By a Girl's Hand by Ruth Lamb (1892)
"By a Girl's Hand" by Ruth Lamb is a story centered around Mark Walthew, a young man from the village of Grimblethorpe, who struggles against the rigid expectations of his father, Daniel Walthew. Daniel is a man set in his ways, proud of his family's tradition of hard work and frugality, and he expects Mark to follow in his footsteps. However, Mark, encouraged by his education and the influence of the Mitcheson family, aspires to a life beyond the confines of his father's narrow path. Mark's mother, Barbara, supports her son's ambitions, recognizing the limitations of their life and the potential for something greater. Despite Daniel's initial resistance and threats to disinherit Mark, the young man chooses to pursue his own path, driven by his talents and the encouragement of his friends, particularly Dorothy Mitcheson, who becomes a significant figure in his life. As Mark excels academically and gains recognition, Daniel remains obstinate, refusing to acknowledge his son's achievements. However, when Barbara falls ill, the presence of a young nurse, who is later revealed to be Dorothy, helps bridge the gap between father and son. Daniel's realization of the importance of family and the happiness of his son leads to a change of heart. In the end, Daniel reconciles with Mark, acknowledging his son's success and the love between Mark and Dorothy. The story concludes with Daniel's acceptance of a broader perspective on life, moving away from his lifelong adherence to a narrow path, and embracing the happiness and future of his family.
By Ruth Lamb · First published 1892 · Genre: Bildungsroman, Domestic Fiction, Social Realism · 4 chapters · 11,489 words
First lines
"AND so you want to be a-setting up for a gentleman, do you? You think you know better than anybody else, and that what has been good enough for me-and my father and grandfather too, for that matter-is not good enough for you. You are going to be dressed up in broadcloth on week days, and work with your coat on, are you? Grimblethorpe isn't big enough for a fine fellow like you to swagger about in. You must have a market-town, must you? And I suppose you'll be going up and down the streets o' nights, like plenty more of the same sort that are 'shamed of the honest work that their fathers took their coats off to do, and gloried in doing well. You'll be smoking cigars next, and wearing a top hat, and going in for all the new-fangled ways of spending money that young fellows practise nowadays, because they have never known what went to the earning of it. But you'll rue not having taken my advice, as sure as your name is Mark Walthew."
What this Textopian page supports
By a Girl's Hand is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ruth Lamb, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ruth Lamb
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Bildungsroman, Domestic Fiction, Social Realism, Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction
- Length: 11,489 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 188 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for By a Girl's Hand by Ruth Lamb
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Bildungsroman — The narrative follows Mark’s personal growth and struggle to overcome his constrained background, tracing his development from youth to a more self-aware and ambitious adult.
- Domestic Fiction — The story centers on family dynamics, domestic routines, and the tension between tradition and progress within the household.
- Social Realism — It offers a candid depiction of class divisions, economic constraints, and social mobility, highlighting the conflicts between inherited ways and the allure of change.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a distinct past era with specific social customs, financial practices, and domestic lifestyles that give it a period-specific texture.
Tags
historical fiction · romance · women's fiction · coming-of-age · female empowerment · period drama · love story · self-discovery · societal expectations · resilience · passion · adventure
Contents
- Like Father Unlike Son
- A Peep into an Earthly Paradise, and a Meeting with Eve
- Mr. Walthew is Far from Easy in his Mind
- A New Face