Janet McLaren, the Faithful Nurse

At a minister's bedside, Janet McLaren promises to care for his three children, whose future has become uncertain. After their father's death, Margaret, Donald and David leave their Highland home in the care of the family nurse. Janet takes them to a seaside town, works for their upkeep and places the boys at school. Her concern for Margaret's education makes the children's future a matter of practical choices as well as faith.

William Henry Giles Kingston's story later follows Donald into a growing settlement in Canada. Working under Mr Todd, he encounters log huts, a busy sawmill and roads still obstructed by tree stumps. Surveying and construction fill the week, while worship takes place outdoors beneath the trees. The book brings together a nurse's determination, the needs of orphaned siblings and the labour of building a settlement. Its detailed scenes give readers a picture of family duty expressed through work, schooling and religious belief.