THE LOVED TO LAUGH
By
Nice period story of the 1830's, in a robust Quaker family of North Carolina, and of Martitia, the gentle, timid, solemn orphan girl they took in. Martitia has been brought up in a genteel manner, but the Gardners, gayhearted, industrious, soon teach her laughter along with housewifery. She wants to stay -- and eventually Dr. David wins the fight against her snobbish Uncle James Randolph and she belongs to them legally. There is a touch of romance -- a building towards marriage with Jonathan, the eldest son. Pleasant touches of family, character, period, and domestics.