day's engagement became known, Mabel, remembering the scalloped guest-towels which Eunice had given her some months before, brought over one afternoon an offering wrapped in tissue paper.
What this Textopian page supports
The Glory-Box is listed on Textopian as a novel by Elizabeth Ashe, dated 1978 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Elizabeth Ashe
- Date: 1978 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama, Women's Fiction
- Length: 7,857 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 159 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Glory-Box by Elizabeth Ashe
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Glory-Box?
- How does this novel by Elizabeth Ashe fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The novel is a love story that significantly focuses on the romantic relationship between the two main characters.
- Historical Fiction — The story is set in a well-defined historical period, showing attention to the manners, social conditions and other details of the period described.
- Drama — Elements of conflict and tension among characters are prominent in the story.
- Women's Fiction — Primary focus on women’s life experiences and female protagonist’s journey, self-discovery and growth can qualify the novel for this genre.
Tags
historical fiction · romance · women's literature · coming of age · family dynamics · identity · self-discovery · social issues · friendship · love · loss · cultural heritage
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III