It seems as though Madame Spyri must have had the power to look straight into the heart of youth, so well does she portray the thoughts and actions of the boys and girls in her stories. Herein lies the secret of her popularity, for children, even more than adults, are quick to recognize the genuine in literature. Madame Spyri's characters are genuine indeed. They come to us as real flesh and blood individuals with the joys and sorrows that roll across their lives like the sunlight and shadows that drift over the great mountains that surround them. The present collection of three stories, PEPPINO, EVELI, and THE STAUFFER MILL, are among the best that Madame Sypri has produced, but of the three it is hard to say which is the most pleasing. We are carried away at first by the tale of the little Peppino, how he saved Helmina and her friend from harm, and how, as a result, sorrow came to him out of joy, and finally, joy out of sorrow. Next we are stirred by the touching story of little Eveli, so shy and so unhappy until little Beni came into her life and opened up to her a new world of bringing happiness to others, and most of all, to the one who had treated her with contempt. And finally there is Jorli, whom adverse circumstances brought to the Stauffer Mill from which he was at first driven away and then brought back by the kind-hearted wife of the mill-owner. In his subsequent experience there comes to Jorli and to the reader one of the most delightful surprises imaginable.

From the dust jacket

 

Every day in the beautiful vacation time Eveli came down to the hospital with a new bunch of flowers, and every day the patients looked forward to her appearance, so that one could see she brought everyone something that did them good.

Even though life for Eveli was difficult, she finds immense joy as she discovers ways to serve and uplift others around her. Through her simple acts of pure kindness, Eveli learns how love can soften even the hardest of hearts.

From The Good and the Beautiful edition