Cassy. By Hesba Stretton

by Hesba Stretton

Cassy. By Hesba Stretton. In this poignant Victorian moral tale, a young girl named Cassy escapes brutality and poverty to find a fragile refuge in London. Born and raised in the old forest near London, Cassy flees her father's brutal life with her dog Bijo, seeking safety and a new start. She eventually finds a home in a caravan and later takes service in London with Mrs. Tilly, caring for Master Alfred while enduring hardship and neglect. After her master’s death and the disappearance of her mistress, Cassy is left to endure poverty, illness, and loneliness. Through Cassy’s journey and the figure of Mr. Simon—the kindly, crippled man who enriches her life—the narrative blends social realism with Christian allegory, drawing on Beulah, the Cross, and pilgrimage imagery. The book explores faith, compassion, and the possibility of grace amid suffering, concluding with Cassy’s quiet faith and the promise of a better country beyond this world.

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1876

About the author

Hesba Stretton (1832-1911) was the nom de plume of Sarah Smith, an English author of children's literature. The name Hesba came from the initials of her siblings. She was the daughter of a bookseller from Wellington, Shropshire, but around 1867 she moved south and lived at Snaresbrook and Loughton near Epping Forest and at Ham, near Richmond, Surrey. Her moral tales and semi-religious stories, chiefly for the young, were printed in huge quantities, and were especially widespread as school and Sunday school prizes. She won wide acceptance in English homes from the publication of Jessica's First Prayer in 1867. She was a regular contributor to Household Words and All the Year Round during Charles Dickens' editorship, and wrote upwards of 40 novels.

Reviews

[Karen]

Very sad story of the harshness of life for children in London during the 1800- early 1900's. This book shows compassion, love, looking past the exterior of people, and figuring out what the allegory of Pilgrim's Progress is all about.....as Cassy asks, "is it a dream or is it real?" Finding out who Jesus is and how he saved each and everyone of us. Looking forward to reading this again to my kids but will wait a bit for their maturity to grow...krb 2/21/16