Miriam's Schooling and Other Papers

An old man's account of his father Gideon opens William Hale White's collection of stories and papers with a portrait of courage shadowed by doubt. Speaking to his children, Jotham recalls a household living under oppression and a reluctant man called to lead Israel. The contents also include Samuel, Saul, the title piece and Michael Trevanion, placing biblical subjects beside stories of personal life.

In the title piece, Miriam faces her brother's loss of work and his difficulty finding another position in London. Her aunt offers improving poetry, while Miriam asks for practical help with a reference. The narrator then examines how misfortune strains Miriam's affection and exposes her impatience with weakness. These scenes make the collection useful to readers interested in the distance between moral advice and actual support. Religious belief, responsibility and family feeling emerge through particular conversations and troubled decisions, giving the prose a reflective character.