Cunning Workmen

by Pansy, Isabella MacDonald Alden, Jenny Berlin (Introduction)

Cora Parkhurst’s life is filled with parties, dinners, and visits to the theater. No one expects her to make decisions or answer important questions . . . and she quite likes it that way. Why, even the girls who attend her Sunday school class expect nothing from her but a lesson on fashion. And although Cora knows the girls she’s supposed to be teaching aren’t Christians, she never considers for one moment that she could lead them to the Savior.

Handsome Robert Hammond sees Cora’s potential. As the boys’ Sunday school teacher, he’s been working hard to bring his students to Christ; and he’s certain that with a bit of help and the proper focus, Cora can influence her students in the same way.

But Cora Parkhurst is no hypocrite. She knows if she is to introduce her girls to Jesus, she must first set a true Christian example and leave behind the carefree social life she’s been leading. Thanks to Robert’s gentle guidance, Cora can see a glimmer of the Lord’s work waiting to be done. Now she must make a decision: should she continue with her life of pleasure or embrace a life of meaning as one of Christ’s faithful workers?

This edition of the 1875 classic Christian novel includes a biography of the author and additional bonus content.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Note: In her lifetime, Isabella Macdonald Alden was usually published under the pseudonym Pansy, and occasionally under the name Mrs. G.R. Alden.

Aunt to Grace Livingston Hill

The sixth of seven children born to Isaac and Myra Spafford Macdonald, of Rochester, New York, Isabella Macdonald received her early education from her father, who home-schooled her, and gave her a nickname - "Pansy" - that she would use for many of her publications. As a girl, she kept a daily journal, critiqued by her father, and she published her first story - The Old Clock - in a village paper when she was ten years old.

Macdonald's education continued at the Oneida Seminary, the Seneca Collegiate Institute, and the Young Ladies Institute, all in New York. It was at the Oneida Seminary that she met her long-time friend (and eventual co-author), Theodosia Toll, who secretly submitted one of Macdonald's manuscripts in a competition, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to the publication of her first book, Helen Lester, in 1865.

Macdonald also met her future husband, the Rev. Gustavus Rossenberg Alden, at the Oneida Seminary, and the two were married in 1866. Now Isabella Macdonald Alden, the newly-married minister's wife followed her husband as his postings took them around the country, dividing her time between writing, church duties, and raising her son Raymond (born 1873).

A prolific author, who wrote approximately one hundred novels from 1865 to 1929, and co-authored ten more, Alden was also actively involved in the world of children's and religious periodicals, publishing numerous short stories, editing the Sunday Juvenile Pansy from 1874-1894, producing Sunday School lessons for The Westminster Teacher for twenty years, and working on the editorial staff of various other magazines (Trained Motherhood, The Christian Endeavor).

Highly influenced by her Christian beliefs, much of Alden's work was explicitly moral and didactic, and often found its way into Sunday School libraries. It was also immensely popular, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with an estimated 100,000 copies of Alden's books sold, in 1900.

Information taken from:

readseries.com

isabellamacdonaldalden.com

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fictional tale of two Sunday School teachers and their classes caught my eye because I am a Sunday School teacher myself. For a number of reasons it was not my normal reading fare, and it did not at all end the way I anticipated, but it was very reflective of the accountability I've found in a fellow Sunday School teacher. It was also a good reminder of the responsibility we hold of pointing these children to The Way, Jesus Christ.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, as every other Alden that I've read, was truly inspiring. It was so poignant and yet simply put. I wish every Sunday School teacher could read a copy and be refreshed in the great purpose of their task for Christ. But even if you're not a teacher, it is encouraging for anyone's work as a Christian. In the last few pages, I was so touched and blessed by a few words that spoke on a current trial in my own life. God is good. This was a wonderful read.

[Anete Ābola · Rating 5 out of 5]

When 19th century books talk of Sunday School, it doesn't always mean children. This is kind of a youth ministry with their different teachers - some who are godly and want to lead young men and women to the Lord, and some who are worldly and have not been saved themselves. Just like today, only those young men and women still attended Bible studies and even prayer meetings, and weren't pulled to church only by seeker sensitive types of games and fun.
Great to be encouraged in your christian walk and work through these characters and to rejoice about the fruit of their labor. Let's pray for our ministries, work, but leave results to the Lord!

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read this book, but it was just as good as before. I really appreciated the encouragement and advice about preparing to teach a class in Sunday School and how it should be more than just read something and ask the questions.
The characters were real and the situations and struggles could have faced anyone even today.

[Melly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good stoey, but I knocked two stars off for the cliffhanger.

What's even worse is i know it will never be resolved. The author is dead.

Cliffhangers are the WORST.

[Georgia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another one by Pansy which ends very suddenly.